Octans

noun

Oc·​tans ˈäk-ˌtanz 

astronomy

: a constellation that is visible at the south celestial pole and that is represented by the figure of a navigational octant

… Octans the Octant, where the south celestial pole sits, is so faint it's not there.

—Bob Berman, Astronomy, May 1998

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

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