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The Turtle Dove - Romanian constellation. Columba is a Southern constellation created
by Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in the sixteenth century. It's actually a group of
stars detached from Canis Major, but it is listed among the 88 official constellations
recognized by the International Astronomical Union. It is visible from this latitude only
near the horizon in the winter nights sky. Its neighbor constellations are Canis Major,
Pupa, Pictor, Caelum and Lepus, and the brightest star is called Phact. Being a relatively new
constellation and difficult to see from this latitude, is quite low recognised in Romania.
However, our peasants associated this grouping of stars with the dove sent by Noah from the
ark at the end of the flood looking for land, dove that was returning to the ship with an
olive branch in its beak.