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| List of stars in Circinus | |
| Abbreviation: | Cir |
| Genitive: | Circini |
| Symbolism: | Compass |
| Right ascension: | 15 h |
| Declination: | −60° |
| Area: | 93 sq. deg. (85th) |
| Main stars: | 3 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: |
9 |
| Stars with known planets: |
0 |
| Bright stars: | 0 |
| Nearby stars: | 0 |
| Brightest star: | α Cir (3.2m) |
| Nearest star: | α Cir (53.5 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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The constellation Circinus (IPA: [ˈsirsinus], /ˈsɝsɪnus/, Latin: compass), is one of the small southern constellations (declination −50 to −60 degrees) visible only south of the equator. It represents a drafting tool used navigation, mathematics, technical drawing, engineering drawing, in cartography (drawing maps)—and which many elementary school age children use to learn to draw circles and in geometry to bi-sect lines, draw arcs and so forth. So the device should not be confused with Pyxis, a constellation associated with a ship's compass despite the similarity in names with the latin language.
History
This constellation was designated in the 18th century, well into the Age of Sail and scientific navigation, 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.
At the International Constellation Conference in the summer of 2006, it was decided that this word is pronounced with hard c sounds, like in the word curtains.citation needed
References
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
External links
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