Tucana constellation
Tucana is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the toucan. It is highest in the sky at midnight around September 15, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 25°N to 90°S.
Tucana at a glance
- Represents
- the toucan
- Highest at midnight
- September 15
- Highest at 9 pm
- October 30
- Seen whole from
- 25°N to 90°S
- Stars in the figure
- 4 stars
- Origin
- Dutch navigators, 1590s
When to see Tucana
Tucana is highest in the sky at midnight around September 15 and at 9 pm around October 30. 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 |
|---|---|
| January 15 | 3:50 PM |
| February 15 | 1:50 PM |
| March 15 | 12:00 PM |
| April 15 | 10:00 AM |
| May 15 | 8:00 AM |
| June 15 | 6:00 AM |
| July 15 | 4:00 AM |
| August 15 | 2:00 AM |
| September 15 | 12:00 AM |
| October 15 | 10:00 PM |
| November 15 | 8:00 PM |
| December 15 | 6:00 PM |
Where to look for Tucana
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, Tucana never rises. You need to be south of 32°N to see any of it.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Tucana never sets. It circles the pole and is highest around midnight on September 15, 63° above the southern horizon.
Brightest stars in Tucana
None of the stars of Tucana 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 2.
Tucana in myth and history
Tucana was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.
Constellations next to Tucana
Find Tucana in your sky
Questions about Tucana
Tucana is highest in the sky at midnight around September 15 and at 9 pm around October 30. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Tucana rises above the horizon from 25°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 32°N to 90°S.
Tucana represents the toucan. Tucana was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.