Indus constellation
Indus is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the Indian. It is highest in the sky at midnight around 6 August, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 32°N to 90°S.
Indus at a glance
- Represents
- the Indian
- Highest at midnight
- 6 August
- Highest at 9 pm
- 20 September
- Seen whole from
- 32°N to 90°S
- Stars in the figure
- 3 stars
- Origin
- Dutch navigators, 1590s
When to see Indus
Indus is highest in the sky at midnight around 6 August and at 9 pm around 20 September. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on summer time or daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| 15 January | 1:20 PM |
| 15 February | 11:20 AM |
| 15 March | 9:30 AM |
| 15 April | 7:20 AM |
| 15 May | 5:30 AM |
| 15 June | 3:20 AM |
| 15 July | 1:30 AM |
| 15 August | 11:20 PM |
| 15 September | 9:20 PM |
| 15 October | 7:20 PM |
| 15 November | 5:20 PM |
| 15 December | 3:20 PM |
Where to look for Indus
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, only the northern stars of Indus rise, low above the southern horizon.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Indus rises in the east and sets in the west. It is highest around midnight on 6 August, 72° above the southern horizon.
Brightest stars in Indus
None of the stars of Indus is brighter than magnitude 2.3, so it is best seen from a dark place away from city lights. Its brightest stick-figure stars are about magnitude 3.
Indus in myth and history
Indus was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.
Constellations next to Indus
Find Indus in your sky
Questions about Indus
Indus is highest in the sky at midnight around 6 August and at 9 pm around 20 September. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Indus rises above the horizon from 32°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 43°N to 90°S.
Indus represents the Indian. Indus was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.