Cir · Circini
Circinus Constellation
IAU constellation mapCirCircinus (Cir) is one of the 88 constellations recognised by the International Astronomical Union. It covers 93 square degrees of the southern sky in quadrant SQ3. Its brightest star is Alpha Circini. The Latin genitive of the name is Circini, used to form star names within the constellation. The IAU standardised all constellation boundaries in 1930.
Quick facts
- IAU name
- Circinus
- Abbreviation
- Cir
- Latin genitive
- Circini
- Hemisphere
- southern
- Area
- 93 sq deg
- Brightest star
- Alpha Circini
- Quadrant
- SQ3
- Family
- Lacaille
- Discovery era
- Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, 1751-1752
Overview
Circinus is one of the 88 constellations formally recognised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). It occupies 93 square degrees of sky in the southern hemisphere sky, best visible at latitudes between +45 and -90 degrees in June. The constellation belongs to the Lacaille family of constellations. Its Latin genitive is Circini, the form used when naming stars within the constellation — for example, the brightest star Alpha Circini may appear in catalogues as Alpha Circini or similar. The IAU standardised the boundaries of all 88 constellations in 1930 under the direction of Eugène Delporte, using straight lines of right ascension and declination to eliminate the ambiguities of earlier variable-boundary systems.
Notable stars
The brightest star in Circinus is Alpha Circini. Individual stars within Circinus are conventionally named using Bayer designation — Greek letters followed by the Latin genitive of the constellation name (Circini) — introduced by Johann Bayer in his 1603 star atlas Uranometria. Flamsteed numbers (numeric designators followed by Circinus) were added by John Flamsteed in his 1712 catalogue. Variable stars, double stars, and deep-sky objects within the Circinus boundary are catalogued by the IAU with the abbreviation Cir.
History and catalogue
Circinus was introduced or documented by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, 1751-1752. The modern IAU constellation boundaries were formally established in 1930. The designation Cir is the official three-letter IAU abbreviation used in star catalogues, variable star designations, and positional references. The family classification 'Lacaille' groups this constellation with others sharing a region of sky or a common historical source in astronomical literature.
Sources & further reading (2)
- official-iau — accessed 2026-05-06
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-06
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Circinus mean?
Circinus is the Latin name used by the IAU to designate this constellation. The name comes from classical Latin and Greek astronomical tradition. In star catalogues, stars within Circinus are designated using the genitive form of the name (e.g. Alpha Circinus or similar Latin genitive forms) — a naming convention introduced by Johann Bayer in his 1603 atlas Uranometria and still in use today.
How large is Circinus compared to other constellations?
Circinus covers 93 square degrees of sky. The full sphere of the sky contains 41,253 square degrees, so Circinus occupies about 0.2% of the total sky. For comparison, the largest constellation is Hydra at 1303 square degrees; the smallest is Crux at 68 square degrees.
When and where is Circinus visible?
Circinus is primarily a southern hemisphere constellation. Observers at high northern latitudes cannot see it; it is best appreciated from the southern tropics or high southern latitudes. The brightest star, Alpha Circini, serves as the main visual anchor for locating the constellation. As with all constellations, the best viewing conditions are a dark sky away from artificial light pollution, with the constellation high enough above the horizon to minimise atmospheric absorption.
