Sculptor

Constellation
List of stars in Sculptor
Abbreviation	Scl
Genitive	Sculptoris
Pronunciation	/ˈskʌlptər/, genitive /skəlpˈtɒrɨs/
Symbolism	the Sculptor
Right ascension	0
Declination	−30
Area	475 sq. deg. (36th)
Main stars	4
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	18
Stars with known planets	3
Bright stars	0
Nearby stars	0
Brightest star	α Scl (4.31m)
Nearest star	Gliese 1 (14.2 ly)
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 faint constellation in the southern sky. It represents a sculptor. It was introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the eighteenth century. He originally named it Apparatus Sculptoris (the sculptor's studio), but the name was later shortened.

[edit] Notable features

No bright stars brighter than 3rd magnitude are located in Sculptor. The brightest star is α Sculptoris, an SX Arietis-type variable star with the magnitude of only 4.31^m. This is explained by the fact that Sculptor contains the south galactic pole where stellar density is very low.

The constellation contains the Sculptor Dwarf, a dwarf galaxy which is a member of the Local Group, as well as the Sculptor Group, the group of galaxies closest to the Local Group. The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253), a barred spiral galaxy and the largest member of the group, lies near the border between Sculptor and Cetus. Another prominent member of the group is the irregular galaxy NGC 55.

[edit] References

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

[edit] External links

• Star Tales – Sculptor

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Coordinates: 00^h 00^m 00^s, −30° 00′ 00″