The Circinus constellation
Cir · Catalogue stars: 4
Why this name?
Circinus depicts a pair of drawing compasses, a two-legged instrument for drawing circles and transferring distances on a drawing.
A little history
Lacaille introduced the constellation while mapping the southern sky in the eighteenth century. Alongside Norma and other instruments, it commemorates geometry and precise measurement.
Data
- IAU code
- Cir
- Catalogue stars
- 4
- Messier objects
- 0
- Brightest star
- HIP 71908 · 3.2ᵐ
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 71908 · 3.2ᵐ · F1Vp
- HIP 74824 · 4.1ᵐ · A3V
- HIP 75323 · 4.5ᵐ · B5III + F8
- HIP 74837 · 4.8ᵐ · K2.5III
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | never rises | — |
| +55° | never rises | — |
| +45° | never rises | — |
| +30° | never rises | — |
| 0° | 28° | 152° |
| −35° | 63° · 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 | 07:25 |
| February | 05:18 |
| March | 03:32 |
| April | 01:39 |
| May | 23:45 |
| June | 21:38 |
| July | 19:34 |
| August | 17:33 |
| September | 15:40 |
| October | 13:52 |
| November | 11:51 |
| December | 09:42 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Circinus?
HIP 71908 — 3.2ᵐ.