Constellation Eridanus (River)
Properties
The elongated constellation is the sixth largest figure in the sky with an area of 1138 square degrees, but due to the mostly faint stars it is hardly noticeable. The river meanders from Rigel in Orion to Cetus in the west and then down south to Hydrus, where it ends with the brightest star in this constellation, Achernar. Achernar culminates around midnight on October 14th and the center of the constellation around November 10th. [9, 15]
| α Eri | Achernar |
| β Eri | Cursa, Dhalim, Kursa |
| γ Eri | Zaurak, Zaurac, Zaurack |
| δ Eri | Rana |
| ζ Eri | Zibal |
| η Eri | Azha |
| θ1 Eri | Acamar |
| ο1 Eri | Beid |
| ο2 Eri | Keid, Kied |
| τ2 Eri | Angetenar, Al Anchat Al Nahr, Anchat |
| υ2 Eri | Theemim, Beemin |
| 53 Eri | Sceptrum |
| IAU Name | Eridanus |
| IAU Genitive | Eridani |
| IAU Abbr. | Eri |
| English Name | River |
| Opposition | 23 November |
| Season (47° N) | September … February |
| Right Ascension | 01h 24m 49s … 05h 11m 13s |
| Declination | -57° 54' 58" … +00° 24' 13" |
| Area | 1138 deg2 |
| Neighbours (N↻) | Tau, Cet, For, Phe, Tuc, Hyi, Hor, Cae, Lep, Ori |
Deep-Sky Object Descriptions
Catalogues
Mythology and History
In Greek mythology, Eridanus is the river into which Phaethon, the lover of Cyknos, fell when he tried to drive his father Helios' sun chariot across the sky. But there have also been attempts to connect it to an earthly river, the Po in northern Italy, the Nile or the Euphrates.
Originally Eridanus ended at the star θ Eridani, whose name Acamar is derived from Achernar (end of the river); at that time the stars of Fornax still belonged to Eridanus. Eridanus was later extended to almost 60 degrees south latitude. Another star was given the nickname Achernar. [7]