Pyxis Constellation

Pyxis
Pyxis
List of stars in Pyxis
Abbreviation: Pyx
Genitive: Pyxidis
Symbology: the compass box
Right ascension: 9 h
Declination: −30°
Area: 221 sq. deg. (65th)
Main stars: 3
Bayer/Flamsteed stars: 10
Stars known to have planets: 2
Bright stars: 0
Nearby stars: 1
Brightest star: α Pyx (3.68m)
Nearest star: HD 72673 (39.7 ly)
Messier objects: None
Meteor showers: None
Bordering constellations: Hydra
Puppis
Vela
Antlia
Visible at latitudes between +50° and −90°
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of March

Pyxis ( Latin: box) is a minor southern constellation introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille under the name Pyxis Nautica.

It is perhaps supposed to represent the compass of Argo Navis, though the Argo could hardly have had a compass, as the ancient Greeks are not believed to have used compasses for navigation. Note that Pyxis was not formally a part of Argo Navis; that is, the stars in it have their own independent Bayer designations (unlike Carina, Puppis and Vela which retained and split among themselves the Bayer designations from Argo).

It should not be confused with the constellation Circinus, which represents the type of compass used by a draftsman or cartographer.

Since it is a modern constellation, it has no independent pre-17th century mythology associated with it.

References

* Source of values: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/

* Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

Links

* Star Tales – Pyxis














The 88 modern constellations

Andromeda | Antlia | Apus | Aquarius | Aquila | Ara | Aries | Auriga | Boötes | Caelum | Camelopardalis | Cancer | Canes Venatici | Canis Major | Canis Minor | Capricornus | Carina | Cassiopeia | Centaurus | Cepheus | Cetus | Chamaeleon | Circinus | Columba | Coma Berenices | Corona Australis | Corona Borealis | Corvus | Crater | Crux | Cygnus | Delphinus | Dorado | Draco | Equuleus | Eridanus | Fornax | Gemini | Grus | Hercules | Horologium | Hydra | Hydrus | Indus | Lacerta | Leo | Leo Minor | Lepus | Libra | Lupus | Lynx | Lyra | Mensa | Microscopium | Monoceros | Musca | Norma | Octans | Ophiuchus | Orion | Pavo | Pegasus | Perseus | Phoenix | Pictor | Pisces | Piscis Austrinus | Puppis | Pyxis | Reticulum | Sagitta | Sagittarius | Scorpius | Sculptor | Scutum | Serpens | Sextans | Taurus | Telescopium | Triangulum | Triangulum Australe | Tucana | Ursa Major | Ursa Minor | Vela | Virgo | Volans | Vulpecula

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