Corona Borealis

9.5

A small group of stars in the northern sky that forms a half circle like a crown

proper noun
/kəˈroʊnə bɔˈriːəlɪs/

: Corona Borealis

The constellation Corona Borealis is often referred to as the Northern Crown.

Examples

The constellation Corona Borealis is easily recognized by its semicircular shape.
Astronomers often point out Corona Borealis when teaching about the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere.
Ancient myths sometimes refer to Corona Borealis as the crown of Ariadne.
Can you see Corona Borealis from your backyard?
The constellation Corona Borealis is prominent in the Northern Hemisphere's summer sky.
Observing Corona Borealis can enhance your appreciation of astronomy and stargazing.
During the clear nights of summer, you can easily spot Corona Borealis near the constellations Bootes and Hercules.

Surface Forms

Corona Borealis main

Morphology

Corona + Borealis

The name is compositionally built from Latin corona = 'crown' and borealis = 'northern', so a learner who knows those constituent meanings can directly infer 'Northern Crown' and thus the constellation reference. This follows regular descriptive naming patterns in astronomy (cf. Corona Australis) and is therefore transparent rather than idiomatic or metaphorically shifted.

Etymology

Corona Borealis comes from Latin words Corona, meaning 'crown', and Borealis, meaning 'northern'. Long ago people saw this half circle of stars as a crown in the sky, and that's why Corona Borealis now names the small 'crown' of stars you can see in the northern sky.