Pavo constellation
Pavo (the Peacock) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in August. Its brightest star is Peacock (magnitude 1.94). Pavo covers 378 square degrees and is the 44th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Pavo
Facts
| Latin name | Pavo (genitive: Pavonis) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Pav |
| Meaning | the Peacock |
| Area | 378 square degrees (44th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 19.5 h, declination −66° |
| Visible from | latitudes 15° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | August (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Peacock |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 41 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 1 |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Apus, Ara, Indus, Octans, Telescopium |
How to find Pavo
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Pavo never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 59° up. The months before and after (July and September) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Pavo borders Apus, Ara, Indus, Octans and Telescopium.
Stars of Pavo
Pavo has 41 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peacock | α Pavonis | 1.94 | B2IV | 183 ly |
| — | β Pavonis | 3.42 | A7III | — |
| — | δ Pavonis | 3.56 | G6-8IV | — |
| — | η Pavonis | 3.62 | K2II | — |
| — | ε Pavonis | 3.96 | A0V | — |
| — | ζ Pavonis | 4.01 | K0III | — |
| — | γ Pavonis | 4.22 | F6V | — |
| — | λ Pavonis | 4.22 | B2II-IIIe | — |
| — | π Pavonis | 4.35 | A7pSr | — |
| — | ξ Pavonis | 4.36 | K4III | — |
| — | κ Pavonis | 4.44 | F5I-II | — |
Printable Pavo map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Pavo figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Pavo is introduced by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the 1590s and published by Petrus Plancius and Johann Bayer. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Pavo
What is the brightest star in Pavo?
Peacock, at magnitude 1.94, about 183 light-years away.
When can you see Pavo?
Pavo is best seen in the evening in August. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 15° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Pavo?
41 stars in Pavo are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 1 of them have official IAU names.
What does Pavo mean?
Pavo means “the Peacock” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Pav and the genitive, used in star names such as α Pavonis, is Pavonis.
