Constellation The Furnace

Fornax (The Furnace): gift, map and visability

  • Meaning: The Furnace
  • Best seen in: December
  • Family: Lacaille
  • Latitude: +50° to -90°

Fornax or The Furnace is one of the 88 constellations modern astronomers have divided the sky into. It's part of the Lacaille constellation family. Fornax is best seen in December (from latitudes +50° to -90°).

French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille created the constellation of Fornax Chemica after observing the Southern stars. He intended it to represent the small fuel heater used in chemical experiments. In 1845 the English astronomer Francis Baily shortened its name to Fornax. It has five main stars and the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy that is almost 200,000 light years in diameter.

Fornax Constellation Map

Fornax Constellation Map
Fornax icon

Main Stars in The Furnace (Fornax)

The constellation Fornax contains several bright stars that make up its shape. Some of these main stars are known as:

  • Dalim
  • Beta Fornacis
  • HD 16417
  • HD 20781
  • HIP 13044

Some of the deep sky objects which have been discovered in Fornax include: Fornax Cluster, UDFy-38135539, NGC 1097, Great Barred Spiral Galaxy, NGC 1398, NGC 1049, Fornax Dwarf.

You can now name your own star in the constellation of Fornax in just a few clicks. Name the star, view it in 3D and look it up with the OSR Star Finder App!

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88 constellations: Find out more about each of the 88 constellations and the 12 zodiacs!
Constellation facts about Fornax

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