Constellation Indus (Indian)

Indus
Indus: IAU Constellation Map [150]

Properties

The constellation is pretty expressionless in its southern part and only between the constellations Pavo and Grus can you find four slightly brighter stars. The area is 294 square degrees and the centre culminates around midnight on August 13 and is not visible from Central Europe. [9, 15]

Data for constellation Indus [150]
IAU NameIndus
IAU GenitiveIndi
IAU Abbr.Ind
English NameIndian
Culmination at local midnight10 August
Season (Latitude +46.8°)[Not visible]
Right Ascension (J2000.0)20h 28m 41s … 23h 27m 59s
Declination (J2000.0)-74° 27' 16" … -44° 57' 32"
Area294 deg2
Neighbours (N↻)Mic, Sgr, Tel, Pav, Oct, Tuc, Gru

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 constellation, which is supposed to represent an Indian, was recorded by Johann Bayer in his Uranometria in 1603. The Latin name Indus is more appropriate for the inhabitants of India, but the figural concept is reminiscent of an Indian from the North American prairies. [7, 21]

References

  • [7] Der grosse Kosmos-Himmelsführer; Ian Ridpath; Wil Tirion; Kosmos Verlag; ISBN 3-440-05787-9
  • [9] Drehbare Sternkarte SIRIUS; H. Suter-Haug; Hallwag-Verlag, Bern
  • [15] Hartung's Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes; David Malin and David J. Frew; Melbourne University Press 1995; ISBN 0-522-84553-3
  • [21] Taschenatlas der Sternbilder; Josef Klepesta und Antonin Rükl; Verlag Werner Dausien; ISBN 3-7684-2384-0
  • [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