Sculptor (constellation) facts for kids
| Constellation | |
List of stars in Sculptor
|
|
| Abbreviation | Scl |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Sculptoris |
| Pronunciation | genitive |
| Symbolism | the Sculptor |
| Right ascension | 0 |
| Declination | −30 |
| Quadrant | SQ1 |
| Area | 475 sq. deg. (36th) |
| Main stars | 4 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
18 |
| Stars with planets | 6 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 2 |
| Brightest star | α Scl (4.30m) |
| Messier objects | 0 |
| Bordering constellations |
Cetus Aquarius Piscis Austrinus Grus Phoenix Fornax |
| Visible at latitudes between +50° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of November. |
|
Sculptor is a small and dim constellation you can find in the southern sky. It looks like a sculptor, which is an artist who creates statues or other art from materials like stone or clay. A French astronomer named Nicolas Louis de Lacaille first described it in the 1700s. He originally called it Apparatus Sculptoris, meaning "the sculptor's studio," but the name was later made shorter.
Contents
What is the Sculptor Constellation?
The Sculptor constellation is one of 88 official constellations. It is located in the southern part of the sky. You can see it best during the month of November. Even though it's not very bright, it's an interesting part of our night sky.
How Was Sculptor Named?
Nicolas Louis de Lacaille was a famous astronomer. He spent time mapping the southern sky. He named many constellations after scientific tools and artistic instruments. This was different from older constellations, which were often named after myths or animals. Sculptor is one of these "modern" constellations.
Deep-Sky Objects in Sculptor
The Sculptor constellation is home to some amazing objects far out in space. These are called deep-sky objects. They include galaxies and star clusters.
The Cartwheel Galaxy
One of the most famous objects in Sculptor is the Cartwheel galaxy. This galaxy looks like a wagon wheel. It has a bright center and a ring around it. Scientists believe its unique shape was caused by a collision with another galaxy. This collision created shockwaves that spread through the galaxy, forming the ring.
Other Galaxies in Sculptor
Sculptor is part of a group of galaxies called the Sculptor Group. This group is one of the closest galaxy groups to our own Milky Way galaxy. It includes several spiral galaxies. These galaxies are like giant pinwheels of stars, gas, and dust.
Images for kids
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Artistic rendition of the sculptor's studio, along with parts of the neighbouring constellations of Cetus and Machina Electrica, in Urania's Mirror (1825)
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Curious spiral around red giant star R Sculptoris
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See also
In Spanish: Sculptor para niños
