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Learn the Constellations
The First Light Astronomy Kit from David Chandler Company
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The American Association of Amateur Astronomers

Learn the Constellations
The First Light Astronomy Kit from David Chandler Company

 Buy it Now or Find Out More

The Constellation Mensa - The Table Mountain

Mensa is one of the 15 circumpolar constellations in the southern hemisphere. It was officially named in honor of Table Mountain in Cape Town, by the French astronomer Abbe Nicholas Louis de Lacaille in 1763, during his survey of the southern skies from South Africa.

Mensa is faint and barely noticeable, and is notable because of the fact that it contains a part of the Large Magellanic Cloud, most of which is actually located in the neighboring constellation of Dorado.

South Celestial Pole: Octans, Dorado, Tucana and Magellanic Clouds. Photo copyright Ed Flaspoehler - La Serena, Chile, 1986

South Celestial Pole: Octans, Dorado, Tucana and Magellanic Clouds
Photo copyright Ed Flaspoehler - La Serena, Chile, 1986
Click on image for a larger view.

This wide angle, 28-mm photographic image of the South Celestial Pole covers a lot of territory.

In the upper center is the constellation Octans and the pole itself. To the upper left of Octans, you can make out the stars in the constellation Apus.

Just below and left of center is the Small Magellanic Cloud in Tucana. Look carefully, and you can easily see the bright globular cluster, 47 Tucanae.

Right of center is the much larger and brighter Large Magellanic Cloud in Dorado and Mensa. You can easily make out NGC 2070, the Tarantula Nebula, in the LMC.

Both the LMC and the SMC are elliptical galaxies which are satellite companions to our own Milky Way Galaxy.

The bright triangle of Hydrus can be found nestled between the two Magellanic clouds.

Above the LMC is the constellation Volans. On the far right you will find the bright star Canopus in the constellation Carina. Directly above Volans, you can make out the constellation Chamealeon.

Click on the image to get an enlarged view, and refer to a good star chart to help you pick out these various constellations and features of the beautiful area surrounding the South Celestial Pole.

Deep Sky Objects in Mensa

The following objects are on the Astronomical League's Southern Sky Binocular List
Click HERE to download PDF

There are no Deep Sky Objects in Mensa

Photos and Text © Copyright Edward P. Flaspoehler, Jr.

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EDITOR: Edward P. Flaspoehler, Jr.

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