What is the constellation fornax named after?

Answer 1

Most of the "official" star and constellation names were created by the Greek, Roman and Arab astronomers before about 1400. (Much of the Greek and Roman astronomical knowledge was lost during the "Dark Ages", and survived only because of Arabic translations from the earlier texts.) So many star names and constellation names are of Greek, Roman and Arabic origin. Most of the constellations were visible from the latitudes of Greece, Europe and Egypt, and were derived from animals, gods and heroes.

Starting in the 1500s and afterward, European seafarers sailing the southern oceans found new stars and new constellations not visible from the northern hemisphere. Many of the constellation names they created were of nautical or technical origin, such as "Telescopium", "Microsopium", "Octans" and "Sextans".

The constellation Fornax in the Southern Hemisphere is named for the Furnace.

Answer 2

The constellation Fornax is named after the Latin word for "furnace." It was originally named by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century to represent a chemical furnace. The constellation is small and dim, located in the southern celestial hemisphere.