Centaurus

American  

[sen-tawr-uhs] / sɛnˈtɔr əs /

noun

1. Astronomy. the Centaur, a southern constellation between Lupus and Vela, containing the triple-star system Alpha Centauri.

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Centaurus British  

/ sɛnˈtɔːrəs /

noun

1. Also called: The Centaur.  a conspicuous extensive constellation in the S hemisphere, close to the Southern Cross, that contains two first magnitude stars, Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri, and the globular cluster Omega Centauri

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Centaurus Scientific  

/ sĕn-tôr′əs /

1. A constellation in the Southern Hemisphere near the Southern Cross and Libra. Centaurus (the Centaur) contains Alpha Centauri, the star nearest Earth.

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Etymology

Origin of Centaurus

From Latin; see origin at centaur

Example Sentences

The researchers then tested a ceramide-lowering drug candidate created by Centaurus Therapeutics, a company co-founded by Summers.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2025

Using a telescope in Chile, the Spanish-led team spotted a cloud of debris in the same orbit as an already confirmed planet circling this star, 370 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 19, 2023

It took place at a location more than 8000 light-years away from our Earth in the direction of Alpha Centauri, between the constellations of Circinus and Centaurus.

From Space Scoop • Mar. 21, 2023

Centaurus is now amassing the animal safety data the U.S.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 15, 2023

The Great Globular Cluster in the Southern Constellation of Centaurus From a photograph taken at the Cape Observatory, on May 24th, 1903.

From Astronomy of To-day A Popular Introduction in Non-Technical Language by Dolmage, Cecil Goodrich Julius