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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Pictor (The Easel) Constellation

Altitude: -54.5°   Azimuth: 118.7°   Direction: East-South-East

Pictor (pronounced ˈpɪktər) is the Latin name of a constellation situated south of the celestial equator. As such, it is more easily visible from the southern hemisphere.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The Easel" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Pic" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Pict" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Pictoris" (pronounced pɪkˈtɔːrɪs) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Pictoris (the brightest star of Pictor based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Pictoris (the 23th star in the constellation of Pictor based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Pictor is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt.
Available Resources for Pictor

Sky Chart of Pictor Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Pictor constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Pictor in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Pictor Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Pictor is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt

The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Pictor Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Pictor constellation. See also the complete list of 49 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Pictor. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR2550 α Pictoris 3.27
HR2020 β Pictoris 3.85
HR2042 γ Pictoris 4.51
HR2212 δ Pictoris 4.81 Variable;
HR1663 η2 Pictoris 5.03 Variable;
HR2196 5.05 Variable;
HR2049 5.17
HR2389 5.22 Variable;
HR2094 5.29
HR2008 5.31 Double;
HR1516 λ Pictoris 5.31
HR1649 η1 Pictoris 5.38 Double;
HR1767 ζ Pictoris 5.45
HR1856 5.46 Multiple;
HR2320 ν Pictoris 5.61
HR2138 5.67
HR2412 μ Pictoris 5.7 Double;
HR2345 5.8
HR2117 5.81
HR2369 5.82
...go to the complete list of 49 bright stars in the constellation of Pictor

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Pictor Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Pictor constellation. See also the complete list of 23 deep sky objects in the constellation of Pictor. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 1705 Galaxy 12.56 (V)
NGC 2191 Galaxy 13.26 (B)
NGC 1930 Galaxy 13.39 (B)
NGC 1803 Galaxy 13.51 (B)
NGC 2104 Galaxy 13.52 (B)
NGC 2178 Galaxy 13.64 (B)
NGC 2101 Galaxy 13.68 (B)
NGC 2205 Galaxy 13.71 (B)
NGC 2297 Galaxy 13.75 (B)
NGC 2221 Galaxy 13.86 (B)
NGC 2115A Galaxy 14.15 (B)
NGC 2222 Galaxy 14.21 (B)
NGC 1680 Galaxy 14.45 (B)
NGC 2148 Galaxy 14.59 (B)
NGC 2008 Galaxy 14.64 (B)
NGC 2087 Galaxy 14.69 (B)
NGC 2152 Galaxy 14.75 (B)
NGC 2007 Galaxy 14.84 (B)
NGC 1998 Galaxy 15.18 (B)
NGC 2115B Galaxy 16.05 (B)
...go to the complete list of 23 deep sky objects in the constellation of Pictor