Constellation Pictor (Painter's Easel)
Properties
Pictor is another inconspicuous constellation and stands in the shadow of the bright star Canopus on the eastern side and the Large Magellanic Cloud in the south. The centre of the 247 square degree constellation culminates around midnight on December 15th. [9, 15]
| IAU Name | Pictor |
| IAU Genitive | Pictoris |
| IAU Abbr. | Pic |
| English Name | Painter's Easel |
| Culmination at local midnight | 16 December |
| Season (Latitude +46.8°) | [Not visible] |
| Right Ascension (J2000.0) | 04h 32m 52s … 06h 52m 03s |
| Declination (J2000.0) | -64° 09' 07" … -42° 47' 47" |
| Area | 247 deg2 |
| Neighbours (N↻) | Col, Cae, Dor, Vol, Car, Pup |
Catalogues
History
The constellation was introduced in 1752 by the French astronomer Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille under the original name Equuleus Pictoris (painter's easel). However, the name was shortened by Gould in 1877. [7, 10]