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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Pictor
Origin:
One of the 14 constellations in the southern sky, introduced by the French
astronomer, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille
in 1754. Originally the constellation was named Equuleus Pictoris
but the name was shortened to the present day Pictor.
Information:
Pictor is a small indistinct southern constellation found best by first
finding Canopus in Carina, then letting the eye
drift to the west to find a crooked north-south line of three stars.
Pictor's remoteness from the Milky Way, coupled with its diminutive size,
make it a constellation of little interest to the amateur
astronomer. A notable exception is Kapteyn' Star, which has the
second-fastest proper motion, moving through 1° of sky every 414
years. What little of Pictor that can be seen by northern hemisphere
observers (north of 30° N lat.) culminates at 9 pm on around January 30. |
