Pyxis

Pyxis

Abbreviation: Â Pyx
English Name: Â The Compass
Genitive:Â Al Sumut
Hemisphere:  Southern Hemisphere
Location:Â Between the constellations of Antia and Puppis.
Visible between latitudes: Â +50 and -90 degrees
Best season: Spring
Seen in three seasons:Â Winter, Spring and Summer.
Best seen in:  March
Seen between:Â February and April
Right Ascension (RA):  09 hour
Declination (DEC):  -30 degrees
Area (square degrees): Â 221 (65th)

Pyxis  (The Compass)

  • This constellation lies on the edge of the Milky-Way.
  • Pyxis was originally part of the large constellation Argo Navis. When the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially defined the 88 constellations and their boundaries, they split Argo Navis into 4 parts: Carina (The Keel), Vela (The Sail), Puppis (The Stern), and Pyxis (The Compass).

Messier Objects

  • No Messier Objects in Pyxis

Features of Interest

  • T Pyxidis  –  Re-current Nova with a faint magnitude at +16.0 minimum, sometimes reaches magnitude at +7.0 during its outbursts, which occur at between 12 and 25 years.

Named Stars

  • Al Sumut

Others

  • Photo of the constellation;Â Pyxis, as it appears to the naked eye. (Lines have been added for clarity.)
  • Sky Chart  – Pyxis
  • List of stars in Pyxis.

Back to The 88 Constellations Lists  page.

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