Piscis Austrinus constellation
Piscis Austrinus is a constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Fomalhaut. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.
- Autumnbest seen
- Fomalhautbrightest star, magnitude 1.2
- PsAPiscis Austrinus
How to find the constellation Piscis Austrinus
Fomalhaut is a lone bright star low over the southern horizon on autumn evenings: there are no bright stars around it.
Best seen in autumn: in September around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 7°.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | rises and sets, fully visible |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | rises and sets, fully visible |
| 60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg | only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon |
Bright stars of the constellation
| Star | Magnitude | Color | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fomalhautα Piscis Austrini | 1.2 | bluish white | about 25 light years |
| ε Piscis Austrini | 4.2 | bluish white | — |
| δ Piscis Austrini | 4.2 | orange | — |
| Fum al Huiβ Piscis Austrini | 4.3 | bluish white | — |
| ι Piscis Austrini | 4.3 | bluish white | — |
| γ Piscis Austrini | 4.5 | bluish white | — |
| μ Piscis Austrini | 4.5 | bluish white | — |
Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.
Questions
How do you find the constellation Piscis Austrinus in the sky?
Fomalhaut is a lone bright star low over the southern horizon on autumn evenings: there are no bright stars around it.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Piscis Austrinus?
In autumn: in September around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus?
Fomalhaut: magnitude 1.2, bluish white. Distance: about 25 light years.
How many stars are there in the constellation Piscis Austrinus?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 26 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.