Sextans

Sextans is a faint equatorial constellation with no stars brighter than magnitude 4.5. It contains the Spindle Galaxy (NGC 3115), an edge-on lenticular galaxy. The Giant Void lies partially in this direction.

Location in the Sky

When to Observe

Sextans is best observed during April. It is located in the SQ2 quadrant and is primarily visible from the both hemispheres. The constellation contains 3 main stars forming its asterism, with 11 Bayer/Flamsteed designated stars in total. Its brightest star is Alpha Sextantis.

Mythology & History

Sextans was introduced by Johannes Hevelius in 1687 to commemorate his astronomical sextant, destroyed in a fire at his observatory in 1679. It has no mythological background.