Antlia-the air pump

History and Mythology

This modern constellation is visible in the mid-Northern Hemisphere, but its stars are so faint that classical astronomers never named it. It was founded by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille (1713-1762) in honor of Robert Boyle, inventor of the compressed-air pump. This constellation is merely a name for a region of the sky, so do not go looking for the air pump in the sky.

Stars

alpha-Spectral Type-M0 III Magnitude-4.3 Distance-275ly

epsilon-Spectral Type-M0 III Magnitude-4.5 Distance-315ly

iota-Spectaral Type-G5 III Magnitude-4.6 Distance-315ly

theta-Spectral Type-F7 V Magnitude-4.8 Distance-46ly

Star Clusters

None for telescope viewing

Nebulae

None for telescope viewing

Galaxies

NGC 2997 is a spiral in the middle of the triangle formed by alpha, theta and epsilon, but it requires a moderate-sized telescope to see it.

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