Octans
A small circumpolar constellation of the southern sky, said to resemble an octant. It lies closest to the southern celestial pole of any constellation.
Proper noun
- A small circumpolar constellation of the southern sky, said to resemble an octant. It lies closest to the southern celestial pole of any constellation.
Origin
Named by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1763. From Latin octans (“an octant”). Doublet of octant.