Located in the northern hemisphere, Pisces is a constellation of the zodiac. Because of its size and location, the constellation was viewed by most European cultures per Greco-Roman antiquity as a distant pair of fishes connected by one cord each that join at an apex. The name Pisces is the Latin plural for fish. The ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect within this constellation and in Virgo.

The March equinox is currently located in Pisces; however, due to precession, it’s location is slowly drifting due west, just below the western fish towards Aquarius.

Pisces, named for the Latin plural of fish, occupies 889 square degrees, making it the 14th largest constellation in regards to size. While it is a fairly large constellation, its stars are faint, as none are brighter than fourth magnitude. This makes it challenging to see the constellation with the naked eye.

	Applicable Information
Visibility In Pacific Northwest	July to January
Best Times To View	August, September, and October
Right Ascension	1h
Declination	+15°
Area	889 square degrees
Main Stars	18
Brightest Object	η Psc
Meteor showers	Piscids
Messier objects	1
Neighboring Constellations	Triangulum, Andromeda, Pegasus, Aquarius, Cetus, Aries

History

Pisces originates from some composition of the Babylonian constellations Šinunutu, meaning “the great swallow.” and Anunitum the “Lady of the Heaven.”

The constellation was first called Pisces in association with the Greek legend that Aphrodite and her son Eros either shape-shifted into forms of fishes to escape, or were rescued by two fishes.

In the Greek version according to Hyginus, Aphrodite and Eros while visiting Syria fled from the monster Typhon by leaping into the Euphrates River and transforming into fishes.

The Roman variant of the story has Venus and Cupid carried away from this danger on the backs of two fishes.

Persian astronomer al-Sufi told the story that Venus and Cupid tied themselves together with a cord in order not to lose each other in the Euphrates.

The Fishes are in the German lore of Antenteh, who owned just a tub and a crude cabin when he met two magical fish.

Chinese astronomy incorporates the stars into several constellations.

Stars

Pisces’ brightest star is Eta Piscium, which is also known as Alpherg or Kullat Nunu. It is a bright giant star that is 294 light-years from Earth and has a luminosity that is 316 times that of the sun.

M74 is a loosely wound spiral galaxy, which can be found at a distance of 30 million light years away. M74 has many clusters of young stars and the associated nebulae, which show extensive regions of star formation.

NGC 488 is an isolated face-on prototypical spiral galaxy. It has a large central bulge, and has multiple spiral arms, which are tightly wound. Star forming activity has been traced within the arms.

NGC 520 is a pair of colliding galaxies located 90 million lightyears away. Scientists suggest that the pair of galaxies are in the process of merging.

Make sure to check out other articles on the site, including a brief introduction to constellations, other constellation articles, and more!