Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Octans
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Star trails over banksia trees, in Gippsland, Vic., Austl. The south celestial pole, located in the constellation Octans, is at the centre of the trails.
Quizzes
Ursa major constellation illustration art. (Big Dipper) stars, space, night sky)
Stars: Explosions in Space
Read Next
Galaxy clusters like Abell 2744 can act as a natural cosmic lens, magnifying light from more distant, background objects through gravity. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope may be able to detect light from the first stars in the universe if they are gravitationally lensed by such clusters. (astronomy, space exploration, galaxies)
How Fast Is the Universe Expanding?
Colorful winter sunset
What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?
Discover
The tomb of Saint Nicholas in the crypt of the Basilica di San Nicola, Bari, Apulia, Italy
Do the Relics of Saint Nicholas Really Emit a Holy Substance?
Image of Antenna galaxy
The Fermi Paradox: Where Are All the Aliens?
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) standing on rock, side view, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
The Fastest Animals on Earth
NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.
10 Great Sports Rivalries
Chinese dragon sculpture or statue.
10 Legendary Creatures from Around the World
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses marchers during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. August 28th 1963
Was Martin Luther King, Jr., a Republican or a Democrat?
Ruminant. Deer. Red deer. Cervus elaphus. Buck. Stag. Antlers.
9 of the World’s Deadliest Mammals
Star trails over banksia trees, in Gippsland, Vic., Austl. The south celestial pole, located in the constellation Octans, is at the centre of the trails.
Star trails over banksia trees, in Gippsland, Vic., Austl. The south celestial pole, located in the constellation Octans, is at the centre of the trails.

Octans

astronomy
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/place/Octans
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Written by
Erik Gregersen
Erik Gregersen is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, specializing in the physical sciences and technology. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on the...
Erik Gregersen
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Latin:
“Octant”
See all related content

Octans, constellation in the southern sky that covers the south celestial pole. Its brightest star is Nu Octantis, with a magnitude of 3.8. The southern polestar, Polaris Australis (also called Sigma Octantis), has a magnitude of 5.4 and thus, unlike the north polestar, Polaris, is quite difficult to see with the naked eye. The French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille formed this constellation in 1754. It represents the octant, a navigational instrument that was replaced by the sextant in the latter half of the 18th century.

Erik Gregersen