Constellation · Pic
Pictor
The Painter's Easel
A faint southern constellation that contains the nearby young star Beta Pictoris and its dusty disc.
Magnitude 3.24
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (winter 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
Can you see Pictor 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 | Pictor |
|---|---|
| 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 Pictor
When is Pictor best seen?
Pictor stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in January. That makes winter evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Pictor?
The brightest star in Pictor is Alpha Pictoris, magnitude 3.24.
Where on Earth can you see Pictor?
The whole of Pictor can be seen from latitudes between about 90°S and 26°N. From 40°N: Only part of it ever clears the horizon. From 35°S: The whole constellation rises and sets.
What does Pictor mean?
Pictor is Latin for "the Painter's Easel". Introduced by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the 1750s.