Circinus

Abbreviation:  Cir
English Name:  The Drawing Compass
Genitive: Circini
Hemisphere:  Southern Hemisphere (Never visible from the UK.)
Location: Between the constellations of Triangulum Australe and Centaurus.
Visible between latitudes:  +20 and -90 degrees
Best season: Summer
Seen in three seasons: Spring, Summer and Autumn
Best seen in:  June
Seen between: March and August
Right Ascension (RA):  15 hour
Declination (DEC):  -60 degrees
Area (square degrees):  93 (85th)

Circinus (The  Drawing Compass)

• Small and faint constellation in the Southern Sky.
• Ciricinus is easy to find; lies next to Alpha Centauri brightest star in the constellation of Centaurus.
• Although it’s in the Milky Way.

Messier Objects

• No Messier objects in Chameleon.

Features of Interest

• NGC 5823 – Open Cluster, also known as Caldwell 88 (C88), its border with the constellation of Lupus.

Named Stars

• Alpha Circini  (double star)
• Beta Circini
• Gamma Cirini (binary star – very close pair; yellowand blue stars.)

Others

• Photo of the constellation; Circinus, as it appears to the naked eye. (Lines have been added for clarity.)
• Sky Chart  –  Circinus
• List of stars in Circinus.

 

Back to The 88 Constellations Lists  page.