An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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The Sextant. An inconspicuous constellation located on the celestial equator at 10h 20m, 0° declination. Its brightest star, Alpha Sextantis is of 4th magnitude. It was introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687). Abbreviation: Sex; genitive: Sextantis.

The name is L. for → sextant, an instrument that Hevelius made frequent use of in his observations.