- Indus (constellation)
Infobox Constellation
name = Indus
abbreviation = Ind
genitive = Indi
symbology = the Indian
RA = 21
dec= −55
areatotal = 294
arearank = 49th
numbermainstars = 3
numberbfstars = 16
numberstarsplanets = 2
numberbrightstars = none
numbernearbystars = 1
brighteststarname = "The Persian" (α Ind)
starmagnitude = 3.11
neareststarname = Epsilon Ind
stardistance = 11.82
numbermessierobjects = none
meteorshowers =None [cite web
author=Anonymous | date=February 3 ,2007
url=http://www.amsmeteors.org/showers.html
title=Meteor Showers | publisher=American Meteor Society
accessdate=2008-05-07 ]
bordering =Microscopium
Sagittarius (corner)Telescopium
PavoOctans
Tucana
Grus
latmax = 15
latmin = 90
month = September
notes=Indus (pronEng|ˈɪndəs) is a southern
constellation that represents a native of theAmericas .The brightest star in the constellation,
Alpha Indi , isvisual magnitude 3.11.Epsilon Indi is one of the closest stars toEarth , approximately 11.82light year s away. The system has been discovered to contain a pair of binarybrown dwarfs , and has long been a prime candidate inSETI studies.History
The constellation was one of twelve constellations created by
Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser andFrederick de Houtman between1595 and1597 , [cite book
first=Michael E. | last=Bakich | year=1995
title=The Cambridge Guide to the Constellations
publisher=Cambridge University Press
isbn=0521449219 ] and it first appeared inJohann Bayer 's "Uranometria " of1603 . [cite journal
last=Sawyer Hogg | first=Helen
title=Out of Old Books (Pieter Dircksz Keijser, Delineator of the Southern Constellations)
journal=Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
year=1951 | volume=45 | pages=215
url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1951JRASC..45..215S
accessdate=2008-05-07] Bayer portrayed the figure as a nude male with arrows in both hands but no bow. [cite book
first=Richard Hinckley | last=Allen | year=1963
title=Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning
publisher=Dover Publications | location=New York
isbn=0-486-21079-0 ]Since Indus was introduced in the 17th century, and lies in the south, it was not known to classical or early European cultures. Thus they produced no mythology concerning it.
References
* Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). "Stars and Planets Guide", Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
External links
* [http://www.starrynightphotos.com/constellations/indus.htm Starry Night Photography: Indus Constellation]
* [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/indus.htm Star Tales – Indus]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.