Centaurus

American  

[sen-tawr-uhs] / sɛnˈtɔr əs /

noun

Centauri genitive

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

---

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of Centaurus

From Latin; see origin at centaur

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Centaurus Centauri

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 copy of Kleistmeistenoppolous' "City of Centaurus" hadn't been opened in years, but he took it down and flipped it open to within three pages of the section he was looking for.

From Dead Giveaway by Garrett, Randall

Imagine, he says, wanting to send a single paperclip to our neighboring star, Proxima Centauri.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026

The closest red dwarf to us is Proxima Centauri.

From Space Scoop ● Nov. 28, 2025

The signs were found in the star system Alpha Centauri by the powerful James Webb Space Telescope.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025

The closest Earth-like exoplanet to us -- and possibly the most famous -- is Proxima Centauri b, which is only 4 light-years away.

From Science Daily ● May 23, 2024

A trip to Alpha Centauri, 4.3 light-years away, would then take forty-three years, less than a human lifetime.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan