Pronunciation:

(SEE-lum)

Abbreviation:

Cae

  Genitive:

Caeli

Right Ascension:

5 hours

  Declination:

-40 degrees

Area in Square Degrees:

125

Crosses Meridian:

9 PM, January 15

Visible Between Latitudes:

40 and -90 degrees

The constellation Caelum, the sculptor’s chisel, is located in the southern hemisphere of the sky. It is visible at latitudes between 40 degrees and -90 degrees. It is a very small constellation, occupying an area of only 125 square degrees. This makes it the eighth smallest constellation in the night sky. It is bordered by Dorado and Pictor to the south, Horologium and Eridanus to the east, Lepus to the north, and Columba to the west. It is a dim constellation that can be difficult to locate in all but the darkest skies.

There are no myths associated with Caelum. It is one of the 14 southern constellations named by the French astronomer Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. Its name means “the chisel” in Latin. It resembles a burin, which is an engravers tool similar to a chisel. Lacaille originally named the constellation “les Burins” and depicted it as a pair of crossed burins connected by a ribbon. The name was later Latinized to Caelum Scalptorium, which means “the engraver’s chisel.” It was later shortened to Caelum by British astronomer Francis Baily at the suggestion of John Herschel.