Constellation Antlia (Air Pump)
Date:
Southern Hemisphere
Spring
Air Pump
Antlia
The constellation of the Air Pump (lat. Antlia) in the southern hemisphere is very inconspicuous. Its brightest star has a magnitude of 4. In total, it covers an area of 239 square degrees.
How to spot Antlia
In spring, Antlia can be seen south of the Hydra and between the constellations Centaurus, Vela and Compass under favorable conditions.
History
After the invention of the telescope, the French astronomer Nicolas de Lacaille named some constellations of the southern hemisphere that had not been recognized before. Unlike the 48 constellations of antiquity, which bear the names of mythological figures, he often used the name of technological novelties for the new constellations.