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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
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All Constellations » 

Octans (The Octant) Constellation

Altitude: -43.2°   Azimuth: 180.3°   Direction: South

Octans (pronounced ˈɒktænz) is the Latin name of a constellation situated close to the southern celestial pole. As such, it is easilty visible for most part of the year from the southern hemisphere.

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

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Octantis" (pronounced ɒkˈtæntɪs) 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 Octantis (the brightest star of Octans based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Octantis (the 23th star in the constellation of Octans based on the Flamsteed catalog).

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

Sky Chart of Octans Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Octans constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Octans 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 Octans Constellation

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

Octans is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt

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 these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Octans Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Octans constellation. See also the complete list of 67 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Octans. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR8254 ν Octantis 3.76 Double;
HR8630 β Octantis 4.15
HR5339 δ Octantis 4.32 Variable;
HR9084 θ Octantis 4.78
HR8481 ε Octantis 5.1 Variable;
HR9032 γ1 Octantis 5.11
HR8021 α Octantis 5.15
HR30 γ3 Octantis 5.28
HR6721 χ Octantis 5.28
HR8280 λ Octantis 5.29 Double;
HR8663 ξ Octantis 5.35
HR3678 ζ Octantis 5.42
HR4870 ι Octantis 5.46 Double;
HR7228 σ Octantis Polaris Australis 5.47 Variable;
HR6829 φ Octantis 5.47
HR8862 τ Octantis 5.49
HR8471 ψ Octantis 5.51
HR5729 ρ Octantis 5.57
HR5084 κ Octantis 5.58
HR5525 π1 Octantis 5.65
...go to the complete list of 67 bright stars in the constellation of Octans

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

Deep Sky Objects in Octans Constellation

The table below lists all the deep sky objects in the Octans constellation. See also the complete list of 17 deep sky objects in the constellation of Octans. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 7098 Galaxy 11.37 (V)
NGC 6438 Galaxy 11.61 (V)
NGC 7095 Galaxy 12.22 (B)
NGC 6438A Galaxy 12.57 (B)
NGC 6920 Galaxy 13.08 (B)
NGC 7637 Galaxy 13.24 (B)
NGC 6557 Galaxy 13.99 (B)
NGC 2573 Galaxy 14.15 (B)
IC 4333 Galaxy 14.56 (B)
IC 4864 Galaxy 15.02 (B)
IC 5040 Galaxy 15.17 (B)
IC 4912 Galaxy 15.29 (B)
NGC 2573B Galaxy 15.32 (B)
IC 5025 Galaxy 15.42 (B)
IC 5026 Galaxy 15.48 (B)
IC 5022 Galaxy 15.49 (B)
IC 4928 Galaxy 15.97 (B)