Indus

Transit Date of principal star:
31 July

Johann Bayer wanted to honour the American Indian in his collection of new constellations for his 1603 book Uranometria. Indus is the result, a collection of stars ranging from 3.1 to 5.3 visual magnitude. The constellation has little more than a few binaries, and one of the closest stars to our Solar System. As it closely matches our own sun, Epsilon Indi has been studied as a possible candidate for planets, however none have yet been found circling the star. Binary stars: Alpha Indi is a wide binary with a very faint companion: 3.1, 12.5; PA 199 degrees, and separation 67.4". Delta Indi is an extremely rapid binary, only 12 years; thus the component is very close. Epoch 2000 values: 4.4, 5.5; PA 50 degrees, separation 0.2". Theta Indi is a pleasant binary, easily resolved: 4.4, 7.0; PA 275 degrees, separation 6". A printed version of this web site ["The Constellations Pocket Guide"] is available, covering all 88 constellations and their graphics.

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© 1999 by Richard Dibon-Smith.