Pyxis
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| List of stars in Pyxis | |
| Abbreviation: | Pyx |
| Genitive: | Pyxidis |
| Symbology: | the compass box |
| Right ascension: | 9 h |
| Declination: | −30° |
| Area: | 221 sq. deg. (65th) |
| Main stars: | 3 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | 10 |
| Stars known to have planets: | 2 |
| Bright stars: | 0 |
| Nearby stars: | 1 |
| Brightest star: | α Pyx (3.68m) |
| Nearest star: | HD 72673 (39.7 ly) |
| Messier objects: | None |
| Meteor showers: | None |
| Bordering constellations: | Hydra Puppis Vela Antlia |
| Visible at latitudes between +50° and −90° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of March |
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Pyxis (pronounced /ˈpɪksɪs/, 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 knew nothing of compasses for navigation. Pyxis was not formerly a part of Argo Navis, thus 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.
Since it is a modern constellation, it has no independent pre-17th century mythology associated with it.
[edit] References
- Source of values: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
[edit] External links
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