Constellation · Pav
Pavo
The Peacock
A southern constellation whose brightest star is Peacock (Alpha Pavonis).
Magnitude 1.94
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (autumn in the northern hemisphere)
Latitudes where every part of it rises above the horizon at some time of year
The whole sky covers about 41,253 square degrees
Stars brighter than about magnitude 6, the naked-eye limit under dark skies
Named stars in Pavo
Brightest first. A lower magnitude means a brighter star.
- Peacock (Alpha Pavonis)mag 1.94
Can you see Pavo from where you live?
This depends only on your latitude. Pick the row nearest to you; for your exact sky tonight, use the sky map.
| Latitude | Pavo |
|---|---|
| 60°N | Never rises |
| 40°N | Never rises |
| 20°N | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 40°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
| 60°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
Questions about Pavo
When is Pavo best seen?
Pavo stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in September. That makes autumn evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Pavo?
The brightest star in Pavo is Peacock (Alpha Pavonis), magnitude 1.94.
Where on Earth can you see Pavo?
The whole of Pavo can be seen from latitudes between about 90°S and 15°N. From 40°N: Never rises. From 35°S: Visible all night, all year (it never sets).
What does Pavo mean?
Pavo is Latin for "the Peacock". Charted by Dutch navigators in the late 1500s.