Star lore
Mensa
Direct answer
Mensa is a very faint far-southern constellation named for Table Mountain near Cape Town.
Mensa is the Table Mountain constellation beside the Large Magellanic Cloud.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Lynx, Lyra, Microscopium, Monoceros
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The story behind Mensa
Lacaille created Mons Mensae in the eighteenth century to commemorate Table Mountain overlooking his Cape observatory.
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The Road of the Sun
Where the twelve signs came from, and why they carry the names they do.
Why Mensa matters
Mensa is the only official constellation named for a terrestrial geographic feature and reflects the site of Lacaille's southern survey.
Mensa in practice: an example
Part of the Large Magellanic Cloud crosses Mensa's boundary, providing more visual structure than its foreground stars.
Where readings of Mensa go wrong
Mensa is not a bright table-shaped asterism; the name is historical and geographic.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- International Astronomical Union: The Constellations - Official names, abbreviations, and boundaries for the 88 modern constellations.
- NASA Space Place: What Are Constellations? - NASA introduction to constellation regions, patterns, visibility, and seasonal sky changes.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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Common questions
What is Mensa?
Mensa is a very faint far-southern constellation named for Table Mountain near Cape Town.
What do people get wrong about Mensa?
Mensa is not a bright table-shaped asterism; the name is historical and geographic.
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