Constellation · Phe
Phoenix
The Phoenix
A southern constellation whose brightest star, Ankaa, is an orange giant.
Magnitude 2.40
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 Phoenix
Brightest first. A lower magnitude means a brighter star.
- Ankaa (Alpha Phoenicis)mag 2.40
- Wurren (Zeta Phoenicis)mag 3.94
Can you see Phoenix 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 | Phoenix |
|---|---|
| 60°N | Never rises |
| 40°N | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| 20°N | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 40°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 60°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
Questions about Phoenix
When is Phoenix best seen?
Phoenix stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in November. 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 Phoenix?
The brightest star in Phoenix is Ankaa (Alpha Phoenicis), magnitude 2.40.
Where on Earth can you see Phoenix?
The whole of Phoenix can be seen from latitudes between about 90°S and 32°N. From 40°N: Only part of it ever clears the horizon. From 35°S: The whole constellation rises and sets.
What does Phoenix mean?
Phoenix is Latin for "the Phoenix". Charted by Dutch navigators in the late 1500s.