Circinus
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| Abbreviation: | Cir |
| Genitive: | Circini |
| Symbology: | Compass |
| Right ascension: | 15 h |
| Declination: | −60° |
| Area: | 93 sq. deg. (85th) |
| Main stars: | |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | |
| Stars with known planets: | |
| Bright stars: | 0 |
| Nearby stars: | 2 |
| Brightest star: | α Cir (3.2m) |
| Nearest star: | α Cir (53.5 ly ly) |
| Messier objects: | 0 |
| Meteor showers: | None |
| Bordering constellations: | Centaurus Musca Apus Triangulum Australe Norma Lupus |
| Visible at latitudes between +10° and −90° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of June |
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Circinus (IPA: /ˈsəːsɪnəs, -ənəs/, Latin: compass), is one of the small southern (declination −50 to −60 degrees) constellations. It represents a tool used in drawing maps and as such should not be confused with Pyxis, a constellation associated with a ship's compass.
[edit] History
This constellation was designated in the 18th century, and first introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, whose unique fascination with secular science led to different names for these modern constellations. Since it is a creation of the 18th century, and was not visible to the cultures of the Mediterranean, there is no pre-18th century mythology associated with it.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| The 88 modern Constellations |
|---|
| Andromeda • Antlia • Apus • Aquarius • Aquila • Ara • Aries • Auriga • Boötes • Caelum • Camelopardalis • Cancer • Canes Venatici • Canis Major • Canis Minor • Capricornus • Carina • Cassiopeia • Centaurus • Cepheus • Cetus • Chamaeleon • Circinus • Columba • Coma Berenices • Corona Australis • Corona Borealis • Corvus • Crater • Crux • Cygnus • Delphinus • Dorado • Draco • Equuleus • Eridanus • Fornax • Gemini • Grus • Hercules • Horologium • Hydra • Hydrus • Indus • Lacerta • Leo • Leo Minor • Lepus • Libra • Lupus • Lynx • Lyra • Mensa • Microscopium • Monoceros • Musca • Norma • Octans • Ophiuchus • Orion • Pavo • Pegasus • Perseus • Phoenix • Pictor • Pisces • Piscis Austrinus • Puppis • Pyxis • Reticulum • Sagitta • Sagittarius • Scorpius • Sculptor • Scutum • Serpens • Sextans • Taurus • Telescopium • Triangulum • Triangulum Australe • Tucana • Ursa Major • Ursa Minor • Vela • Virgo • Volans • Vulpecula |
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