Generalities: it is a small constellation of the deep southern sky, formed by weak stars. It is not far from the brightest stars of the Centaur. Its transit at midnight takes place in May.

Origins and mythology: this constellation belongs to the so- called “modern” constellations and it is not associated with any mythological circumstances. It was introduced by Lacaille in the eighteenth century.

Stars: the Compass shows an only  star of magnitude inferior  to 4. It is the star alpha of magnitude 3.19, of white-yellow color,which is 45 light-years far.

Table of stars brighter than magnitude 3.5
 

Star	Proper name	Magnitude	Spectrum	Colour	Distance (light-years)	Notes
Alpha		3.19	F0	white-yellow	46

Other objects: in this constellation objects of the deep sky of great interest are not included.

Go back to constellations index
 

Go back to Home Page