Vulpecula

Vulpecula, the Little Fox, is a small, faint constellation nestled in the Milky Way between Cygnus and Sagitta. Despite its obscurity, it contains one of the most famous deep sky objects in the sky: the Dumbbell Nebula (M27), the first planetary nebula ever discovered.

It is also where the first pulsar was detected in 1967, a discovery that earned a Nobel Prize and opened an entirely new field of astrophysics. Astrologically, Vulpecula carries themes of cleverness, resourcefulness, and the ability to thrive through wit rather than brute force.

The fox appears in spiritual traditions worldwide as a figure of cunning intelligence, adaptability, and the ability to see through illusion. Vulpecula teaches that wisdom does not always announce itself; sometimes the most profound understanding comes in quiet, unassuming forms. The fox navigates the world through perception and agility rather than dominance.

Johannes Hevelius originally named this constellation Vulpecula cum Ansere (the Little Fox with the Goose), depicting a fox carrying a goose in its mouth. The Goose was later dropped from the name, though the star Alpha Vulpeculae retains the name Anser (Goose).

In Japanese mythology, the fox (kitsune) is a shape shifting trickster of great intelligence. In Native American traditions, the fox is often a clever figure who survives through wits where larger animals fail.

Created by Johannes Hevelius in 1687. Originally included a goose, making it one of the more whimsical constellation inventions.

Vulpecula is faint but well positioned in the summer Milky Way between the bright constellations Cygnus and Aquila. Its claim to fame is the Dumbbell Nebula (M27), the first planetary nebula ever discovered (by Charles Messier in 1764), which is easily visible in binoculars as a fuzzy patch and spectacular in telescopes.

The constellation also contains Brocchi's Cluster (Collinder 399), known as the Coathanger asterism, a line of stars with a hook that is delightful in binoculars. In 1967, the first pulsar (PSR B1919+21) was discovered in Vulpecula. Best viewed during August and September.