Tucana constellation
Tucana (the Toucan) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in November. Its brightest star is α Tucanae (magnitude 2.86). Tucana covers 295 square degrees and is the 48th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Tucana
Facts
| Latin name | Tucana (genitive: Tucanae) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Tuc |
| Meaning | the Toucan |
| Area | 295 square degrees (48th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 23.8 h, declination −65° |
| Visible from | latitudes 15° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | November (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | α Tucanae |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 27 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Grus, Hydrus, Indus, Octans, Phoenix |
How to find Tucana
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Tucana never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 60° up. The months before and after (October and December) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Tucana borders Grus, Hydrus, Indus, Octans and Phoenix.
Stars of Tucana
Tucana has 27 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 Tucanae | 2.86 | K3III | — |
| — | γ Tucanae | 3.99 | F1III | — |
| — | ζ Tucanae | 4.23 | F9V | — |
| — | β1 Tucanae | 4.37 | B9V | — |
| — | δ Tucanae | 4.48 | B9.5V | — |
| — | ε Tucanae | 4.5 | B9IV | — |
Printable Tucana map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Tucana figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Tucana 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 Tucana
What is the brightest star in Tucana?
α Tucanae, at magnitude 2.86.
When can you see Tucana?
Tucana is best seen in the evening in November. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 15° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Tucana?
27 stars in Tucana 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 Tucana mean?
Tucana means “the Toucan” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Tuc and the genitive, used in star names such as α Tucanae, is Tucanae.
