Alpha Apodis (Alpha Aps, α Apodis, α Aps) is the brighteststar in the southerncircumpolar constellation ofApus, with anapparent magnitude of approximately 3.825.[10] It had the Greek alpha designation as part of the constellation whichJohann Bayer called Apis Indica in his 1603Uranometria star atlas.[11] With a declination of –79°, this is acircumpolar star for much of the southern hemisphere. It can be identified on the night sky by drawing an imaginary line throughAlpha Centauri andAlpha Circini then extending it toward the south celestial pole.[12]
InChinese caused by adaptation of the European southern hemisphere constellations into the Chinese system,異雀 (Yì Què), meaningExotic Bird, refers to an asterism consisting of α Apodis,ζ Apodis,ι Apodis,β Apodis,γ Apodis,δ Octantis,δ1 Apodis,η Apodis, andε Apodis. Consequently, α Apodis itself is known as異雀八 (Yì Què bā, English:the Eighth Star of Exotic Bird.)[15]
^abJohnson, H. L.; et al. (1966). "UBVRIJKL photometry of the bright stars".Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.4 (99): 99.Bibcode:1966CoLPL...4...99J.
^HR 5470, database entry, The Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed. (Preliminary Version), D. Hoffleit and W. H. Warren, Jr.,CDS IDV/50. Accessed online October 3, 2008.
^Evans, D. S. (June 20–24, 1966), Batten, Alan Henry; Heard, John Frederick (eds.), "The Revision of the General Catalogue of Radial Velocities",Determination of Radial Velocities and their Applications, Proceedings from IAU Symposium no. 30, vol. 30, University of Toronto:International Astronomical Union, p. 57,Bibcode:1967IAUS...30...57E.
