Sextans
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| List of stars in Sextans | |
| Abbreviation: | Sex |
| Genitive: | Sextantis, Sextansis |
| Symbolism: | the Sextant |
| Right ascension: | 10 h |
| Declination: | 0° |
| Area: | 314 sq. deg. (47th) |
| Main stars: | 3 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: |
28 |
| Stars with known planets: |
2 |
| Bright stars: | 0 |
| Nearby stars: | 1 |
| Brightest star: | α Sex (4.49m) |
| Nearest star: | LHS 292 (14.8 ly) |
| Messier objects: | None |
| Meteor showers: | Sextantids |
| Bordering constellations: |
Leo Hydra Crater |
| Visible at latitudes between +80° and −80° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of April |
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Sextans (pronounced /ˈsɛkstənz/, Latin: sextant) is a minor equatorial constellation which was introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius.
Being a modern constellation, Sextans has no mythology associated with it. It was designed to represent an astronomical sextant, an instrument that Hevelius made frequent use of in his observations.
Notable features
Sextans is not a particularly bright constellation. It has only one star above the fifth magnitude, namely α Sextantis at 4.49m. The constellation contains a few double stars, including γ, 35, and 40 Sextantis. There are few notable variable stars, including β, 25, 23 Sextantis, and LHS 292.
References
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
External links
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