octans

English - English

Definition of octans in English English dictionary

A small circumpolar constellation of the southern sky, said to resemble an octant. It lies closest to the southern celestial pole of any constellation

the constellation that includes the southern celestial pole

Hyphenation

Oc·tans

Etymology

() Named by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1763. From Latin octans, an "octant"