Apus constellation

Apus is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the bird of paradise. It is highest in the sky at midnight around 24 May, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 11°N to 90°S.

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Apus at a glance

Represents
the bird of paradise
Highest at midnight
24 May
Highest at 9 pm
8 July
Seen whole from
11°N to 90°S
Stars in the figure
3 stars
Origin
Dutch navigators, 1590s

When to see Apus

Apus is highest in the sky at midnight around 24 May and at 9 pm around 8 July. 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.

When Apus is highest each month
DateHighest at
15 January8:30 am
15 February6:30 am
15 March4:40 am
15 April2:30 am
15 May12:40 am
15 June10:30 pm
15 July8:30 pm
15 August6:30 pm
15 September4:30 pm
15 October2:30 pm
15 November12:30 pm
15 December10:30 am

Where to look for Apus

From the northern hemisphere

From 40°N, Apus never rises. You need to be south of 12°N to see any of it.

From the southern hemisphere

From 35°S, Apus never sets. It circles the pole and is highest around midnight on 24 May, 46° above the southern horizon.

Brightest stars in Apus

None of the stars of Apus 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.

Apus in myth and history

Apus was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.

Constellations next to Apus

Find Apus in your sky

Questions about Apus