What it looks like
Caelum is one of the smallest and faintest of the 88 constellations. It was introduced by Lacaille in 1756 under the name 'Caelum Sculptorium' — the engraver's chisel — and later shortened to Caelum. Its brightest star, Alpha Caeli, only reaches magnitude 4.45, making it a genuine challenge for urban observers. It lies south of Eridanus and east of Fornax.
Brightest stars
Caelum has no bright stars; its brightest, Alpha Caeli, sits near magnitude 4.45.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Caeli | +4.45 | 66 ly | — |
| Gamma Caeli | +4.55 | 186 ly | — |
| Beta Caeli | +5.05 | 90 ly | — |
| Delta Caeli | +5.07 | 710 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Caelum has no ancient mythology. It was created by Lacaille in 1756 and named after the engraver's chisel, one of the tools of the artist's craft.
The engraver's chisel
Caelum was introduced by Lacaille in 1756 as 'Caelum Sculptorium', the engraver's chisel — one of several constellations he named for the tools of science and craft. It was later shortened to Caelum, which in Latin can also mean 'the heavens' or 'the sky', a fitting coincidence for an astronomer's constellation. It sits in a sparse region of the southern sky away from the Milky Way, with no notable deep-sky objects of its own — one of the quietest corners of the celestial sphere.
How to find it
Look between Eridanus and Columba on winter evenings from the southern hemisphere — a small, faint pattern that needs a chart to identify.
- Find bright Achernar in Eridanus, then look northwest.
- Nothing brighter than magnitude 4.4 — best under dark skies.
- Best from the southern hemisphere and low northern latitudes.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Cae
- Genitive
- Caeli
- Meaning
- The Chisel
- Brightest star
- Alpha Caeli
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 81st
- Best visible
- January
- Declination
- -40°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Eridanus, Lepus, Columba, Pictor, Dorado, Horologium
Deep-sky objects
Caelum has no notable deep-sky objects. Its main interest is a small number of faint galaxies and the nearby red dwarf star RR Caeli, a binary system with a white dwarf companion.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Caelum look like?
Caelum is a small, faint southern constellation introduced by Lacaille in 1756, representing the engraver's chisel and containing no star brighter than fourth magnitude.
What is the brightest star in Caelum?
The brightest star in Caelum is Alpha Caeli, shining at around magnitude 4.45.
When is Caelum best visible?
Caelum is best seen from southern hemisphere during January.
What is the story behind Caelum?
Caelum has no ancient mythology. It was created by Lacaille in 1756 and named after the engraver's chisel, one of the tools of the artist's craft.
Which constellations are near Caelum?
Caelum borders Eridanus, Lepus, Columba, Pictor, Dorado and Horologium.
Eridanus
Columba