Pisces (constellation)

Pisces

Constellation
List of stars in Pisces
Abbreviation	Psc
Genitive	Piscium
Pronunciation	/ˈpaɪsiːz/, genitive /ˈpɪʃiəm/
Symbolism	the Fish
Right ascension	1 h
Declination	+15°
Quadrant	NQ1
Area	889 sq. deg. (14th)
Main stars	21
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	86
Stars with planets	7
Stars brighter than 3.00m	0
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	8
Brightest star	η Psc (3.62m)
Nearest star	Van Maanen's Star (14.07 ly, 4.31 pc)
Messier objects	1
Meteor showers	Piscids
Bordering constellations	Triangulum Andromeda Pegasus Aquarius Cetus Aries
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −65°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of November.

Pisces is a constellation of the zodiac. Its name is the Latin plural for fish, and its symbol is (Unicode ♓). It lies between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east. The ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect within this constellation and in Virgo.

Notable features

The constellation Pisces as it can be seen by naked eye. AlltheSky.com

The Vernal equinox is currently located in Pisces, due south of ω Psc, and, due to precession, slowly drifting below the western fish towards Aquarius.

Van Maanen's Star, at 12.36 magnitude, is located in this constellation.

Pisces contains one galaxy that is listed in Charles Messier's catalog, named the spiral galaxy Messier 74.

Asterisms and subdivison

• Testudo (the Turtle)^[1]: 24 - 27 - YY(30) - 33 - 29 Psc.^[2]

This was an obsolete constellation located between the constellations of Pisces and Cetus, today constituting a natural but faint asterism, where the star 20 Psc is intended to be the head of the turtle. The origin of the constellation is uncertain, but it is alleged that it was proposed by an astronomer Admiral Smyth on his book^[3] in the middle of 19th century. It is no longer recognized.^[4]

Pisces in Hevelius' map (1690)

• Piscis Boreus (the North Fish)^[5]: σ - 68 - 65 - 67 - ψ¹ - ψ² - ψ³ - χ - φ - υ　- 91 - τ - 82 - 78 Psc.
• Linum Boreum (the North Cord)^[5]: χ -　ρ,94 - VX(97) - η - π - ο - α Psc.
• Linum Austrinum (the South Cord)^[5]: α - ξ -　ν - μ - ζ - ε - δ - 41 - 35 - ω Psc.
• Piscis Austrinus (the South Fish)^[5]: ω - ι -　θ - 7 - β - 5 - κ,9 - λ - TX(19) Psc.

Pisces represented above 4 subdivisions in Hevelius' star map.

• The Circlet: γ -　7 - θ - ι - TX - λ - κ,9 Psc.

Mythology and visualizations

Pisces as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825.

The constellation is commonly represented as two fish, each of which is tied to the same point by a long length of string. The fish are connected at the tails. However, the 'strings' can also be interpreted as stick-figure men (with the 'fish' thus becoming their heads), and some forms of early Greek mythology viewed it as men bound to a point, with only the constellation Piscis Austrinus considered to be a fish.

According to one Greek myth, Pisces represents the fish into which Aphrodite and her son Eros transformed in order to escape the fire god Typhon; they are tied together with a cord on their tails, to make sure they do not lose one another.^[6] Alternatively, the twin fishes were placed in the heavens in honor of their heroic deed of saving Aphrodite and Eros from Typhon on the river Euphrates.

Babylonian

The constellation Pisces and the astrological sign Pisces share a fish symbol. According to J. H. Rogers the fish symbol originates from some composition of the Babylonian constellations Zibatti-meš (maybe Šinunutu₄ "the great swallow" in current eastern Pisces) and KU₆ ("the fish, Ea", Piscis Austrinus). The constellation then went under the name DU.NU.NU, Rikis-nu.mi, "the fish cord"^[7]. Rogers thinks this constellation was somehow misinterpreted and turned around so that the current northern fish is on the border of Andromeda, instead of being constituted by Piscis Austrinus.

Astrology

While the astrological sign Pisces per definition runs from ecliptical longitude 330° to 0, this position is now mostly covered by the constellation of Aquarius, due to the precession from when the constellation and the sign coincided. According to new agers and some tropical astrologers, we are currently in the Age of Pisces,^[8], while other maintain that we are in the Age of Aquarius.

As of 2002^[update], the Sun appears in the constellation Pisces from March 12 to April 18. In tropical astrology, the Sun is considered to be in the sign Pisces from February 20 to March 20, and in sidereal astrology, from March 15 to April 14.

References

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
• Richard Hinckley Allen, Star Names, Their Lore and Legenc, New York, Dover: various dates.
• Thomas Wm. Hamilton, Useful Star Names, Holbrook, NY, Viewlex: 1968.

External links

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Pisces
• Star Tales – Pisces

Coordinates: 01^h 00^m 00^s, +15° 00′ 00″