Horologium - The Clock

Horologium is a faint constellation in the Southern Hemisphere, lying east of the bright star Achernar. It is in an area away from the Milky Way that contains few stars.

History and Mythology

Horologium is one of the constellations introduced by Nicholas Louis de Lacaille in 1750. Each of these constellations represents mechanical instruments, and Horologium represents the pendulum clock. These is no mythology associated with this modern constellation.

Notable Objects

Alpha Horologii is a 4th magnitude star at a distance of 117 light-years. Beta Horologii is a magnitude 5.0 at a distance of 285 light-years. Delta Horologii is a magnitude 5.0 at a distance of 91 light-years.

There are no nebulae of note in this constellation.

NGC 1261 is a small globular cluster of 9th magnitude about 53,000 light-years away. For viewing it requires at least a 12 inch telescope.

All galaxies in Horologium are of 10th magnitude or fainter. NGC 1433 is a barred spiral with a rather low surface brightness. Another galaxy worth viewing is NGC 1488, which is an edge-on spiral.