Pavo (constellation)
| Constellation | |
 List of stars in Pavo |
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| Abbreviation | Pav |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Pavonis |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpeɪvoʊ/, genitive /pəˈvoʊnɨs/ |
| Symbolism | the Peacock |
| Right ascension | 20 h |
| Declination | −65° |
| Quadrant | SQ4 |
| Area | 378 sq. deg. (44th) |
| Main stars | 7 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
24 |
| Stars with planets | 5 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 1 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 4 |
| Brightest star | α Pav (Peacock) (1.94m) |
| Nearest star | SCR 1845-6357 (12.57 ly, 3.85 pc) |
| Messier objects | 0 |
| Meteor showers | Delta Pavonids |
| Bordering constellations |
Octans Apus Ara Telescopium Indus |
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Visible at latitudes between +30° and −90°. |
|
Pavo is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for peacock. It is one of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius from the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman and it first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 (or 1598) in Amsterdam by Plancius with Jodocus Hondius. The first depiction of this constellation in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer's Uranometria of 1603.
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History and mythology [edit]
The Peacock's mythology dates to Greco-Roman times and the story of Jason and the Argonauts. The Argo was named for its creator, Argos, who was transmuted to a peacock by Juno upon his death and honored eternally as a constellation. She honored him further by locating his constellation close to Argo Navis, the constellation representing the Argo.[1]
However, there are other myths that prominently feature a peacock. Argus was a creature with one hundred eyes, who guarded the pregnant Io—changed into a heifer. Jupiter entreated Mercury to save Io; Mercury lulled Argus to sleep by playing instruments and talking repetitively; after Argus fell asleep Mercury beheaded him. Juno, who had asked Argus to guard Io, made the peacock's tail ornaments with all of his eyes in his honor.[1]
Pavo was created by Johann Bayer out of faint southern polar stars.[1]
Notable features [edit]
In Australia, part of Pavo is sometimes called "the Saucepan" when it is used as a guide to finding the south by the stars.
The most notable star in the constellation is δ Pavonis, a nearby Sun-like but more evolved star. φ2 Pavonis, another Sun-like star has an unconfirmed extrasolar planet.
The deep-sky objects in Pavo include the globular cluster NGC 6752.
Namesakes [edit]
USS Pavo (AK-139) was a United States Navy Crater class cargo ship named after the constellation.
References [edit]
- ^ a b c Staal 1988, p. 255.
- Ridpath, Ian; Tirion, Wil (2007), Stars and Planets Guide, Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0-691-13556-4
- Staal, Julius D.W. (1988), The New Patterns in the Sky: Myths and Legends of the Stars, The McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, ISBN 0-939923-04-1
External links [edit]
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