Piscis Austrinus constellation
Piscis Austrinus (the Southern Fish) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in October. Its brightest star is Fomalhaut (magnitude 1.16). Piscis Austrinus covers 245 square degrees and is the 60th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Piscis Austrinus
Facts
| Latin name | Piscis Austrinus (genitive: Piscis Austrini) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | PsA |
| Meaning | the Southern Fish |
| Area | 245 square degrees (60th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 22.3 h, declination −31° |
| Visible from | latitudes 54° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | October (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Fomalhaut |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 26 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 1 |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Aquarius, Capricornus, Grus, Microscopium, Sculptor |
How to find Piscis Austrinus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in October evenings: at about 9 pm Piscis Austrinus stands highest, around 19° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 86° above the horizon. The months before and after (September and November) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Piscis Austrinus borders Aquarius, Capricornus, Grus, Microscopium and Sculptor.
Stars of Piscis Austrinus
Piscis Austrinus has 26 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fomalhaut | α Piscis Austrini | 1.16 | A3V | 25 ly |
| — | ε Piscis Austrini | 4.17 | B8V | — |
| — | δ Piscis Austrini | 4.21 | G8III | — |
| — | β Piscis Austrini | 4.29 | A0V | — |
| — | ι Piscis Austrini | 4.34 | A0V | — |
| — | γ Piscis Austrini | 4.46 | A0III* | — |
| — | μ Piscis Austrini | 4.5 | A2V | — |
Printable Piscis Austrinus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Piscis Austrinus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Piscis Austrinus is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Piscis Austrinus
What is the brightest star in Piscis Austrinus?
Fomalhaut, at magnitude 1.16, about 25 light-years away.
When can you see Piscis Austrinus?
Piscis Austrinus is best seen in the evening in October. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 54° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Piscis Austrinus?
26 stars in Piscis Austrinus 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 Piscis Austrinus mean?
Piscis Austrinus means “the Southern Fish” in Latin. Its abbreviation is PsA and the genitive, used in star names such as α Piscis Austrini, is Piscis Austrini.
