Piscis Austrinus facts for kids
| Constellation | |
List of stars in Piscis Austrinus
|
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| Abbreviation | PsA |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Piscis Austrini |
| Pronunciation | or genitive |
| 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 3.00m | 1 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 3 |
| Brightest star | Fomalhaut (α PsA) (1.16m) |
| 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. |
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Piscis Austrinus is a cool constellation you can find in the southern part of the night sky. Its name means "the Southern Fish" in Latin. It's one of the 48 constellations listed by the ancient astronomer Ptolemy. Today, it's still one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by astronomers.
Contents
What is a Constellation?
A constellation is a group of stars that seems to form a pattern or shape in the night sky. People long ago imagined these shapes looked like animals, heroes, or objects. They used these patterns to tell stories, track the seasons, and navigate. Piscis Austrinus is one of these star pictures.
Finding Piscis Austrinus
Piscis Austrinus is located in the Southern Hemisphere. This means it's best seen from places south of the equator. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you might still see it if you are not too far north. It's often visible in the evening sky during the autumn months.
You can find it near other constellations like Aquarius (the Water Bearer) and Capricornus (the Sea-Goat). It's part of a group of constellations called the "Heavenly Waters." This group includes constellations related to water, like Aquarius and Eridanus (the River).
Fomalhaut: The Brightest Star
The brightest star in Piscis Austrinus is called Fomalhaut. It's also known as Alpha Piscis Austrini. Fomalhaut is a very important star because it's one of the brightest stars you can see in the night sky. It's also quite close to Earth, about 25 light-years away.
Fomalhaut is special because it has a debris disk around it. This disk is like a giant ring of dust and rocks. Scientists think planets might be forming or already exist within this disk. One planet, called Fomalhaut b, was even thought to be orbiting it, though its existence is still debated.
The Story of the Southern Fish
In ancient mythology, Piscis Austrinus is often linked to the story of the Great Flood. Some stories say it represents the fish that saved the goddess Isis (or Aphrodite in Greek myths). She was said to have transformed into a fish to escape a monster.
Another story connects it to the constellation Aquarius. Aquarius is often shown pouring water from a jar. The water from Aquarius's jar flows directly into the mouth of Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish. This connection makes them a pair in the sky.
Images for kids
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Piscis Austrinus can be seen cut off at the bottom of Urania's Mirror's 1825 depiction of Aquarius. Next to it is the obsolete constellation Ballon Aerostatique.
See also
- In Spanish: Piscis Austrinus para niños
