Circumpolar (southern)
- IAU Constellation67 of 88Astronomical Regions
Car - Carina the Keel of Argo Navis
IAU ConstellationSize
34 of 88Astronomical RegionsIntro and Visual description
Locate Canopus by drawing a line from the easternmost star of Orion’s belt down through Rigel, Orion’s left foot. Canopus lies about twice as far from Orion’s belt as Sirius.
Between Canopus and the south pole lies the Large Magellenic Cloud (LMC), located in the constellation Dorado the Swordfish.
Between Canopus and Crux are the False Cross (nearer Canopus, shared by Carina and Vela) and the Diamond Cross (nearer Crux, in Carina). These are fainter than Crux and were once part of Argo Navis.
Cha - Chamaeleon
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79 of 88Astronomical RegionsCir - Circinus the Drafting Compasses (35)
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85 of 88Astronomical RegionsCru - Crux the Southern Cross
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88 of 88Astronomical RegionsIntro and Visual description
When looking for the Southern Cross, beware of two similar asterisms nearby, both of which point more toward the Large Magellenic Cloud (in the constellation Dorado) than toward the south celestial pole:
- The Diamond Cross (in Carina).
- The False Cross (between Carina and Vela).
The real Crux has two unmistakable marks, which will help you be sure you’ve found the real thing:
Dor - Dorado the Swordfish
IAU ConstellationSize
72 of 88Astronomical RegionsIntro and Visual description
Dorado the Swordfish is a small and obscure but very interesting constellation. It contains the Large Magellenic Cloud (LMC) and the only recent naked-eye supernova. In addition, the south ecliptic pole is located about where the "eye" of the fish would be. The Large and Small Magellenic Clouds are bright enough to be visible even in Moonlight.
Hyi - Hydrus the Southern Water Snake
IAU ConstellationSize
61 of 88Astronomical RegionsIntro and Visual description
Hydrus has only three stars above the fourth magnitude.Hydrus is the Little Snake, not to be confused with Hydra, the big one.
Ind - Indus the American Indian
IAU ConstellationSize
49 of 88Astronomical RegionsIntro and Visual description
Very dim.
Men - Mensa the Mesa or Table Mountain
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75 of 88Astronomical RegionsMus - Musca the Fly
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77 of 88Astronomical Regions
IAU Constellation Main Page
Tau - Taurus the Bull
Size
Intro and Visual description
Taurus the Bull is easily spotted. Its head is the Hyades, a V-shaped cluster of stars. His horns point outward from the V. Aldebaran is the red eye of the Bull as he charges down upon us.