Apus

Mythology

Apus, the bird of paradise, is a south circumpolar constellation. Its creation is credited to the sixteenth century navigators who sailed the southern seas and named the stars. The idea that this group of stars should be associated with a bird of some sort seems to be unanimous. One English astronomer, J. Ellard Gore referred to it as the House Swallow, while the Chinese called it the Curious Sparrow. Koreans saw it as the Little Wonder Bird.

For the Observer

Alpha Apus (14h 47.5m -79°02') 3.8 magnitude class K5 star.

Beta Apus (16h 43.0m -77°31') 4.2 magnitude class K0 star.

Gamma Apus (16h 33.2m -78°53') 3.8 magnitude class K0 star.

Delta Apus (16h 20.2m -78°41') 4.6 magnitude class M4 star. Binary system, companion is a class K5 star.