Apus constellation
Apus (the Bird of Paradise) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in July. Its brightest star is α Apodis (magnitude 3.83). Apus covers 206 square degrees and is the 67th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Apus
Facts
| Latin name | Apus (genitive: Apodis) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Aps |
| Meaning | the Bird of Paradise |
| Area | 206 square degrees (67th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 16.3 h, declination −76° |
| Visible from | latitudes 7° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | July (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | α Apodis |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 21 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Ara, Chamaeleon, Circinus, Musca, Octans, Pavo, Triangulum Australe |
How to find Apus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Apus never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 49° up. The months before and after (June and August) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Apus borders Ara, Chamaeleon, Circinus, Musca, Octans, Pavo and Triangulum Australe.
Stars of Apus
Apus 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 Apodis | 3.83 | K3IIIa | — |
| — | γ Apodis | 3.89 | G8-K0III | — |
| — | β Apodis | 4.24 | K0III | — |
Printable Apus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Apus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Apus is introduced by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the 1590s and published by Petrus Plancius and Johann Bayer. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Apus
What is the brightest star in Apus?
α Apodis, at magnitude 3.83.
When can you see Apus?
Apus is best seen in the evening in July. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 7° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Apus?
21 stars in Apus are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; none of them has an official IAU name.
What does Apus mean?
Apus means “the Bird of Paradise” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Aps and the genitive, used in star names such as α Apodis, is Apodis.
