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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Eridanus (The River) Constellation

Altitude: -39.6°   Azimuth: 68.4°   Direction: East-North-East

Eridanus (pronounced ɪˈrɪdənəs) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 91 degrees across the sky) situated close to the celestial equator. As such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The River" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Eri" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Erid" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Eridani" (pronounced ɪˈrɪdənaɪ) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Eridani (the brightest star of Eridanus based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Eridani (the 23th star in the constellation of Eridanus based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Eridanus is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.
Available Resources for Eridanus

Sky Chart of Eridanus Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Eridanus constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Eridanus in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Eridanus Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's Eridanus rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 108.8°
Max altitude: 19.7°
Azimuth: 251.2°
Eridanus is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations (like Eridanus actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Eridanus Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Eridanus constellation. See also the complete list of 191 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Eridanus. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR472 α Eridani Achernar 0.46 Variable;
HR1666 β Eridani Cursa 2.79 Variable; Double;
HR1231 γ Eridani Zaurak 2.95 Variable; Double;
HR897 θ1 Eridani Acamar 3.24 Variable; Double;
HR1136 δ Eridani 3.54 Variable;
HR1347 υ4 Eridani 3.56 Variable; Multiple;
HR674 φ Eridani 3.56 Double;
HR1003 τ4 Eridani 3.69 Variable; Multiple;
HR566 χ Eridani 3.7 Variable; Double;
HR1084 ε Eridani Ran 3.73 Double;
HR1464 υ2 Eridani Theemin 3.82
HR1481 53 Eridani Sceptrum 3.87 Double;
HR874 η Eridani Azha 3.89 Variable;
HR1463 ν Eridani 3.93 Variable; Double;
HR1393 43 Eridani Beemim 3.96
HR1520 μ Eridani 4.02
HR1298 ο1 Eridani Beid 4.04 Variable;
HR919 τ3 Eridani 4.09
HR794 ι Eridani 4.11
HR1195 4.17
...go to the complete list of 191 bright stars in the constellation of Eridanus

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Eridanus Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Eridanus constellation. See also the complete list of 425 deep sky objects in the constellation of Eridanus. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 1269 Galaxy 8.81 (V)
NGC 1600 Galaxy 8.9 (B)
NGC 1535 Planetary Nebula 9.6 (V)
NGC 1407 Galaxy 9.67 (V)
NGC 1232 Galaxy 9.87 (V)
NGC 1300 Galaxy 10.42 (V)
NGC 1532 Galaxy 10.65 (B)
NGC 1395 Galaxy 10.71 (B)
NGC 1084 Galaxy 10.73 (V)
NGC 1400 Galaxy 10.96 (V)
NGC 1386 Galaxy 11.23 (V)
NGC 1353 Galaxy 11.35 (V)
NGC 1637 Galaxy 11.4 (B)
NGC 1187 Galaxy 11.41 (B)
NGC 1426 Galaxy 11.44 (V)
NGC 1332 Galaxy 11.45 (B)
NGC 1389 Galaxy 11.5 (V)
NGC 1537 Galaxy 11.54 (B)
NGC 1325 Galaxy 11.55 (V)
NGC 1640 Galaxy 11.72 (V)
...go to the complete list of 425 deep sky objects in the constellation of Eridanus