Constellation Sextans (Sextant)

Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere Northern Hemisphere

Visibility

Spring

Common Name

Sextant

Latin Name

Sextans

.The Sextant (lat. Sextans) is located near the celestial equator and can therefore be seen from both hemispheres. Its brightest star reaches a magnitude of 4.4, which is why the constellation is relatively inconspicuous.

How to spot Sextans

With an area of 314 square degrees, Sextans can be seen during spring with the help of a telescope. It is surrounded by the constellations Hydra, Crater and Leo.

History

The constellation Sextant was introduced by the Gdansk astronomer Johannes Hevel at the end of the 17th century. It is supposed to represent the sextant with which he measured the positions of the stars.