Corona Borealis

noun

Corona Bo·​re·​al·​is -ˌbȯr-ē-ˈa-ləs How to pronounce Corona Borealis (audio)
: a northern constellation between Hercules and Boötes

Examples of Corona Borealis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the Northern Hemisphere, it can be identified by finding the two brightest stars -- Arcturus and Vega -- and tracking a straight line from one to the other, leading stargazers to Hercules and the Corona Borealis. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2024 But sky-watchers are paying close attention for another reason, too—Corona Borealis, the constellation where the nova will appear, is going to move behind the sun from the Earth’s perspective as the year goes on, Basu says. Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024 Admittedly, Corona Borealis may not be a constellation that astronomers get overly excited about. Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024 Just a little bit below the Corona Borealis, experts say, is where the Blaze Star should appear. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Sep. 2024 And in the next month or so, anticipate a brightening event, known as a nova, that will occur in the Milky Way’s Corona Borealis, or Northern Crown constellation. Riane Lumer, CNN, 19 Aug. 2024 Look at maps showing where the Blaze star is in relation to the Corona Borealis constellation, and try spotting the constellation in the night sky before the big day. Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2024 The coming nova Coming later this year, a star will suddenly blaze in the constellation Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. Dean Regas, The Enquirer, 13 July 2024 The two brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere (Arcturus and Vega) create a straight line from one to the other, which will lead stargazers to the Hercules constellation and Corona Borealis, where the burst of light will be most visible. Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 19 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin Corōna Boreālis (genitive Corōnae Boreālis), literally, "northern crown"

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Corona Borealis was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near Corona Borealis

Cite this Entry

“Corona Borealis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Corona%20Borealis. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Corona Borealis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!