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Pyxis

File:Pyxis_IAU.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ10473· pop 78· linked from 218 articles

Also known as Pyx, Pyxidis, The Ship's Compass

Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Abbreviated from Pyxis Nautica, its name is Latin for a mariner's compass (contrasting with Circinus, which represents a draftsman's compasses). Pyxis was introduced by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century, and is counted among the 88 modern constellations.

AI overview

Pyxis is a small, faint constellation in the southern sky whose name comes from the Latin term for a mariner's compass, distinguishing it from another constellation called Circinus that represents a different type of compass. Introduced by astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century, it is recognized as one of the 88 modern constellations used today.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Constellation.name
Pyxis
Constellation.abbreviation
Pyx
Constellation.genitive
Pyxidis
Constellation.pronounce
, genitive
Constellation.symbolism
The compass box
Constellation.family
Heavenly Waters
Constellation.quadrant
SQ2
Constellation.areatotal
221
Constellation.arearank
65th
Constellation.numbermainstars
3
Constellation.numberbfstars
10
Constellation.numberbrightstars
0
Constellation.numbernearbystars
1
Constellation.brighteststarname
α Pyx
Constellation.starmagnitude
3.68
Constellation.neareststarname
Gliese 318
Constellation.stardistancely
27.78
Constellation.stardistancepc
8.52

via Wikipedia infobox

~13 min read

Encyclopedic overview

9 sections
Contents
  • History
  • Characteristics
  • Features
  • Stars
  • Planetary systems
  • Deep-sky objects
  • See also
  • Notes
  • References

Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Abbreviated from Pyxis Nautica, its name is Latin for a mariner's compass (contrasting with Circinus, which represents a draftsman's compasses). Pyxis was introduced by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century, and is counted among the 88 modern constellations.

The plane of the Milky Way passes through Pyxis. A faint constellation, its three brightest stars—Alpha, Beta and Gamma Pyxidis—are in a rough line. At magnitude 3.68, Alpha is the constellation's brightest star. It is a blue-white star approximately distant and around 22,000 times as luminous as the Sun.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Pyxis” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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