When is the best time to observe Alpha Pictoris?

Alpha Pictoris is best observed from November through January, with peak visibility during December when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Alpha Pictoris located in the sky?

Alpha Pictoris lies in the constellation Pintor at right ascension 06h 48m and declination -61° 56′.

What telescope do I need to see Alpha Pictoris?

At magnitude 3.3, Alpha Pictoris is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Alpha Pictoris — Estrella en Pintor

Magnitud 3.3^m Star Pintor (Pic) Visible

Mapa Estelar + Lista + Plan

Acerca de Alpha Pic

Descripción

Alpha Pictoris is a white star of tipo espectral A8VnkA6 at magnitude 3.27, the brightest star in the faint southern constellation Pictor (the Painter's Easel). Located a unos 97 años luz de la Tierra, it has a temperatura superficial of about 7,500 K and a luminosity roughly 18 veces la solar. It is a rapidly rotating star.

Consejos de Observación

Alpha Pic lies in the small, faint constellation Pictor, between Canopus and the Large Nube de Magallanes. It is the only star brighter than 4th magnitude in the entire constellation, making it easy to identify by elimination. Only visible from the hemisferio sur and very low latitudes boreales. Mejor observación from December through March.

Historia

Pictor was created by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 1750s during his survey of the southern skies from the Cape of Good Hope. The full name was originally 'Equuleus Pictoris' (the Painter's Easel). Alpha Pictoris has no traditional proper name, as the constellation postdates classical astronomy.

Datos Curiosos

Pictor's most famous star is actually Beta Pictoris — not Alpha — because Beta Pic was the first star discovered to have a visible disco de escombros, photographed in 1984. It became the prototype for understanding planetary system formation. Alpha Pic gets far less attention despite being the constellation's brightest star.