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Glite Dictionary
Circinus

Circinus

1 9.9
A small faint group of stars in the southern sky near Musca and Triangulum Australe
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
: Circinus
  • The Circinus constellation features one of the faintest groupings of stars visible from Earth.

Examples

  • When observing the night sky, I often spot Circinus next to Triangulum Australe.

  • Circinus lies close to the brighter constellation of Triangulum Australe.

  • Astronomers studied the stars within Circinus using a powerful telescope.

  • The constellation Circinus is visible only from the Southern Hemisphere.

  • Circinus is beautiful.

  • Look at Circinus!

  • Astronomers categorize Circinus as part of the southern celestial hemisphere, along with Musca.

Surface Forms

Circinus main

Etymology

The word Circinus comes from a Latin word meaning 'compass', the tool used to draw circles, and it was given to this small southern constellation because its stars look a little like a pair of compasses. This is the same root as circle, which means 'round', so the name helps you remember its shape.