Octans constellation is located in the southern hemisphere. It was named after the octant, a navigational instrument.
The constellation was introduced by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. Octans is the location of the South Celestial Pole. The constellation is circumpolar to the South Pole – it never sets below the horizon. It does not have any stars brighter than fourth magnitude or any deep sky objects that are bright enough for observers. Octans contains the southern pole star, Sigma Octantis, which is located about a degree away from the South Celestial Pole. The star cannot be used in navigation because it is too faint.
FACTS, LOCATION & MAP
Octans is the 50th constellation in size, occupying an area of 291 square degrees. It lies in the fourth quadrant of the southern hemisphere (SQ4) and can be seen at latitudes between +0° and -90°. The neighboring constellations are Apus, Chamaeleon, Hydrus, Indus, Mensa, Pavo and Tucana.
Octans belongs to the Lacaille family of constellations, along with Antlia, Caelum, Circinus, Fornax, Horologium, Mensa, Microscopium, Norma, Pictor, Reticulum, Sculptor, and Telescopium.
Octans contains two stars with known planets and has no Messier objects. The brightest star in the constellation is Nu Octantis, with an apparent magnitude of 3.76. There are no meteor showers associated with the constellation.
STORY
Octans was created by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1752. There are no myths associated with the constellation, in part because it is located too far south. Lacaille created it out of dim circumpolar stars and originally named it l’Octans de Reflexion, or “the reflecting octant,” which was the precursor to the modern sextant.
The constellation was also known as Octans Hadleianus, after John Hadley, the English mathematician who invented the octant in 1730. When he created the constellation, Lacaille moved several stars from the neighbouring constellation Hydrus.
0 Comments