The Pisces constellation
Psc · Catalogue stars: 23
Why this name?
Old charts show two fish connected by a ribbon or cord. One Greek tradition associates them with Aphrodite and Eros escaping from the monster Typhon.
A little history
Pisces belongs to the ancient zodiac and Ptolemy’s catalogue. The figure of two connected fish survived in celestial atlases for many centuries.
Data
- IAU code
- Psc
- Catalogue stars
- 23
- Messier objects
- 1
- Brightest star
- Alpherg · 3.6ᵐ
Messier objects
Stars
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 114971 · 3.7ᵐ · G7III
- HIP 118268 · 4.0ᵐ · F4IV
- HIP 116771 · 4.1ᵐ · F7V
- HIP 4906 · 4.3ᵐ · K0III
- HIP 115830 · 4.3ᵐ · K1III
- HIP 154 · 4.4ᵐ · M3III
- HIP 3786 · 4.4ᵐ · K5III
- HIP 7884 · 4.5ᵐ · K3III
- HIP 116928 · 4.5ᵐ · A7V
- HIP 5586 · 4.5ᵐ · K0III-IV...
- HIP 443 · 4.6ᵐ · K1III
- HIP 8833 · 4.6ᵐ · K0III SB
- HIP 5571 · 4.7ᵐ · K0III
- HIP 5742 · 4.7ᵐ · K0III...
- HIP 6193 · 4.7ᵐ · A3V
- HIP 7007 · 4.8ᵐ · K4III
- HIP 118209 · 4.9ᵐ · G9III
- HIP 115738 · 5.0ᵐ · A0p
- HIP 117245 · 5.0ᵐ · C5II
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 42° | 65° |
| +55° | 47° | 69° |
| +45° | 57° | 73° |
| +30° | 72° | 76° |
| 0° | 78° | 78° |
| −35° | 43° | 75° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 16:50 |
| February | 14:43 |
| March | 12:58 |
| April | 11:04 |
| May | 09:10 |
| June | 07:04 |
| July | 05:00 |
| August | 02:59 |
| September | 01:06 |
| October | 23:17 |
| November | 21:16 |
| December | 19:08 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Pisces?
Alpherg — 3.6ᵐ.