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Circinus (drawing compass)

Location: Primarily Southern Hemisphere
Coordinates:
Right Ascension: 15h
Declination: -60º
Source: Astronomer Abbe Nicholas Louis de Lacaille
Circinus Constellation

The story behind the name: Circinus was created by de Lacaille during his stay at the Cape of Good Hope in the mid-18th century. Circinus is a very small and faint constellation. The three brightest stars form a narrow triangle. The shape is reminiscent of a drawing (or drafting) compass of the sort used to plot sea and sky charts.

Introduction to Constellations | Constellation Sources | Constellations Index


Objects observed by Chandra in Circinus: