The Apus constellation
Aps · Catalogue stars: 6
Why this name?
The constellation depicts a bird of paradise. Its Latin name Apus comes from a Greek word meaning ‘footless’: Europeans once mistakenly believed that birds of paradise had no feet.
A little history
The figure appeared on European celestial globes in the late sixteenth century following voyages to southern seas. Johann Bayer included it in his star atlas Uranometria in 1603.
Data
- IAU code
- Aps
- Catalogue stars
- 6
- Messier objects
- 0
- Brightest star
- HIP 72370 · 3.8ᵐ
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 72370 · 3.8ᵐ · K5III
- HIP 81065 · 3.9ᵐ · K0IV SB
- HIP 81852 · 4.2ᵐ · K0III
- HIP 80047 · 4.7ᵐ · M5III
- HIP 84969 · 4.8ᵐ · K1III
- HIP 69896 · 4.9ᵐ · A2m...
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | never rises | — |
| +55° | never rises | — |
| +45° | never rises | — |
| +30° | never rises | — |
| 0° | 16° | 164° |
| −35° | 51° · never sets | — |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 08:16 |
| February | 06:09 |
| March | 04:23 |
| April | 02:30 |
| May | 00:36 |
| June | 22:29 |
| July | 20:25 |
| August | 18:24 |
| September | 16:31 |
| October | 14:43 |
| November | 12:42 |
| December | 10:33 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Apus?
HIP 72370 — 3.8ᵐ.