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A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
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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 » 

Pisces (The Fishes) Constellation

Altitude: 26.6°   Azimuth: 106.7°   Direction: East-South-East

Pisces (pronounced ˈpaɪsiːz, ˈpɪ-) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 56 degrees across the sky) situated close to the celestial equator. As such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year.

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

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Piscium" (pronounced ˈpɪʃiəm) 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 Piscium (the brightest star of Pisces based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Piscium (the 23th star in the constellation of Pisces based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Pisces is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 27°.
Available Resources for Pisces

Sky Chart of Pisces Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Pisces constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Pisces 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 Pisces Constellation

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

Today's Pisces rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 79.0°
Max altitude: 49.5°
Azimuth: 281.0°
Pisces is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

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 (like Pisces actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Pisces Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Pisces constellation. See also the complete list of 138 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Pisces. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR437 η Piscium Alpherg 3.62 Variable; Double;
HR8852 γ Piscium 3.69
HR9072 ω Piscium 4.01 Variable; Multiple;
HR8969 ι Piscium 4.13 Variable; Double;
HR510 ο Piscium Torcular 4.26 Variable;
HR294 ε Piscium 4.28 Double;
HR8916 θ Piscium 4.28
HR596 α Piscium Alrescha 4.33 Variable; Double;
HR9089 30 Piscium 4.41 Variable;
HR224 δ Piscium 4.43 Double;
HR489 ν Piscium 4.44
HR8984 λ Piscium 4.5
HR352 τ Piscium 4.51
HR8773 β Piscium Fumalsamakah 4.53 Variable;
HR3 33 Piscium 4.61 Variable; Multiple;
HR549 ξ Piscium 4.62 Variable;
HR360 φ Piscium 4.65 Multiple;
HR351 χ Piscium 4.66
HR383 υ Piscium 4.76
HR434 μ Piscium 4.84 Multiple;
...go to the complete list of 138 bright stars in the constellation of Pisces

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

Deep Sky Objects in Pisces Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Pisces constellation. See also the complete list of 468 deep sky objects in the constellation of Pisces. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
Messier 74 Galaxy 9.46 (V)
NGC 660 Galaxy 11.16 (V)
NGC 315 Galaxy 11.16 (V)
NGC 520 NED01 Galaxy 11.42 (V)
NGC 410 Galaxy 11.48 (V)
NGC 524 Galaxy 11.5 (B)
NGC 474 Galaxy 11.51 (V)
NGC 266 Galaxy 11.63 (V)
NGC 514 Galaxy 11.65 (V)
NGC 718 Galaxy 11.67 (V)
NGC 470 Galaxy 11.78 (V)
NGC 467 Galaxy 11.85 (V)
NGC 676 Galaxy 12 (V)
NGC 7715 Galaxy 12.14 (V)
NGC 383 Galaxy 12.14 (V)
NGC 499 Galaxy 12.3 (V)
NGC 520 NED02 Galaxy 12.4 (B)
NGC 693 Galaxy 12.44 (V)
NGC 706 Galaxy 12.5 (V)
...go to the complete list of 468 deep sky objects in the constellation of Pisces