Indus constellation
Indus (the Indian) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in September. Its brightest star is α Indi (magnitude 3.11). Indus covers 294 square degrees and is the 49th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Indus
Facts
| Latin name | Indus (genitive: Indi) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Ind |
| Meaning | the Indian |
| Area | 294 square degrees (49th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 21.6 h, declination −60° |
| Visible from | latitudes 16° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | September (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | α Indi |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 20 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Grus, Microscopium, Octans, Pavo, Telescopium, Tucana |
How to find Indus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Indus never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 65° up. The months before and after (August and October) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Indus borders Grus, Microscopium, Octans, Pavo, Telescopium and Tucana.
Stars of Indus
Indus has 20 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 Indi | 3.11 | K0IIICNIII-IV | — |
| — | β Indi | 3.65 | K1II | — |
| — | θ Indi | 4.39 | A5V | — |
| — | δ Indi | 4.4 | F0IV | — |
Printable Indus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Indus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Indus 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 Indus
What is the brightest star in Indus?
α Indi, at magnitude 3.11.
When can you see Indus?
Indus is best seen in the evening in September. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 16° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Indus?
20 stars in Indus 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 Indus mean?
Indus means “the Indian” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Ind and the genitive, used in star names such as α Indi, is Indi.
