Pyxis Constellation | Constellations In The Southern Hemisphere
PYXIS CONSTELLATION – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about the southern constellation Pyxis , the Mariner’s Compass.
It is a constellation in the southern sky and represents a mariner’s compass.
French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille primarily named it la Boussole then Latinized it to Pyxis Nautica but later shortened it to Pyxis.
As mentioned above, it represents the magnetic compass used by navigators and seamen. This is not to be confused with Circinus, which was named after a draftsman’s compass.
The constellation lies near the former constellation Argo Navis, which represented the Argonauts’ ship in Greek mythology.
Pyxis houses the planetary nebula NGC 2818, the open cluster NGC 2627, and the barred spiral galaxy NGC 2613.
It is 65th of the largest constellations and occupies an area of about 221 square degrees. It lies in SQ2, the second quadrant of the southern hemisphere.
Pyxis belongs to the Heavenly Waters family, along with Carina, Columba, Delphinus, Equuleus, Eridanus, Piscis Austrinus, Puppis and Vela.
Stars
Among the stars include:
- Alpha Pyxidis
- Beta Pyxidis
- Delta Pyxidis
- Gamma Pyxidis
- Kappa Pyxidis
- T Pyxidis
- Theta Pyxidis
- Zeta Pyxidis
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