Pyxis

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Pyxis
Pyxis
click for larger image
Abbreviation Pyx
Genitive Pyxidis
Symbology the compass box
Right ascension 9 h
Declination −30°
Area 221 sq. deg.
Ranked 65th
Number of main stars {{{numbermainstars}}}
Number of stars

(Bayer-Flamsteed)

 10
Number of stars with planets

(BF, variable, other stars)

 {{{numberstarsplanets}}}
Number of bright stars

(magnitude < 3)

 0
Number of nearby stars

(Distance < 100 ly)

 3
Brightest star α Pyx
(App. magnitude 3.68)
Nearest Star η Pyx
(Distance: 86.1 ly)
Meteor showers

None
Bordering
constellations
Visible at latitudes between +50° and −90°
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of March
For other uses, see Pyxis (disambiguation).

Pyxis (IPA: /ˈpɪksis/, Latin: box) is a minor southern constellation introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille under the name Pyxis Nautica.

It is perhaps supposed to represent the compass of Argo Navis, though the Argo could hardly have had a compass, as the ancient Greeks are not believed to have used compasses for navigation. Note that Pyxis was not formally a part of Argo Navis; that is, the stars in it have their own independent Bayer designations (unlike Carina, Puppis and Vela which retained and split among themselves the Bayer designations from Argo).

It should not be confused with the constellation Circinus, which represents the type of compass used by a draftsman or cartographer.

Contents

[edit] Mythology

Since is it a modern constellation, it has no independent pre 17th century mythology associated with it.

[edit] Stars

Stars with Proper names:
  • (α Pyx) 3.68 Al Sumut
    < السموت al-sumut The Ways, or The Compass Bearings
Stars with Bayer designations:
β Pyx 3.97; γ Pyx 4.02; δ Pyx 4.87; ε Pyx 5.59; ζ Pyx 4.86; θ Pyx 4.71; η Pyx 5.24; κ Pyx 4.62; λ Pyx 4.71
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[edit] See also


The 14 Constellations introduced by Lacaille in 1763
Antlia | Caelum | Circinus | Fornax | Horologium | Mensa | Microscopium | Norma | Octans | Pictor | Pyxis | Reticulum | Sculptor | Telescopium
The 88 modern Constellations
Andromeda • Antlia • Apus • Aquarius • Aquila • Ara • Aries • Auriga • Boötes • Caelum • Camelopardalis • Cancer • Canes Venatici • Canis Major • Canis Minor • Capricornus • Carina • Cassiopeia • Centaurus • Cepheus • Cetus • Chamaeleon • Circinus • Columba • Coma Berenices • Corona Australis • Corona Borealis • Corvus • Crater • Crux • Cygnus • Delphinus • Dorado • Draco • Equuleus • Eridanus • Fornax • Gemini • Grus • Hercules • Horologium • Hydra • Hydrus • Indus • Lacerta • Leo • Leo Minor • Lepus • Libra • Lupus • Lynx • Lyra • Mensa • Microscopium • Monoceros • Musca • Norma • Octans • Ophiuchus • Orion • Pavo • Pegasus • Perseus • Phoenix • Pictor • Pisces • Piscis Austrinus • Puppis • Pyxis • Reticulum • Sagitta • Sagittarius • Scorpius • Sculptor • Scutum • Serpens • Sextans • Taurus • Telescopium • Triangulum • Triangulum Australe • Tucana • Ursa Major • Ursa Minor • Vela • Virgo • Volans • Vulpecula

[edit] External links

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