Bússola
Compass (Pyxidis)
Pyxis, the Mariner's Compass, is a small, faint constellation created by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. Located in a section of the ancient Argo Navis constellation, it represents the magnetic compass used in navigation. Though dim, Pyxis lies in the Milky Way and contains some interesting objects for telescopic observers.
📜 Mitologia
Pyxis is a modern constellation with no classical mythology. It was created by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope (1751-1752) from stars near the ancient constellation Argo Navis. Unlike the three parts of Argo (Puppis, Vela, Carina) that retain Greek-letter designations from the original constellation, Pyxis is entirely new with its own letter sequence. Lacaille named it 'Pyxis Nautica' (the Mariner's Compass) to honor the essential navigation instrument.
💡 Fatos curiosos
- ✦Pyxis lies adjacent to Puppis, Vela, and Carina - the three parts of ancient Argo Navis
- ✦T Pyxidis is a recurrent nova that has erupted in 1890, 1902, 1920, 1944, 1967, and 2011
- ✦The constellation contains NGC 2818, a planetary nebula within an open cluster