Mensa (constellation)

Mensa (constellation).
Mensa (Latin for "table") is a constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere near the south celestial pole. It is one of the 88 modern constellations, and one of twelve drawn up in the 18th century by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. Originally named for Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town, South Africa, where Lacaille made observations, it covers a keystone-shaped wedge of sky of approximately 153.5 square degrees. Other than the south polar constellation of Octans, it is the most southerly of constellations and is only observable south of the 5th parallel of the Northern Hemisphere. Barely visible in suburban skies, Mensa is one of the faintest constellations in the night sky. At least three of its star systems have been found to have exoplanets. Parts of the Large Magellanic Cloud, several star clusters and a quasar lie in the area covered by the constellation.