description Indus Overview
Indus, Latin for 'the Indian,' is a faint southern constellation depicted in early celestial atlases as a Native American figure holding arrows. It was introduced by Petrus Plancius from southern-sky observations made by Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the late 1590s, and appeared in Johann Bayer's 1603 Uranometria. Its brightest star, Alpha Indi, reaches only about magnitude 3, but the constellation contains Epsilon Indi, an orange K-type dwarf roughly 12 light-years from the Sun that is orbited by brown dwarf companions.
help Indus FAQ
What does the constellation Indus represent?
Indus represents an Indian or Native American figure holding arrows in early celestial atlases. Its Latin name means “the Indian.”
Who introduced Indus to European star atlases?
Petrus Plancius introduced Indus as a southern-sky constellation. The underlying observations came from Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman.
Can Indus be seen from the Northern Hemisphere?
Indus is a southern constellation, so it is easiest to see from the Southern Hemisphere. Observers in far northern locations may see little or none of it above the horizon.
Is Indus a bright constellation?
No. Indus is generally considered faint and does not contain a first-magnitude star. Its importance comes mainly from its historical place among the southern constellations.
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