Antlia constellation

Antlia (the Air Pump) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in April. Its brightest star is α Antliae (magnitude 4.25). Antlia covers 239 square degrees and is the 62nd-largest of the 88 constellations.

Updated: 2026-11-01

Antlia constellation: the main stars connected by lines — The shape of Antlia: its brighter stars joined by the traditional stick figure.

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Detailed star map of Antlia

Antlia constellation star map with lines connecting the stars, the brightest stars labeled (Greek letters), the IAU boundary and neighboring constellations — Map of Antlia: lines connect the stars of the traditional figure, the dashed line is the official IAU boundary. Star names and Greek letters mark the brightest stars.

Facts

Latin name	Antlia (genitive: Antliae)
Abbreviation	Ant
Meaning	the Air Pump
Area	239 square degrees (62nd of 88)
Location	right ascension 10.2 h, declination −34°
Visible from	latitudes 50° N to 90° S (whole constellation)
Best month	April (at about 9 pm)
Brightest star	α Antliae
Stars brighter than magnitude 6	21
Named stars (IAU)	none
Messier objects	none
Neighbors	Centaurus, Hydra, Pyxis, Vela

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find Antlia

From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in April evenings: at about 9 pm Antlia stands highest, around 16° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 89° above the horizon. The months before and after (March and May) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.

Antlia borders Centaurus, Hydra, Pyxis and Vela.

Where Antlia is in the night sky, shown among its neighbors Centaurus, Hydra, Pyxis and Vela — Antlia (highlighted) among the neighboring constellations. Bright stars are named for orientation.

Stars of Antlia

Antlia has 21 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:

Star	Designation	Magnitude	Type	Distance
—	α Antliae	4.25	K4III	—

Printable Antlia map and outline

A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Antlia figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.

Printable black and white map of the Antlia constellation with star names, lines and boundary

Antlia constellation outline: the stick figure of Antlia without labels

History

Antlia is introduced by the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille, who charted the southern sky from the Cape of Good Hope in 1751–52. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.