An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

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.

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