Antlia

/ˈæntliə/ noun

Definition

A pump or pumping device; also, a constellation in the southern sky named after a ship's pump.

Etymology

From Latin 'antlia' meaning pump, from Greek 'antlein' meaning to draw up water. The constellation was named in the 18th century as part of the subdivision of Argo Navis, the legendary ship of Jason.

Kelly Says

One of the most boring-sounding constellations in the sky is named after a pump because 18th-century astronomers divvied up an old constellation (Argo) into smaller pieces and needed names for the leftovers—pure practicality dressed up as astronomy.

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