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Constellations Eridanus The River

Eridanus is a constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere. Its name represents a mythical river. The same name was later taken as a Latin name for the real Po River and also for the name of a minor river in Athens. Eridanus is one of the 48 original Ptolemaic Constellations. One of the stars in this constellation, Epsilon Eridani, is only 10.5 light years away from our sun, making it the third closest individual star or star system visible to the unaided eye from Earth.

Eridanus in the Night Sky

The brightest star in the constellation is Achernar, derived from the Arabic from the Arabic akhir al-nahr, which means "the river’s end." During Ptolemy's time, the constellation ended at what is now θ Eri. Back then, that star was called Achenar. After more of the southern sky was discovered in the 16th century, the constellation was extended and θ Eri was renamed Acamar.

This section describes the constellation as it is seen in the night sky. For myth and star lore about Eridanus, click here.

Star maps based on map provided by Sea & Sky

The stars of Eridanus

Number	Desig- nation	Name		Number	Desig- nation	Name
1	α	Achernar		15	τ3	Tau3 Eridani
2	β	Cursa		16	ι	Iota Eridani
3	γ	Zaurak		17	τ6	Tau6 Eridani
4	θ	Acamar		18	κ	Kappa Eridani
5	δ	Rana		19	τ5	Tau5 Eridani
6	τ4	Tau4Eridani		20	π	Pi Eridani
7	χ	Chi Eridani		21	ο2 / 40	Keid
8	ε	Ran, Sadira, Epsilon Eridani		22	τ1	Tau1 Eridani
9	υ2	Theemin		23	υ1	Upsilon1 Eridani
10	η	Azha		24	τ9	Tau9 Eridani
11	53	Sceptrum		25	τ8	Tau8 Eridani
12	ν	Nu Eridani		26	τ2	Angetenar
13	μ	Mu Eridani		27	ζ	Zibal
14	ο1	Beid

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