Hawaiian Astronomical Society

Constellations: Apus -- Footloose, but Colorful

Myth

Apus first appeared in a listing of tropical birds placed in the sky by Pieter Dircksz Keyser, and appeared in Bayer's Uranometria of 1603. The modern order of Birds, Apodiformes, includes swifts and hummingbirds, birds with small feet. The name, Apus, literally means "no feet" in Greek; but this constellation refers to early specimens of an Indian Bird of Paradise, shipped to Europe with its feet cut off.

Maps

Each map can be clicked on to produce a 916x1200 version of it. They sport red labels, which look good on screen, but which disappear when used with red flashlights. Each map, therefore has a second link to a map better suited for printing in a graphics program, and using in the field. While they are quite large, they are all about 50k, and so are easy to view at today's modem speeds. The first map is a wide area view of the constellation, suitable for naked eye browsing. The next views are binocular width, showing stars to mag. 10, deepsky objects to mag. 12.9, and labeling deepsky objects to magnitude 12.

Interactive, wide area map of Apus

Click the map for a 916x1200 version of the above. Click here for a map better suited for use in the field.

Detailed Map

This a more detailed view of the constellation. The map displays stars to magnitude 10, and deepsky objects to magnitude 12. Click here for a map better suited for use in the field.

Images

72k JPEG NGC6101 (Bennett 74, Caldwell 107) is a relatively faint (mag. 9.3), large (10.7'), irregularly shaped globular cluster. Like most globulars, this one is quite condensed, with stars beginning to resolve at mag. 14. It lies 2.2° south of Zeta Trianguli Australis.

Map	Printable Map

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