Piscis Austrinus

The Southern Fish

A small constellation low in the south on autumn evenings, led by Fomalhaut, a bright star standing alone in a sparse part of the sky.

Chart drawn as the sky looks when you face the constellation: north is up and east is to the left. Dot size shows brightness, and color hints at temperature. The connecting lines are one common stick figure; other traditions draw them differently.

Best season: Autumn
Best months: September through November, low in the south on autumn evenings
Visibility: Visible from the United States, low in the south
Abbreviation: PsA

How to find it

Take the western side of the Great Square of Pegasus and extend it south. The first bright star you reach, low in the south, is Fomalhaut.
The rest of the fish trails to the right of Fomalhaut.

Brightest stars

Fomalhaut (the 'Lonely One,' one of the brightest stars in the autumn sky)

What to look for

Fomalhaut shining alone, with no bright neighbors in its patch of sky.

Using it to find other things

The line from Scheat through Markab in the Great Square points down to Fomalhaut.

About this constellation

Fomalhaut is called the Lonely One because no other bright star is near it. From the northern United States it stays low on autumn evenings, so a clear southern horizon helps.

Fomalhaut is surrounded by a disc of dust, which astronomers have photographed.

Related guides

Visibility depends on your latitude, the date, and the time of night. The months above assume a typical evening from the contiguous United States, so use a planetarium app to confirm what is up tonight. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter.

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