Overview

Constellation Piscis Austrinus, also known as ‍the Southern Fish, is a ‌small constellation located in⁢ the southern celestial hemisphere.

It is ⁤one of the⁢ 48‌ constellations ​listed by the Greek astronomer⁤ Ptolemy⁢ in the 2nd century‌ AD.

History and Mythology

Piscis Austrinus has been recognized and named since ancient times. It has associations with various mythologies.

In​ Greek⁤ mythology, Piscis Austrinus represents the ⁢parent of all water creatures. It is believed to be ​the ‌symbol of Aphrodite‍ and her son Eros, who transformed into fish to escape the wrath of the monster Typhon.

Notable Stars

The constellation Piscis Austrinus contains several notable ‌stars, including:

• Formalhaut (Alpha Piscis⁣ Austrini): The brightest star in the ⁤constellation, often called the ‘Autumn Star.’
• Fomalhaut b: A ⁤nearby exoplanet discovered in 2008, making it​ one of the first visible ‍exoplanets to be directly imaged.
• Delta Piscis Austrini: A binary star system consisting‌ of two white A-type main-sequence stars.

Deep Sky Objects

Piscis Austrinus is ​home to some fascinating deep sky objects:

• NGC 7177: A spiral galaxy located approximately 100 million light-years away.
• NGC 7331: A barred spiral galaxy known for its resemblance ⁤to our Milky Way galaxy.
• The Sculptor Group:‌ A group of galaxies located at the border of Piscis Austrinus and Sculptor constellations.