TucanaTucana

What it looks like

Tucana is a mid-sized southern constellation introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1598, drawn as a toucan with its large bill. Although its own stars are modest, the constellation contains two of the most famous objects in the southern sky: the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, and 47 Tucanae, one of the finest globular clusters visible from Earth.

Brightest stars

Tucana has no first-magnitude stars; its brightest, Alpha Tucanae, sits near magnitude 2.9.

Mythology and history

Tucana has no ancient mythology. It was created in 1598 by Petrus Plancius from star positions charted by Dutch navigators, and named after the toucan of the New World.

A bird of the New World

Tucana was introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1598, based on observations recorded by Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman on their voyages to the East Indies. It was later included by Johann Bayer in the Uranometria of 1603. The toucan is a bird native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, unknown to the ancient Greeks and Romans — so unlike the classical constellations, Tucana is a modern addition to the sky, unconnected to any mythological tradition.

How to find it

Look for the Small Magellanic Cloud — a large, hazy patch visible to the naked eye — in the southern sky on spring evenings.

• The Small Magellanic Cloud itself is the easiest landmark.
• 47 Tucanae sits just beside the SMC and is visible to the naked eye.
• Best from the southern hemisphere on spring and summer evenings.

Key facts

Abbreviation

Tuc

Genitive

Tucanae

Meaning

The Toucan

Brightest star

Alpha Tucanae

Main stars

6

Area rank

48th

Best visible

November

Declination

-65°

Meteor showers

—

Neighbours

Grus, Indus, Pavo, Octans, Hydrus, Eridanus, Phoenix

Deep-sky objects

47 Tucanae (NGC 104) is the second-brightest globular cluster in the sky after Omega Centauri, containing millions of stars. The Small Magellanic Cloud is a dwarf irregular galaxy about 200,000 light-years away, and the constellation also contains the smaller globular cluster NGC 362.

Frequently asked questions

What does the constellation Tucana look like?

Tucana is a southern constellation known as the Toucan, home to the Small Magellanic Cloud and 47 Tucanae — the second-brightest globular cluster in the sky.

What is the brightest star in Tucana?

The brightest star in Tucana is Alpha Tucanae, shining at around magnitude 2.87.

When is Tucana best visible?

Tucana is best seen from southern hemisphere during November.

What is the story behind Tucana?

Tucana has no ancient mythology. It was created in 1598 by Petrus Plancius from star positions charted by Dutch navigators, and named after the toucan of the New World.

Which constellations are near Tucana?

Tucana borders Grus, Indus, Pavo, Octans, Hydrus, Eridanus and Phoenix.