PICTOR

:''This article refers to the constellation "Pictor". For the Roman historian, please refer to the Quintus Fabius Pictor article.''
'Pictor' (IPA: , ) is one of the minor southern (declination -50° to -60°) constellations.
Pictor is a small, faint constellation located between brilliant Canopus and the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Pictor has attracted attention in recent years because of its second-brightest star β Pictoris, 62.9 light-years distant, which is surrounded by an unusual dust disk rich in carbon.
Kapteyn's Star, a nearby red dwarf at the distance of 12.78 light years, is the closest halo star known.

Contents

History

Trivia

Reference

External links

History

'Pictor' was invented and named by Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille — noted for his catalogue of nearly 10,000 southern stars, including 42 nebulous objects — in the 17th Century. The constellation has no known pre-18th century mythology surrounding it.

Trivia

★ "Pictor" literally means "painter". The name is an abbreviation of ''Equuleus Pictoris'', "painter's easel".

Reference

★ Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). ''Collins Stars and Planets Guide'', HarperCollins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209.

External links

★ Star Tales – Pictor

★ Pictor @ Stargazing