Tucana: The Toucan
too-KAY-nuh/too-KAH-nuh
Tucana as depicted by Johann Bayer in his Uranometria (1603). Source image provided by www.RareMaps.com — Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.
| Tucana Constellation Profile | ||
|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Tuc | Genitive: Tucanae | Origin: Keyser/de Houtman |
| Location: Southern Hemisphere | Size/Area: 295 sq. deg. | Size Rank: 48 |
| On Meridian: 9pm November 5th | Best View (North): | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Octans, Hydrus, Eridanus, Phoenix, Grus, Indus | ||
The Myth Behind the Constellation Tucana
Tucana, “The Toucan”, is one of the inventions of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman, two Dutch navigators who observed the southern skies at the end of the sixteenth century. Responsible for creating 12 southern constellations, Tucana is another of the duos designs that was based on wildlife. It represents the South American bird with the large, colorful bill.
Tucana Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting stars and objects.
Bright Stars in Tucana
These are the stars in Tucana with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.
| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Tucanae | Alpha Tucanae | 2.84 | Orange | 933 suns | 199 ly |