Aps - Apus the Bird of Paradise
IAU Constellation
Size
67 of 88
Mus - Musca the Fly
Car - Carina the Keel of Argo Navis
IAU Constellation
Size
34 of 88Astronomical Regions
Intro 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.
Cen - Centaurus the Centaur
IAU Constellation
Size
9 of 88Astronomical Regions
Intro and Visual description
Partially visible only in March and April from 35 degrees north latitude.
Hadar, a knee of the Centaur, is on a line from Alpha Centauri to Crux.
Cha - Chamaeleon
IAU Constellation
Size
79 of 88Astronomical Regions
Cir - Circinus the Drafting Compasses (35)
IAU Constellation
Size
85 of 88Astronomical Regions
Cru - Crux the Southern Cross
IAU Constellation
Size
88 of 88Astronomical Regions
Intro 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:
Mus - Musca the Fly
IAU Constellation
Size
77 of 88Astronomical Regions
Bayer, Uranometria (1661): Southern stars
Image
Clockwise from top center: Pavo, Apis, Triangulum Australe, Musca, Chamaeleon, Volans, Dorado, Nubecula Major, Phoenix (left margin), Grus (outside upper left), Indus (left of Pavo), Tucana (below Grus), Hydrus (below Tucana, near center), and Nubecula Minor (just under Hydrus).
IAU Constellation Main Page
Tau - Taurus the Bull
IAU Constellation
Size
17 of 88
Astronomical Regions
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.