Sextans


Sextans


English nameSextant

Major
stars
No star of the constellation exceeds the magnitude 3,5.

DescriptionWeak equatorial constellation, situated to the south of Leo.

NGC 3115The brightest star, alpha Sextantis, is of magnitude 4,5. The only interesting object is NGC 3115 (reproduced here on the right), a small galaxy, seen in profile: it is of tenth magnitude and to see it you need a telescope of average power.


Mythology
and history
The constellation was drawn in 1687 by Johannes Hevelius. At first called Sextans Uraniae, it represents the tool used to measure the position of the stars.


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