- Pyxis
Infobox Constellation
name = Pyxis
abbreviation = Pyx
genitive = Pyxidis
symbology = thecompass box
RA = 9
dec= −30
areatotal = 221
arearank = 65th
numbermainstars = 3
numberbfstars = 10
numberstarsplanets = 2
numberbrightstars = 0
numbernearbystars = 1
brighteststarname = α Pyx
starmagnitude = 3.68
neareststarname = HD 72673
stardistance = 39.7
numbermessierobjects = None
meteorshowers = None
bordering =HydraPuppis
VelaAntlia
latmax = 50
latmin = 90
month = March
notes=Pyxis (pronEng|ˈpɪks
ɪs, _la.box ) is a minor southernconstellation introduced byNicolas Louis de Lacaille under the name "Pyxis Nautica".It is perhaps supposed to represent the compass of
Argo Navis , though theArgo could hardly have had a compass, as theancient Greeks knew nothing of compasses for navigation. Pyxis was not formerly a part of Argo Navis, thus the stars in it have their own independentBayer designation s (unlike Carina,Puppis and Vela which retained and split among themselves the Bayer designations from Argo).It should not be confused with the constellation
Circinus , which represents the type of compass used by a draftsman orcartographer .Since it is a modern constellation, it has no independent pre-17th century mythology associated with it.
References
*Source of values: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/
* Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). "Stars and Planets Guide", Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.External links
* [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/pyxis.htm Star Tales – Pyxis]
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