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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 » 

Sextans (The Sextant) Constellation

Altitude: -31.3°   Azimuth: 312.0°   Direction: North-West

Sextans (pronounced ˈsɛkstənz) is the Latin name of a constellation 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 Sextant" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Sex" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Sext" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

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

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

Sky Chart of Sextans Constellation

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

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

Today's Sextans 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: 92.8°
Max altitude: 35.7°
Azimuth: 267.2°
Sextans 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 these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Sextans Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Sextans constellation. See also the complete list of 40 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Sextans. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR3981 α Sextantis 4.49
HR3909 γ Sextantis 5.05 Multiple;
HR4119 β Sextantis 5.09 Variable;
HR4116 δ Sextantis 5.21
HR4042 ε Sextantis 5.24
HR4092 5.57
HR3879 5.65
HR3996 18 Sextantis 5.65 Variable;
HR4004 19 Sextantis 5.77
HR4193 35 Sextantis 5.79 Multiple;
HR4237 41 Sextantis 5.79 Multiple;
HR4233 5.86
HR3989 17 Sextantis 5.91
HR4224 5.93
HR4240 5.95
HR3915 5.95
HR4082 25 Sextantis 5.97 Variable;
HR3899 6 Sextantis 6.01
HR3906 7 Sextantis 6.02 Variable;
HR4109 6.05 Variable;
...go to the complete list of 40 bright stars in the constellation of Sextans

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

Deep Sky Objects in Sextans Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Sextans constellation. See also the complete list of 105 deep sky objects in the constellation of Sextans. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 3115 (Spindle Galaxy) Galaxy 11 (B)
NGC 3166 Galaxy 11.2 (B)
NGC 2967 Galaxy 12.1 (B)
NGC 2974 Galaxy 12.19 (B)
NGC 3055 Galaxy 12.3 (B)
NGC 3169 Galaxy 12.41 (V)
NGC 2990 Galaxy 12.5 (B)
NGC 3044 Galaxy 12.7 (B)
NGC 3023 Galaxy 12.7 (V)
NGC 3156 Galaxy 12.8 (B)
NGC 3325 Galaxy 13 (V)
NGC 3375 Galaxy 13 (B)
NGC 3365 Galaxy 13 (B)
NGC 2962 Galaxy 13.1 (B)
NGC 3340 Galaxy 13.24 (V)
IC 630 Galaxy 13.3 (B)
NGC 3110 Galaxy 13.4 (B)
IC 624 Galaxy 13.5 (B)
NGC 3361 Galaxy 13.5 (B)
NGC 3035 Galaxy 13.5 (V)
...go to the complete list of 105 deep sky objects in the constellation of Sextans