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| '''Piscis Austrinus''' (also known as '''Piscis Australis''') is a ] in the southern ]. The name is ] for "the southern fish", in contrast with the larger constellation ], which represents a pair of fishes. Prior to the 20th century, it was also known as '''Piscis Notius'''. Its only ] brighter than |
'''Piscis Austrinus''' (also known as '''Piscis Australis''') is a ] in the southern ]. The name is ] for "the southern fish", in contrast with the larger constellation ], which represents a pair of fishes. Prior to the 20th century, it was also known as '''Piscis Notius'''. Its only ] brighter than fourth ] is ], which is a first-magnitude star and is the eighteenth-brightest star in the night sky. | ||
| Piscis Austrinus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd |
Piscis Austrinus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer ], and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. The stars of the modern constellation ] once formed the "tail" of Piscis Austrinus. In 1597 (or 1598), ] carved out a separate constellation and named it after the crane. | ||
| ]''<!-- -->'s 1825 depiction of ]. Next to it is the obsolete constellation ].]] | ]''<!-- -->'s 1825 depiction of ]. Next to it is the obsolete constellation ].]] | ||
| In ], this constellation is known as the Great Fish and it is portrayed as swallowing the water being poured out by ], the water-bearer constellation. The two fish of the constellation Pisces are said to be the offspring of the Great Fish. In ], this fish saved the life of the Egyptian goddess ], so she placed this fish and its descendants into the heavens as constellations of stars.<ref>{{cite book | In ], this constellation is known as the Great Fish and it is portrayed as swallowing the water being poured out by ], the water-bearer constellation. The two fish of the constellation Pisces are said to be the offspring of the Great Fish. In ], this fish saved the life of the Egyptian goddess ], so she placed this fish and its descendants into the heavens as constellations of stars.<ref>{{cite book | ||
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| ==Notable features== | ==Notable features== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] traditionally represents the mouth of the fish. Its companion ] was thought to be the first ] ever detected by a visible light image, thanks to the ], but infrared observations have since retracted this claim: it is instead a spherical cloud of dust. ] can be seen close by and is possibly associated with Fomalhaut as it lies within a light |
] traditionally represents the mouth of the fish. Its companion ] was thought to be the first ] ever detected by a visible light image, thanks to the ], but infrared observations have since retracted this claim: it is instead a spherical cloud of dust. ] can be seen close by and is possibly associated with Fomalhaut as it lies within a ] of it. Of magnitude 6.5, it is a BY Draconis variable.<ref name=moore11>{{cite book|last=Moore|first=Patrick|title=Patrick Moore's Data Book of Astronomy|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date=2011|page=472|isbn=0521899354|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2FNfjWKBZx8C&q=Piscis+Austrinus#v=snippet&q=Piscis%20Austrinus&f=false}}</ref> | ||
| ], ] and ] constitute the ''Tien Kang'' ("heavenly rope") in ].<ref></ref> Beta is a white star of apparent magnitude 4.29 and spectral type A0, and lies 130 light |
], ] and ] constitute the ''Tien Kang'' ("heavenly rope") in ].<ref></ref> Beta is a white star of apparent magnitude 4.29 and spectral type A0, and lies 130 light-years away.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/betapsa.html |title=Beta PsA |first=Jim |last=Kaler |date=12 November 2009 }}</ref> Delta Piscis Austrini is a double star with components of magnitude 4.2 and 9.2.<ref name=moore11/> | ||
| ] is a long |
] is a long-period Mira-type variable red giant which ranges between magnitude 8.0 and 14.5 over a period of 271.7 days, and ] is a semi-regular variable ranging between magnitudes 8.0 and 9.0 over 148 days.<ref name=moore11/> | ||
| ] is a faint ] star which is a mere 10.74 light-years away. At magnitude 7.34, it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye. | ] is a faint ] star which is a mere 10.74 light-years away. At magnitude 7.34, it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye. | ||
| ], ] and ] are three galaxies of magnitudes 11.9, 12.5 and 10.9 respectively.<ref name=moore11/> | ], ] and ] are three galaxies of magnitudes 11.9, 12.5 and 10.9, respectively.<ref name=moore11/> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 07:58, 28 October 2016
| Constellation | |
 List of stars in Piscis Austrinus | |
| Abbreviation | PsA |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Piscis Austrini |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpaɪss ɒsˈtraɪnəs/ or /ɒsˈtreɪls/, genitive /ˈpaɪss ɒˈstraɪnaɪ/ |
| Symbolism | the Southern Fish |
| Right ascension | 22 |
| Declination | −30 |
| Quadrant | SQ4 |
| Area | 245 sq. deg. (60th) |
| Main stars | 7 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 21 |
| Stars with planets | 3 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00 | 1 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 3 |
| Brightest star | Fomalhaut (α PsA) (1.16) |
| Messier objects | 0 |
| Meteor showers | ? |
| Bordering constellations | Capricornus Microscopium Grus Sculptor Aquarius |
| Visible at latitudes between +55° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of October. | |
Piscis Austrinus (also known as Piscis Australis) is a constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere. The name is Latin for "the southern fish", in contrast with the larger constellation Pisces, which represents a pair of fishes. Prior to the 20th century, it was also known as Piscis Notius. Its only star brighter than fourth magnitude is Fomalhaut, which is a first-magnitude star and is the eighteenth-brightest star in the night sky.
Piscis Austrinus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. The stars of the modern constellation Grus once formed the "tail" of Piscis Austrinus. In 1597 (or 1598), Petrus Plancius carved out a separate constellation and named it after the crane.
In Greek mythology, this constellation is known as the Great Fish and it is portrayed as swallowing the water being poured out by Aquarius, the water-bearer constellation. The two fish of the constellation Pisces are said to be the offspring of the Great Fish. In Egyptian mythology, this fish saved the life of the Egyptian goddess Isis, so she placed this fish and its descendants into the heavens as constellations of stars.
Origins
Pisces Austrinus originated with the Babylonian constellation simply known as the Fish (MUL.KU).
Characteristics
Piscis Austrinus is a constellation bordered by Capricornus to the northwest, Microscopium to the southwest, Grus to the south, Sculptor to the east, Aquarius to the north. The recommended three-letter abbreviation for the constellation, as adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1922, is 'PsA'. The official constellation boundaries, as set by Eugène Delporte in 1930, are defined by a polygon of four segments. In the equatorial coordinate system, the right ascension coordinates of these borders lie between 21 27.3 and 23 06.5 , while the declination coordinates are between -24.83° and -36.46°.
Notable features
Fomalhaut traditionally represents the mouth of the fish. Its companion Fomalhaut b was thought to be the first extrasolar planet ever detected by a visible light image, thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, but infrared observations have since retracted this claim: it is instead a spherical cloud of dust. TW Piscis Austrini can be seen close by and is possibly associated with Fomalhaut as it lies within a light-year of it. Of magnitude 6.5, it is a BY Draconis variable.
Beta, Delta and Zeta constitute the Tien Kang ("heavenly rope") in China. Beta is a white star of apparent magnitude 4.29 and spectral type A0, and lies 130 light-years away. Delta Piscis Austrini is a double star with components of magnitude 4.2 and 9.2.
S Piscis Austrini is a long-period Mira-type variable red giant which ranges between magnitude 8.0 and 14.5 over a period of 271.7 days, and V Piscis Austrini is a semi-regular variable ranging between magnitudes 8.0 and 9.0 over 148 days.
Lacaille 9352 is a faint red dwarf star which is a mere 10.74 light-years away. At magnitude 7.34, it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye.
NGC 7172, NGC 7174 and NGC 7314 are three galaxies of magnitudes 11.9, 12.5 and 10.9, respectively.
References
- Eratosthenes; Hyginus, C. Julius (1997). Star myths of the Greeks and Romans: a sourcebook containing the Constellations of Pseudo-Eratosthenes and the Poetic astronomy of Hyginus. Translated by Condos, Theony. Red Wheel/Weiser. pp. 163–164. ISBN 1-890482-93-5.
- Russell, Henry Norris (1922). "The new international symbols for the constellations". Popular Astronomy. 30: 469. Bibcode:1922PA.....30..469R.
- "Piscis Austrinus, constellation boundary". The Constellations. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Moore, Patrick (2011). Patrick Moore's Data Book of Astronomy. Cambridge University Press. p. 472. ISBN 0521899354.
- Richard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Piscis Australis, the Southern Fish
- Kaler, Jim (12 November 2009). "Beta PsA".
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0-00-725120-9. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0-691-13556-4.
External links
- The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Piscis Austrinus
- Star Tales – Piscis Austrinus
- Piscis Austrinus at Constellation Guide
- Warburg Institute Iconographic Database (over 150 medieval and early modern images of Piscis Austrinus - Piscis magnus)
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