Name a Star in the Pictor Constellation

The Pictor constellation is located in the far southern sky between Canopus and the large Magellanic Cloud in Dorado. It translates directly to “the painter” but actually refers to the “Painter’s Easel,” It was originally called Equuleus Pictoris. When it was introduced by Lacaille in 1750. It is a faint constellation with no stars brighter than a 3 magnitude. It can be seen as far only as far north as Thailand in December, but to those living in Australia, South Africa, Chili, and Argentina it can be seen all year.  

Pictor is an interesting constellation to observe due to its location near the south celestial pole. This means that from southern hemisphere observatories, Pictor never sets and can be observed year-round.  Although it contains no stars brighter than a 3 magnitude, it is a favorite place to name a star for artists who paint and draw. As a unique gift for someone celebrating their 70th birthday, naming a star is a great choice.  Click here for more information.

Symbol : Pic  

Right Ascension : 06:03  

Declination : -56  

Diameter (°)  : 14  

Area (square °) : 247  

Opposition : Dec 22  

Size Rank : 59th  

Brightness Rank : 68th  

Genitive : Pictoris  

Major stars in Pictor 

α Pictoris (Alpha Pictoris) 

β Pictoris (Beta Pictoris) 

γ Pictoris (Gamma Pictoris) 

δ Pictoris (Delta Pictoris) 

Kapteyn’s Star 

AB Pictoris 

HD 40307 

HD 41004 

Deep sky objects in Pictor 

NGC 1705 

Pictor A 

SPT-CL J0546-5345