Alpha Pyxidis, Latinised from α Pyxidis, is a

giant star A giant star has a substantially larger radius and luminosity than a main-sequence (or ''dwarf'') star of the same surface temperature. They lie above the main sequence (luminosity class V in the Yerkes spectral classification) on the Hertzsp ...

in the

constellation A constellation is an area on the celestial sphere in which a group of visible stars forms Asterism (astronomy), a perceived pattern or outline, typically representing an animal, mythological subject, or inanimate object. The first constellati ...

Pyxis Pyxis is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky. Abbreviated from Pyxis Nautica, its name is Latin for a mariner's compass (contrasting with Circinus, which represents a draftsman's compasses). Pyxis was introduced by Nicolas-Louis ...

. It is the brightest star in Pyxis, and is easily visible to the

naked eye Naked eye, also called bare eye or unaided eye, is the practice of engaging in visual perception unaided by a magnification, magnifying, Optical telescope#Light-gathering power, light-collecting optical instrument, such as a telescope or microsc ...

. It has a

stellar classification In astronomy, stellar classification is the classification of stars based on their stellar spectrum, spectral characteristics. Electromagnetic radiation from the star is analyzed by splitting it with a Prism (optics), prism or diffraction gratin ...

of B1.5III and is a

Beta Cephei variable Beta Cephei variables, also known as Beta Canis Majoris stars, are variable stars that exhibit small rapid variations in their brightness due to pulsations of the stars' surfaces, thought due to the unusual properties of iron at temperatures of 200 ...

. This star has more than ten times the

mass of the Sun The solar mass () is a frequently used unit of mass in astronomy, equal to approximately . It is approximately equal to the mass of the Sun. It is often used to indicate the masses of other stars, as well as stellar clusters, nebulae, galaxies a ...

and is more than six times the

Sun's radius Solar radius is a unit of distance used to express the size of objects in astronomy relative to the Sun. The solar radius is usually defined as the radius to the layer in the Sun's photosphere where the optical depth equals 2/3: 1\,R_ = 6.957\ti ...

. The surface temperature is and the star is about 10,000 times as luminous as the Sun. Stars such as this with more than 10 solar masses are expected to end their life by exploding as a

supernova A supernova (: supernovae or supernovas) is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. A supernova occurs during the last stellar evolution, evolutionary stages of a massive star, or when a white dwarf is triggered into runaway nuclear fusion ...

Naming

Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...

, (), meaning '' Celestial Dog'', refers to an asterism consisting of α Pyxidis,

e Velorum The Bayer designations e Velorum and E Velorum are distinct. Due to technical limitations, both designations link here. For the star *e Velorum, see HD 73634 HD 73634 is a single star in the southern constellation of Vela. It has the Ba ...

f Velorum F, or f, is the sixth letter of the Latin alphabet and many modern alphabets influenced by it, including the modern English alphabet and the alphabets of all other modern western European languages. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounce ...

β Pyxidis Beta Pyxidis, Latinized from β Pyxidis, is a double star located in the southern constellation Pyxis. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.954, making it the second brightest star in that faint constellation. Based upon p ...

γ Pyxidis Gamma Pyxidis, Latinized from γ Pyxidis, is a single, orange-hued star in the southern constellation Pyxis. It is visible to the naked eye, having an apparent visual magnitude of 4.010. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 15.73 ...

and

δ Pyxidis Delta Pyxidis (δ Pyxidis) is binary star system in southern constellation of Pyxis. Having an apparent visual magnitude of +4.877, it is bright enough to be visible to the naked eye. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 13.19 ...

. Consequently, α Pyxidis itself is known as (, ).AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 17 日

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alpha Pyxidis B-type giants Beta Cephei variables Pyxis Pyxidis, Alpha PD-32 02399 074575 042828 3468