Sextans

Sextans

Constellation
List of stars in Sextans
Abbreviation	Sex
Genitive	Sextantis, Sextansis
Pronunciation	/ˈsɛkstənz/, genitive /sɛksˈtæntɪs/
Symbolism	the Sextant
Right ascension	09h 41m 04.8653s–10h 51m 30.2447s[1]
Declination	6.4327669°–−11.6621428°[1]
Quadrant	SQ2
Area	314 sq. deg. (47th)
Main stars	3
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	28
Stars with planets	5
Stars brighter than 3.00m	0
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	5
Brightest star	α Sex (4.49m)
Messier objects	0
Meteor showers	Sextantids
Bordering constellations	Leo Hydra Crater
Visible at latitudes between +80° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of April.

Sextans is a faint, minor constellation on the celestial equator which was introduced in 1687 by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius. Its name is Latin for the astronomical sextant, an instrument that Hevelius made frequent use of in his observations.