Puppis constellation
Puppis is a constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Naos. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon.
- Winterbest seen
- Naosbrightest star, magnitude 2.2
- PupPuppis
How to find the constellation Puppis
Use its brightest star as a guide: Naos (magnitude 2.2). In February around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 7°. Its southern part never rises at mid-northern latitudes (52° N) — the whole constellation can be seen from further south.
| Location | Visibility |
|---|---|
| 40° NMadrid, New York, Beijing | rises and sets, fully visible |
| 52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsaw | only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naosζ Puppis | 2.2 | blue | — |
| π Puppis | 2.7 | red | — |
| Tureisρ Puppis | 2.8 | white | — |
| τ Puppis | 2.9 | orange | — |
| ν Puppis | 3.2 | bluish white | — |
| σ Puppis | 3.3 | orange | — |
| Azmidiξ Puppis | 3.3 | orange | — |
| c Puppis | 3.6 | red | — |
| a Puppis | 3.7 | orange | — |
| κ¹ Puppis | 3.8 | blue | — |
| l Puppis | 3.9 | bluish white | — |
| P Puppis | 4.1 | blue | — |
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 Puppis in the sky?
Use its brightest star as a guide: Naos (magnitude 2.2). In February around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 7°. Its southern part never rises at mid-northern latitudes (52° N) — the whole constellation can be seen from further south.
When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Puppis?
In winter: in February 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 Puppis?
Naos: magnitude 2.2, blue.
How many stars are there in the constellation Puppis?
With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 145 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.