What it looks like
Antlia is a mid-sized southern constellation introduced by Lacaille in 1756, drawn as an air pump — the instrument Robert Boyle used to study vacuums in the 17th century. Its stars are faint, with the brightest reaching only magnitude 4.2, and it sits away from the Milky Way, giving a clear view of faint galaxies beyond.
Brightest stars
Antlia has no bright stars; its brightest, Alpha Antliae, sits near magnitude 4.2.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Antliae | +4.25 | 366 ly | — |
| Epsilon Antliae | +4.51 | 700 ly | — |
| Iota Antliae | +4.60 | 199 ly | — |
| Theta Antliae | +4.78 | 384 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Antlia has no ancient mythology. It was created by Lacaille in 1756 and named after the air pump, one of his group of constellations celebrating the instruments of science.
The vacuum pump
Antlia was introduced by Lacaille in 1756 as 'Antlia Pneumatica' — the pneumatic pump — named after the air pump used to create vacuums in 17th-century experiments. It belongs to the scientific family of Lacaille's constellations, alongside Telescopium, Microscopium, Fornax, Caelum and Norma. Placed in a dim, unremarkable region of the southern sky, Antlia is best known today for containing the Antlia Dwarf galaxy and for its use in studies of the local universe beyond the Milky Way.
How to find it
Look between Hydra and Vela on spring evenings from the southern hemisphere — a small, faint pattern that needs a chart to identify.
- Find Alphard in Hydra, then look east for Antlia.
- No star brighter than magnitude 4.2 — a dark-sky object.
- Best from the southern hemisphere on spring evenings.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Ant
- Genitive
- Antliae
- Meaning
- The Air Pump
- Brightest star
- Alpha Antliae
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 62nd
- Best visible
- April
- Declination
- -35°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Hydra, Pyxis, Vela, Centaurus
Deep-sky objects
Antlia contains the Antlia Dwarf galaxy, a faint satellite of the Milky Way, and the Antlia Cluster (Abell S0636), a rich galaxy cluster about 130 million light-years away. The constellation also contains NGC 2997, a bright face-on spiral galaxy popular with astrophotographers.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Antlia look like?
Antlia is a faint southern constellation named for the air pump, introduced by Lacaille in 1756 and lying between Hydra and Vela in a quiet, star-poor region of the sky.
What is the brightest star in Antlia?
The brightest star in Antlia is Alpha Antliae, shining at around magnitude 4.25.
When is Antlia best visible?
Antlia is best seen from southern hemisphere during April.
What is the story behind Antlia?
Antlia has no ancient mythology. It was created by Lacaille in 1756 and named after the air pump, one of his group of constellations celebrating the instruments of science.
Which constellations are near Antlia?
Antlia borders Hydra, Pyxis, Vela and Centaurus.
Hydra
Vela