Observations placeholder
Ptolemy after 150 AD - Centaurus
Identifier
026531
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
|
Constellation |
Abbreviations |
Genitive |
Origin |
Meaning |
Brightest star |
|
|
IAU |
Other |
|||||
|
Centaurus |
Cen |
Cent |
Centauri |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
centaur |
Alpha Centauri |
Centaurus /sɛnˈtɔːrəs/ is a bright constellation in the southern sky. One of the largest constellations, Centaurus was included among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations.
In Greek mythology, Centaurus represents a centaur; a creature that is half human, half horse (another constellation named after a centaur is one from the zodiac: Sagittarius). Notable stars include Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Solar System, its neighbour in the sky Beta Centauri, and V766 Centauri, one of the largest stars yet discovered. The constellation also contains Omega Centauri, the brightest globular cluster as visible from Earth and one of the largest known.