Piscis Austrinus
Encyclopedia
Piscis Austrinus is a constellation
in the southern celestial hemisphere. The name is Latin
for "the southern fish" in contrast with the larger constellation Pisces
, which represents a pair of fishes. Prior to the 20th century, it was also known as Piscis Notius. Its only star
brighter than 4th magnitude
is Fomalhaut
.
Piscis Austrinus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy
, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. The stars of the modern constellation Grus
once formed part of Piscis Austrinus. In 1597 (or 1598), Petrus Plancius
carved out a separate constellation and named it after the crane.
In Greek mythology
, this constellation is known as the Great Fish and it is portrayed as swallowing the water being poured out by Aquarius
, the water-bearer constellation. The two fish of the constellation Pisces are said to be the offspring of the Great Fish. In Egyptian mythology
, this fish saved the life of the Egyptian goddess Isis
, so she placed this fish and its descendants into the heavens as constellations of stars.
traditionally represents the mouth of the fish. Its companion Fomalhaut b
is the first extrasolar planet
ever detected by a visible light image, thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope
. Beta PsA is the only other star in the constellation to have been named, being Tien Kang (heavenly rope) in China
. It is also a binary
, although of two nearly equal stars.
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
in the southern celestial hemisphere. The name is Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "the southern fish" in contrast with the larger constellation Pisces
Pisces (constellation)
Pisces is a constellation of the zodiac. Its name is the Latin plural for fish, and its symbol is . It lies between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east...
, which represents a pair of fishes. Prior to the 20th century, it was also known as Piscis Notius. Its only star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
brighter than 4th magnitude
Magnitude (astronomy)
Magnitude is the logarithmic measure of the brightness of an object, in astronomy, measured in a specific wavelength or passband, usually in optical or near-infrared wavelengths.-Background:...
is Fomalhaut
Fomalhaut
Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus and one of the brightest stars in the sky. Fomalhaut can be seen low in the southern sky in the northern hemisphere in fall and early winter evenings. Near latitude 50˚N, it sets around the time Sirius rises, and does not...
.
Piscis Austrinus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. The stars of the modern constellation Grus
Grus (constellation)
Grus is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for the crane, a species of bird. It was introduced in the late sixteenth century.-History:The stars that form Grus were originally considered part of Piscis Austrinus...
once formed part of Piscis Austrinus. In 1597 (or 1598), Petrus Plancius
Petrus Plancius
Petrus Plancius was a Dutch astronomer, cartographer and clergyman. He was born as Pieter Platevoet in Dranouter, now in Heuvelland, West Flanders. He studied theology in Germany and England...
carved out a separate constellation and named it after the crane.
In Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, this constellation is known as the Great Fish and it is portrayed as swallowing the water being poured out by Aquarius
Aquarius (constellation)
Aquarius is a constellation of the zodiac, situated between Capricornus and Pisces. Its name is Latin for "water-bearer" or "cup-bearer", and its symbol is , a representation of water....
, the water-bearer constellation. The two fish of the constellation Pisces are said to be the offspring of the Great Fish. In Egyptian mythology
Egyptian mythology
Ancient Egyptian religion was a complex system of polytheistic beliefs and rituals which were an integral part of ancient Egyptian society. It centered on the Egyptians' interaction with a multitude of deities who were believed to be present in, and in control of, the forces and elements of nature...
, this fish saved the life of the Egyptian goddess Isis
Isis
Isis or in original more likely Aset is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the matron of nature and magic...
, so she placed this fish and its descendants into the heavens as constellations of stars.
Origins
Pisces Austrinus originated with the Babylonian constellation simply known as the Fish (MUL.KU).Notable features
FomalhautFomalhaut
Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus and one of the brightest stars in the sky. Fomalhaut can be seen low in the southern sky in the northern hemisphere in fall and early winter evenings. Near latitude 50˚N, it sets around the time Sirius rises, and does not...
traditionally represents the mouth of the fish. Its companion Fomalhaut b
Fomalhaut b
Fomalhaut b is an extrasolar planet approximately 25 light-years away in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus. The planet was discovered orbiting the A-type main sequence star Fomalhaut in 2008 in photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope...
is the first extrasolar planet
Extrasolar planet
An extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, is a planet outside the Solar System. A total of such planets have been identified as of . It is now known that a substantial fraction of stars have planets, including perhaps half of all Sun-like stars...
ever detected by a visible light image, thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
. Beta PsA is the only other star in the constellation to have been named, being Tien Kang (heavenly rope) in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It is also a binary
Binary star
A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass. The brighter star is called the primary and the other is its companion star, comes, or secondary...
, although of two nearly equal stars.