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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Pyxis
Origin:
One of the constellations in the southern sky, introduced by the French
astronomer, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille
in 1754. Lacaille divided the large old constellation Argo Navis
(the ship Argo that carried Jason and
the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece) into four smaller
constellations: Vela (the sails), Puppis (the poop-deck), Carina
(the keel), and Pyxis (the compass) replacing the mast. His original
name was Pyxis Nautica, the Nautical Compass. The compass was not a
part of the ship Argo but, in breaking up the older constellation,
Lacaille immortalized one of the most important instruments available to a
mariner.
Information:
Pyxis, the Compass is located on a north-south line between Hydra and Vela with Antlia and Puppis flanking
the constellation on either side. Pyxis
ranks among the most inconspicuous constellations with no star brighter
than magnitude 4.0. The main object of
interest in Pyxis is the Milky Way, which runs through the western portion
of the constellation. |
