Eridanus

[ ih-rid-n-uhs ]

noun

, Astronomy.

, genitive E·rid·a·ni [ih-, rid, -n-ahy].

1. the River, a large southern constellation between Cetus and Orion, containing the bright star Achernar.

Eridanus

/ ɛˈrɪdənəs /

noun

1. a long twisting constellation in the S hemisphere extending from Orion to Hydrus and containing the first magnitude star Achernar

Word History and Origins

Origin of Eridanus¹

from Greek Eridanos river in Italy (sometimes identified with the Po) into which, according to legend, Phaëthon fell

Example Sentences

The black hole in the Eridanus galaxy weighs in at about one million solar masses.

From New York Times

The mysterious river Eridanus, which no mortal eyes have ever seen, received him and put out the flames and cooled the body.

From Literature

Late at night, face the southeastern sky and hunt for the asteroid in the constellation Eridanus, the river, just next to the more familiar constellation Orion.

From National Geographic

The trio of labs put the origin of the waves in the direction of the constellation Eridanus.

From BBC

Keid is easily visible to the unaided eye as a faint star that sits in the southern constellation Eridanus.

From National Geographic