Thanks to the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, the constellation Painter in the 17th century was called "an easel for the artist." However, after some time, an astronomer from Britain, Francis Bailey, decided to leave one word in the title. And it began to sound like a painter.
Constellation history
The painter (Latin name "Pictor") is a new, weak constellation in the southern hemisphere, which lies near the Great Magellanic Cloud. The constellation received this name because the stars in its composition resemble the artist's easel with their appearance.
One of the brightest stars is considered to be the alpha of the constellation Painter (white), located 99 light years from our Planet. Beta constellations (completely white) is the second brightest star in this constellation. She is considered very young (does not reach 20 million years), but is at the stage of the main sequence. It is of great interest to scientists: a gas-dust disk was found near the star, which is deployed to the Earth with an edge. His research allows us to correct and confirm the version about the formation of our own planetary system.
In the sky, the constellation covers an area of 247.7 square degrees and consists of 49 stars, which are visible to the naked eye. Among other constellations, according to the size, the painter takes only 59th place.
On the territory of the Russian Federation, this constellation is not visible. There are no celestial objects in its composition that would be of interest for telescopic observations, there are only too weak galaxies.
Legend of the constellation painter
This constellation was found after the Renaissance. His definition is not associated with any legends, since the constellation Painter was discovered by the French astronomer Lacaille, while he was studying the southern sky in Africa. What was relatively recent.
Painter: legends and myths
The constellation takes place in the sky west of the star Canopus, and south of the constellation Pigeon. The constellation of the Painter includes the star Kapteyna, which has a very high individual movement. This star is a red sub-dwarf, which is located at a distance of 12.78 light years from our planet.
It is unusual in that it moves against the movement of the bulk in the Galaxy, and is also part of the Milky Way. It was determined at the end of the 19th century by an astronomer from Holland named Jacobus Kaptein, in whose honor it gained its name. By that time, the star had the highest personal movement of the stars that are famous. At the moment, the baton has moved to the flying star of Barnard.
Since the constellation is relatively new, there are no myths associated with its appearance. It is known that about 30 years ago one of the stars was photographed, after which it became known that there was a gas-dust cloud near it. Visually, the Painter does not cause any admiration. However, as soon as it becomes known that its stars are lurking in itself - the attitude towards it completely changes.
How to find a constellation?
The painter borders the constellation Pigeon in the north, with Pisces and Kiel in the east, with the constellation Rezets in the northwest, with the Golden Fish in the southwest, and in the south with the constellation Flying Fish. A great guideline is Canopus Kiel. The constellation occupies the first quadrant in the southern hemisphere.
The full constellation can only be seen in latitudes from + 26 ° to −90 °. Best climax becomes noticeable in mid-December. In 1922, the three-letter abbreviation "Pic" was chosen for the Painter. According to official data, the borders were determined in the 30s of the XX century thanks to the work of the astronomer Eugene Delport.