If you are studying the far southern skies, the Mensa Constellation is one you will want to find.
This constellation, located just south of the South Celestial Pole, was named after a table mountain in South Africa.
It is small, but some exciting stars and mythology are associated with Mensa.
Mensa is a faint constellation, and it is not easy to find, so it’s important you know where to look if you want to view it.
Let’s dig into the Mensa Constellation and learn more about it to ensure that you can go out and find it yourself.
Mensa Constellation Facts, Myth, Location and Stars
Where is the Mensa Constellation in Our Sky?
Mensa is located in the southern hemisphere of the sky.
It is best visible in February from latitudes +32 degrees and southward.
To find Mensa, look for the two brightest stars in the constellation Centaurus: Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri.
If you trace a line between these two stars, it will point directly towards Mensa.
The Mensa Constellation is actually circumpolar, meaning it is visible year-round from Earth to people in the Southern Hemisphere.
If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, you will only be able to see Mensa during certain times of the year, depending on your location.
What Stars Reside in the Mensa Constellation?
These stars are not only the brightest stars in the constellation, but they are also some of the most interesting stars in the sky.
Let’s take a look at four of the more interesting stars in Mensa.
Alpha Mensae
This Alpha Mensae is the brightest star in the entire constellation.
It is an orange star that is about twice the size of our Sun.
This star has a companion star that is too close to be seen with the naked eye, but you can see it with a telescope.
Alpha Mensae fuses hydrogen into helium at its core, and it will eventually turn into a red giant star.
The star is about 6.2 billion years of age and is roughly 33.10 light-years away from our solar system.
Gamma Mensae
Following Alpha Mensae, the second brightest star in the Mensa Constellation is Gamma Mensae.
This star is located about 102 light-years away from Earth, and it is a yellow-white dwarf star.
This star is about 10.6 billion years old and has a mass that is four times that of our Sun.
Gamma Mensae is slightly visible from the Earth, but you will need a telescope to see it in all its glory.
This star is a binary star system, meaning it has two stars that orbit each other but, to the naked eye, looks like one single star.
Beta Mensae
The third brightest star in Mensa is Beta Mensae.
This star is a yellow-white subgiant that is located roughly 790 light-years from Earth.
It has a mass of 3.6 times that of our Sun, and it is only about 270 million years old.
This star is still in its prime, but it will eventually burn through all of its hydrogen and turn into a red giant.
This star is visible from Earth, but you will need a telescope to see it.
Beta Mensae radiates 500 times the amount our Sun does, and it is one of the largest stars that can be seen with the naked eye.
Eta Mensae
The fourth and final star we will look at is Epsilon Mensae.
This star is a binary system like Gamma Mensae, but it is much further away from Earth.
It is located roughly 670 light-years away, and it is a yellow-white dwarf star.
This star has a mass of 1.4 times that of our Sun, and it is about 625 million years old.
Eta Mensae is an evolved K-type giant star, and it has a luminosity that is 34 times that of our Sun.
This star is not visible to the naked eye, but it can be seen with a telescope.
What is the History Behind the Mensa Constellation?
The Mensa constellation is one of the constellations named by the French astronomer Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille.
Lacaille documented 14 new southern constellations during a 1751-1752 stay at the Cape of Good Hope.
He originally intended to name the constellation “Table Mountain” after the flat-topped mountain located near Cape Town, South Africa.
However, he ultimately decided to name the constellation Mensa, which is Latin for “table.”
Lacaille originally included Mensa as part of his larger constellation of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason, and the Argonauts from Greek mythology.
In 1922, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) carved out Mensa as a separate constellation.
What do People Use the Mensa Constellation for in Real Life?
For years, people have been using Mensa as a guide in their travels.
This is especially helpful for sailors because Mensa is located in the southern sky.
The constellation can be used as a guide to finding other constellations in the area.
For example, if you find Mensa in the night sky, you can use it to find the constellations of Hydrus and Dorado, which are located nearby.
Mensa is also a popular constellation for amateur astronomers.
This is because the constellation contains many different types of stars.
For example, Mensa includes red giants, white dwarfs, and binary star systems.
Studying the stars and different constellations in the sky can help aspiring astronomers and anyone interested in constellations to learn more about the life cycle of stars.
The Mensa Constellation is one of the most interesting constellations in the night sky.
It is home to many different types of stars, and it has a rich history.
Whether you are interested in mythology, history, or astronomy, the Mensa Constellation is one of the most intriguing star systems to study.
Mensa is a great guide for travelers, and it is also a popular target for amateur astronomers.
Learning about the Mensa Constellation is a great way to get started in your exploration of the night sky.
Interesting in learning more? You might also like:
- Facts about the Dorado Constellation
- Facts About the Cancer Constellation
- Facts About the Gemini Constellation
- Facts About the Volans Constellation
- 30 Female Astrophysicists You Should Know About
- Facts About the Horologium Constellation
- Facts About the Auriga Constellation
- Facts About the Boötes Constellation
- Can You Breathe on Pluto?
- 40+ Cool Facts About The Moon
