Constellation · Tuc
Tucana
The Toucan
Contains the Small Magellanic Cloud and the globular cluster 47 Tucanae, the second-brightest globular cluster in the sky.
Magnitude 2.87
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (autumn 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 Tucana 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 | Tucana |
|---|---|
| 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 Tucana
When is Tucana best seen?
Tucana stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in November. That makes autumn evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Tucana?
The brightest star in Tucana is Alpha Tucanae, magnitude 2.87.
Where on Earth can you see Tucana?
The whole of Tucana can be seen from latitudes between about 90°S and 15°N. From 40°N: Never rises. From 35°S: Visible all night, all year (it never sets).
What does Tucana mean?
Tucana is Latin for "the Toucan". Charted by Dutch navigators in the late 1500s.