Sculptor (constellation)

Sculptor

Constellation
List of stars in Sculptor
Abbreviation	Scl
Genitive	Sculptoris
Pronunciation	/ˈskʌlptər/, genitive /skəlpˈtɒrɨs/
Symbolism	the Sculptor
Right ascension	0 h
Declination	−30°
Quadrant	SQ1
Area	475 sq. deg. (36th)
Main stars	4
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	18
Stars with planets	6
Stars brighter than 3.00m	0
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	2
Brightest star	α Scl (4.30m)
Nearest star	Gliese 1 (14.22 ly, 4.36 pc)
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 18th century. He originally named it Apparatus Sculptoris (the sculptor's studio), but the name was later shortened.

Notable features [edit]

Curious spiral around red giant star R Sculptoris.^[1]

No stars brighter than 3rd magnitude are located in Sculptor. This is explained by the fact that Sculptor contains the south galactic pole where stellar density is very low.

The brightest is α Sculptoris, an SX Arietis-type variable star with the magnitude of only 4.31^m. The constellation also 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.

One unique galaxy in Sculptor is the Cartwheel Galaxy, at a distance of 500 million light-years. The result of a merger around 300 million years ago, the Cartwheel Galaxy has a core of older, yellow stars, and an outer ring of younger, blue stars, which has a diameter of 100,000 light-years. The smaller galaxy in the collision is now incorporated into the core, after moving from a distance of 250,000 light-years. The shock waves from the collision sparked extensive star formation in the outer ring.^[2]

Namesakes [edit]

USS Sculptor (AK-103) was a United States Navy Crater class cargo ship named after the constellation.

References [edit]

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0-00-725120-9. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0-691-13556-4.

External links [edit]

• Star Tales – Sculptor

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sculptor (constellation) (category)

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