Carina takes it's name from the dwarf galaxy Carina which is in the constellation of Carina, which was originally one of three (carina, pupis, vela which formed the much larger constellation known as Argo Navis - The Ship). Carina means The Keel.

Argo Navis had been associated with ships that had saved mankind, but most importnatly to Greeks it reprensted the vessel used by Jason and the Argonaunts when they were on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Jason had a ship contructed named the Argo. The goddess Athene brought a board cut from Zeus' sacred oak and placed it at the prow. It was a giant vessel with fifty oars manned by fifty great heroes of Greece.

Carina was the bottom of the great ship and it can only be seen in it's entirety from south of 15 degrees north. Caruba also contains Canopus the second brightest star.

Carina the dwarf galaxy is considered to be quite youthful when compared to the Milky Way.