description Pictor Overview
Pictor is a constellation of the southern sky introduced by the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille, who charted it in 1756 as Equuleus Pictoris, the painter's easel, a name later shortened to Pictor and retained among the 88 modern constellations. It lies between the bright star Canopus and the Large Magellanic Cloud and contains no bright stars of its own. Pictor is best known for Beta Pictoris, a nearby young star encircled by a debris disk that was among the first to be photographed around another star; the planet Beta Pictoris b has since been directly imaged orbiting it.
help Pictor FAQ
Who created the constellation Pictor?
Pictor was introduced by the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. He charted it in 1756 under the name Equuleus Pictoris, meaning the painter's easel.
What does the name Pictor mean?
Pictor is Latin for painter. The constellation's original name referred to a painter's easel before the shorter name Pictor was adopted.
Is Pictor one of the modern 88 constellations?
Yes. Pictor is retained among the 88 modern constellations recognized in contemporary astronomy.
Where can Pictor be seen in the sky?
Pictor is a constellation of the southern sky. Its visibility depends on the observer's latitude, season, and local horizon conditions.
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