Constellation Apus (Bird of Paradise)

Apus
Apus: IAU Constellation Map [150]

Properties

Apus is an inconspicuous constellation near the south celestial pole, south of Triangulum Australe and has an area of ​​206 square degrees. The most striking feature is a small formation of four stars, reminiscent of a tablespoon. The constellation culminates around midnight on May 21, but is not visible from Central Europe. [9, 15]

Data for constellation Apus [150]
IAU NameApus
IAU GenitiveApodis
IAU Abbr.Aps
English NameBird of Paradise
Opposition22 May
Season (47° N)
Right Ascension13h 49m 51s … 18h 27m 28s
Declination-83° 07' 12" … -67° 28' 48"
Area206 deg2
Neighbours (N↻)TrA, Cir, Mus, Cha, Oct, Pav, Ara

Deep-Sky Object Descriptions

Catalogues

Southern Constellations: Phoenix, Grus, Indus, Toucan, Hydrus, Pavo, Apus Indica, Triangulum Australe, Chameleon, Apis, Piscis Volans, Dorado
Southern Constellations: Phoenix, Grus, Indus, Toucan, Hydrus, Pavo, Apus Indica, Triangulum Australe, Chameleon, Apis, Piscis Volans, Dorado: Illustration from «Uranometria» by Johann Bayer, copper engraving by Alexander Mair, 1603 [28]

History

The origin of this constellation is mostly attributed to Johann Bayer in his Uranometria from 1603, the first atlas of the entire sky. He had taken it from the records of numerous sailors in the southern hemisphere from the previous century, including Amerigo Vespucci. Bayer formed a total of twelve new constellations. [7]

References

  • [7] «Der grosse Kosmos-Himmelsführer» von Ian Ridpath und Wil Tirion; Kosmos Verlag; ISBN 3-440-05787-9
  • [9] «Drehbare Sternkarte SIRIUS» von H. Suter-Haug; Hallwag-Verlag, Bern
  • [15] «Hartung's Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes» by David Malin and David J. Frew; Melbourne University Press 1995; ISBN 0-522-84553-3
  • [28] «Uranometria omnium asterismorum continens schemata, nova methodo delineata aereis laminis expressa» Johann Bayer, Augsburg, 1603; DOI:10.3931/e-rara-309
  • [150] IAU: The Constellations, 11. Oktober 2020; iau.org/public/themes/constellations