Vulpecula is The Fox, chasing The Swan (Cygnus). Actually, in the original, the fox was chasing a goose, as the constellation was known as Vulpecula cum Anser, The Fox and Goose. The constellation, found south of Cygnus, contains a number of interesting objects. Specifically, the Coathanger and M27..
Alpha Vulpeculae is a red giant, the brightest star in this faint constellation with a visual magnitude of 4.4. It is also the only Bayer star in the constellation. Alpha Vulpeculae is easily found with the naked eye, due south of Albireo. To the south, in the same view as alpha, is a curious asterism known as The Coathanger, a group of stars which in fact look just like an upside-down coathanger!
