Antlia facts for kids
The constellation Antlia is a group of stars found in the southern part of the sky. Its name means "pump" and comes from an old Greek word, ἀντλία. It represents an air pump or a vacuum pump. The stars that form Antlia are not very bright, so it can be a bit tricky to spot them. This constellation is quite new compared to many others; it was officially named in the 18th century.
People living in the northern parts of the world can see Antlia if they are south of about 45 degrees north latitude. For those in the southern parts of the world, it's visible as far south as the South Pole. You can usually see it best from January through March.
| Constellation | |
List of stars in Antlia
|
|
| Abbreviation | Ant |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Antliae |
| Pronunciation | genitive |
| Symbolism | the air pump |
| Right ascension | 10 |
| Declination | −30 |
| Quadrant | SQ2 |
| Area | 239 sq. deg. (62nd) |
| Main stars | 3 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
9 |
| Stars with planets | 1 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 2 |
| Brightest star | α Ant (4.25m) |
| Messier objects | 0 |
| Meteor showers | None |
| Bordering constellations |
Hydra Pyxis Vela Centaurus |
| Visible at latitudes between +45° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of April. |
|
Contents
What is Antlia?
Antlia is a constellation, which is a group of stars that form a pattern in the sky. People often imagine these patterns as objects, animals, or characters. Antlia is one of the 88 modern constellations recognized today. It's located in the southern celestial hemisphere, meaning you need to be in the Southern Hemisphere or closer to the equator to see it well.
The Story Behind the Name
The name "Antlia" comes from the Greek word for "pump." It represents an air pump, a tool used to move air or create a vacuum. This constellation was named by a French astronomer named Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. He created many constellations in the southern sky, often naming them after scientific instruments.
Neighboring Constellations
Antlia is surrounded by several other constellations. To its north, you'll find Hydra, which is a long sea snake. To the east, it borders Pyxis, the compass. To the south, it touches Vela, which represents the sails of a ship. Finally, to the west, it is next to Centaurus, a creature from Greek myths that is half-human and half-horse.
Stars in Antlia
Antlia is not known for having very bright stars. Its brightest star is called Alpha Antliae, but even this star is not very easy to see without a telescope or very dark skies. Most of the stars in Antlia are quite faint.
Notable Objects in Antlia
Even though its stars are dim, Antlia contains some interesting deep-sky objects that astronomers study with powerful telescopes.
- NGC 2997: This is a beautiful spiral galaxy that we see nearly face-on. It's a bit like looking at a giant cosmic pinwheel.
- ESO 376-16: This is another galaxy located about 23 million light-years away from Earth. It's part of a group of galaxies.
Images for kids
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Johann Bode's depiction of Antlia as a double-cylinder air pump
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A composite image of NGC 2997
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Galaxy ESO 376-16 is located nearly 23 million light-years from Earth.
See also
In Spanish: Antlia para niños
