Apus
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For other meanings, see Apus (disambiguation).

Apus

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List of stars in Apus
Abbreviation:	Aps
Genitive:	Apodis
Symbolism:	the bird of paradise
Right ascension:	16 h
Declination:	−75°
Area:	206 sq. deg. (67th)
Main stars:	4
Bayer/Flamsteed stars:	12
Stars with known planets:	0
Bright stars:	0
Nearby stars:	0
Brightest star:	α Aps (3.83m)
Nearest star:	HD 122862 (93.5 ly)
Messier objects:	None
Meteor showers:	None
Bordering constellations:	Triangulum Australe Circinus Musca Chamaeleon Octans Pavo Ara
Visible at latitudes between +5° and −90° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of July

Apus (IPA: [ˈaːpus], /ˈeɪpus/, /ˈapus/, (Latin for anciently the swallow, but applied later to birds of paradise), from Greek: απους, meaning "no-feet") is a faint southern constellation, not visible to the ancient Greeks. The constellation was one of twelve constellations created by Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman between 1595 and 1597, and it first appeared in Johann Bayer's Uranometria of 1603. Its genitive is "Apodis".

This constellation was originally named "Avis Indica" [1]. It first appeared on Petrus Plancius's 1598 celestial globe as "Paradysvogel Apis Indica": "Apis Indica" is Latin for "Indian Bee", likely an error for "Avis Indica" = "Indian Bird"; this confusion seems to have prompted a rename of two constellations: "Avis Indica" to "Apus" and "Apis" to "Musca".

Notable deep sky objects

Apus has several impressive clusters, NGC 6101 and IC 4499, as well as a very unusual nebular structure IC 4633.

References

• Ridpath, Ian; Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide. London: Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-725120-9. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691135564. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Apus

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Apus
• Peoria Astronomical Society - Apus
• NightSkyInfo.com: Constellation Apus
• WIKISKY.ORG: Apus on WIKISKY
• Star Tales – Apus

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