With mid-autumn now upon us, stargazers across the Northern Hemisphere can look eastward to find Pisces, the Fishes. Although its stars are faint and often overlooked compared to the bold outlines of Orion or Pegasus, Pisces possesses its own unique qualities, blending ancient myths with subtle star patterns and hidden galaxies. If you follow its V-shaped outline, the constellation rewards patient stargazers with several fascinating sights.
Pisces is more than a modest outline of stars; it is a constellation with its own unique story. Rooted in Greek mythology, Pisces is home to galaxies and celestial objects that invite you to explore. In this blog, we'll uncover the legends behind the Fishes, highlight their most notable stars, and explore the deep-sky objects that make Pisces a subtle but meaningful presence in the autumn sky.
🐟 Mythology and Origins
In ancient Greek mythology, the story of Pisces begins with Typhon, the most fearsome of all monsters, who rose against the gods of Olympus. As chaos spread, Aphrodite and her son Eros sought refuge. To evade capture, they leapt into the Euphrates River, transforming into fish. Two other fish guided them to safety. In gratitude, the goddess placed their images in the heavens. Thus, the constellation Pisces came to represent two fish bound together by a cord, a celestial symbol of unity, protection, and perseverance.
In 1200 BC, Babylonian astronomers divided the constellation into two figures: the northern fish, Šinunutu ("the Great Swallow"), and the southwestern fish, Anunitum ("Lady of the Heaven"). These celestial forms were closely associated with themes of rebirth and renewal, especially following the winter solstice, when the longer days symbolized the cycle of life beginning anew.
The name Pisces comes from the Latin word for "fishes." It was among the 48 constellations cataloged by Ptolemy in the 2nd century and remains one of the 88 officially recognized constellations today.
Pisces also has a vital role in astronomy. For many centuries, the Vernal Equinox, the point at which the Sun moves across the celestial equator into the Northern Hemisphere, was located in Pisces. The constellation became a sign of changing seasons.
🕒 When and Where to See Pisces
Pisces reaches its highest point in the sky during the autumn months, particularly in October and November, around 9 p.m. It is visible between latitudes +90° and -65°, meaning it can be seen from nearly all parts of the world.
Because its stars are relatively dim, Pisces can be challenging to locate without guidance. To find it, look toward the southern sky in the Northern Hemisphere. Pisces stretches delicately across the sky near the celestial equator, nestled between Andromeda, Aquarius, Aries, Pegasus, and Cetus. Locate the Great Square of Pegasus. Trace downward to the faint V-shape of Pisces, where the two fish are depicted and bound together.
🌟 Notable Stars
Alpherg (Eta Piscium): The brightest star in Pisces with a magnitude of ~3.62. It is a binary star system consisting of a brighter orange giant and a dimmer companion star. Located ~349 light-years away from Earth, it is often referred to as the "Cord of the Fish" and is visible to the naked eye in dark skies.
Gamma Piscium (Simmah): Visible to the naked eye from a dark sky and has an apparent magnitude of ~3.7. It's a yellow giant star and is located ~135 light-years away. It is often used as a guidepost to find the constellation's western head.
Alrescha (Alpha Piscium): A binary star system known for its traditional Arabic name meaning "the cord." It symbolizes the point where the two fish are tied together. It comprises two white, A-type stars that appear as a single point of light to the naked eye, with a combined apparent magnitude of ~3.8. It has a combined absolute magnitude of ~0.5 and is located ~151 light-years from Earth.
Torcularis Septentrionalis (Torcular): Also known by its traditional name Omicron Piscium, this orange giant star shines at an apparent magnitude of ~4.3, making it faint but still visible to the naked eye under dark skies. Located roughly 250–280 light-years from Earth, Torcular is part of a binary system, with Torcular A as the orange giant primary star and Torcular B as its companion.
✨ Asterism
The "Circlet" asterism in Pisces is a small ring of stars that represents the head of the "western fish," one of the two fish in the constellation. It's one of the easiest features to spot in Pisces, forming a rough circle about 5° across, and is located just below the Great Square of Pegasus.
🔭 Deep-Sky Treasures
Messier 74 (The Phantom Galaxy): A large face-on spiral galaxy discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780. Located ~35 million light-years away, it has an apparent magnitude of ~10. Due to its low surface brightness, it's best observed in telescopes with apertures of 11 inches or larger in dark skies. Astronomers estimate that M74 hosts about 100 billion stars.
NGC 520 (Flying Ghost): This dramatic pair of colliding galaxies appears as a single, peculiar object in small telescopes. First recorded by astronomer William Herschel in December 1784, the system lies ~105 million light-years from Earth. With an apparent magnitude of ~12.2, NGC 520 ranks among the brightest galaxy pairs in the sky and is best observed through telescopes with 11-inch or larger apertures under dark, clear conditions.
NGC 488: A striking face-on spiral galaxy first observed by astronomer William Herschel in December 1784. Located ~90 million light-years from Earth, it shines at an apparent magnitude of ~10.4. NGC 488 presents an oval profile with tightly wound spiral arms encircling a bright central core. It is regarded as a prototype spiral galaxy, featuring active star-forming regions within its arms. The galaxy's spiral structure and luminous core become more apparent when viewed through telescopes of 11 inches or larger under dark-sky conditions.
The NGC 470 Triplet: A trio of galaxies, NGC 467, NGC 470, and NGC 474, that are in a close, interacting group. William Herschel discovered them in the late 18th century.
- NGC 470 is a spiral galaxy ~90–100 million light‑years away, shining at an apparent magnitude of ~11.8. It shows faint spiral structure and is interacting with its neighbor, NGC 474.
- NGC 474 is an elliptical/shell galaxy and is ~2.5 times the size of the Milky Way galaxy and shines at an apparent magnitude of ~11.5. It's famous for its ghostly concentric tidal shells, formed by past mergers and accretion events. Cataloged as Arp 227 in Halton Arp's Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies, it is the most visually striking member of the triplet.
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NGC 467 is the smallest and faintest of the galaxy group, and shines at an apparent magnitude of ~11.9. It completes the triplet and adds to the sense of a galactic neighborhood in motion.
Let's Go Observing
Pisces may not be the most prominent constellation in the night sky, but it possesses a subtle charm. From the story of the two fish bound by a cord swimming together in the night sky, to its subtle stars like Alpherg and Alrescha, and even hidden galaxies like Messier 74, Pisces has plenty to explore. The next time you spot the Great Square of Pegasus overhead, look just below and trace the faint lines of Pisces; you'll discover that even the quiet constellations have stories to tell. Clear skies and happy observing!