Constellation · Aps
Apus
The Bird of Paradise
A small, faint constellation near the south celestial pole, never visible from mid-northern latitudes.
Magnitude 3.83, practically tied with Gamma Apodis
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (summer in the northern hemisphere)
Latitudes where every part of it rises above the horizon at some time of year
The whole sky covers about 41,253 square degrees
Stars brighter than about magnitude 6, the naked-eye limit under dark skies
Can you see Apus from where you live?
This depends only on your latitude. Pick the row nearest to you; for your exact sky tonight, use the sky map.
| Latitude | Apus |
|---|---|
| 60°N | Never rises |
| 40°N | Never rises |
| 20°N | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 40°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
| 60°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
Questions about Apus
When is Apus best seen?
Apus stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in July. That makes summer evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Apus?
The brightest star in Apus is Alpha Apodis, magnitude 3.83 (practically tied with Gamma Apodis).
Where on Earth can you see Apus?
The whole of Apus can be seen from latitudes between about 90°S and 7°N. From 40°N: Never rises. From 35°S: Visible all night, all year (it never sets).
What does Apus mean?
Apus is Latin for "the Bird of Paradise". Charted by Dutch navigators in the late 1500s.