STARS AND CONSTELLATION

One of the longest and faintest constellations, Eridanus, the River, is visible in the evening sky. Its headwater is the mag. +2.8 Cursa (Beta (`) Eridani), near Rigel in Orion. Consisting of around two dozen 4th to 5th magnitude stars, the River snakes its way south, ending at one of the most isolated 1st magnitude stars, Achernar (Alpha (_) Eridani), near the Small Magellanic Cloud. Eridanus resides in deepsky heaven, as the area is the home of numerous galaxies.