BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy Octans - the Octant *new article*

Octans was one of the southern constellations created by 18th-century French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. He used them to fill the gaps in the southern sky map, naming them for tools of the arts and sciences of his day. An octant was a navigation device that preceded the sextant.

Octans - the Octant

You are amazing, Mona.

Well, thank you for your kind words, Angie. I think I'll have to get a larger hat now to fit my swollen head.

If astronomers talk about the death of stars, it's probably not pop stars they mean. Unless the pop star created Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom and Aladdin Sane, and sang "Life on Mars", "Starman" and "Hallo Spaceboy". Here are some of the astronomy tributes to David Bowie.

Astronomy Tributes to David Bowie

One of the tributes involved creating an asterism that includes Delta Octantis. it's based on the lightning bolt for "Aladdin Sane".