Octans
The Octant
The Southern Celestial Pole lies in Octans, just as the Northern Celestial Pole lies in Ursa Minor. Unlike Polaris in the north, though, no bright star lies near the Southern Pole. This hasn't prevented the star Sigma Octantis being rather optimistically named 'Polaris Australis' or 'The Southern Pole Star', but it is in fact only magnitude +5.5, and almost invisible to the naked eye.

Map of Octans
Relative Galactic Position of Octans
Octans' place in the galaxy. Because Octans contains the Southern Celestial Pole, this diagram also shows the Earth's orientation with respect to the galaxy as a whole.
Indexes
  • Main Index
  • Constellations Index
  • Related Entries
  • Apus
  • Autumnal Equinox
  • Celestial Equator
  • Declination
  • Mensa