The constellation Vela is named after what part of a ship?

Vela constellation is one of the largest ones in the southern sky. Its name is Latin and it means ‘the sails’. It contains several notable deep sky objects and bright stars. Two of its brightest stars are often mistaken for the Southern Cross and is linked to the story of Argo Navis ship. Therefore, Vela's location is near other parts of the ship: Puppis, Carina, Antlia, and Compass. Argo Navis was a ship of Jason and the Argonauts and is connected to the story of the 'Golden Fleece'. It was depicted and spotted in the 2nd century CE by famous Greek astronomer Ptolemy, but as part of the Argo Navis constellation. Thanks to the French astronomer de Lacaille the constellation was divided into several new ones and that is the story of how Vela constellation was created.

Vela is the 32nd constellation in size, and it lies in the second quadrant of the southern hemisphere. The constellation is best seen to all observers at latitudes between +30° and -90°. Vela is bordered by Antlia, Pyxis, Puppis, Carina, and Centaurus.