Mensa - Table Mountain

Learn about the constellation Mensa - Table Mountain, location, facts, mythology, meteor showers and deep space objects.

Mensa was first introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille under the name "Mons Mensae" (Latin for table mountain). This specifically refers to Table Mountain in South Africa, where Lacaille made important early observations of the southern sky.

Location: Southern Constellation 5h RA 71° Dec

α Mensae is a solar-type star (class G5 V) 33 light-years from Earth, and is considered a good prospect for harbouring an Earth-like planet. π Mensae, on the other hand, while also solar-type (G1) and at 59 light-years, has been found to have a large gas giant in an eccentric orbit crossing the habitable zone, which would effectively rule out the existence of any habitable planets.

Mensa Mythology

Since Mensa was introduced in the 18th century and lies close to the south celestial pole, it was not known to classical or early cultures, and so they produced no mythology concerning it.

Mensa Deep Space Objects