Pyxis

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