Pyxis

Pyxis resides in the southern celestial hemisphere. This small and faint constellation is nestled adjacent to Hydra, Puppis, and Vela, making it predominantly visible from the southern regions of the Earth. However, its dimness renders it challenging to observe from higher northern latitudes.

History

The constellation was introduced by the 18th-century astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. Lacaille named this constellation "Pyxis," which translates to a mariner's compass or a navigational tool, symbolizing its positioning among other celestial landmarks.

Stars

Pyxis’ brightest star, Alpha Pyxidis or α Pyxidis, stands as a yellow-white giant with a magnitude of around 3.68. This lack of prominent stars contributes to the constellation's obscurity, as it doesn't capture the attention of casual stargazers due to its dimness and absence of easily identifiable stellar landmarks.

Galaxies

While Pyxis doesn't boast numerous deep-sky objects, it does contain a few faint celestial entities within its boundaries. NGC 2610, a barred spiral galaxy, is one such example.