Fornax
Furnace (Fornacis)
Fornax, the Furnace, is a faint southern constellation created by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. It represents a chemist's furnace used for distillation experiments. Though dim, Fornax contains the Fornax Cluster, a relatively nearby galaxy cluster, and the Fornax Dwarf, one of the Milky Way's satellite galaxies.
📜 Mythology
Fornax has no classical mythology as it is a modern constellation. It was created by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope (1751-1752). Originally named 'Fornax Chemica' (the Chemical Furnace), it honors the laboratory furnace used in chemical experiments during the Age of Enlightenment. Lacaille commemorated many scientific instruments in his southern constellations.
💡 Facts
- ✦The Fornax Cluster is a relatively nearby galaxy cluster at about 62 million light-years
- ✦The Fornax Dwarf Galaxy is one of the Milky Way's satellite galaxies at 460,000 light-years
- ✦NGC 1365 in Fornax is a beautiful barred spiral galaxy often photographed by amateurs and professionals alike