Star profile

Lambda Pyxidis

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Lambda Pyxidis

Lambda Pyxidis is a yellow giant with twice the Sun's mass and a radius swollen at the pace of an aging star, set within the sailor's small Compass at 192 light-years. Pyxis is one of the sky's youngest constellations —Lacaille drew it in the 18th century to honour navigation—, and Lambda is one of its naked-eye anchor points.

Where it is and when to see it

Lambda Pyxidis lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is February, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 10° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 20° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 85° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 61° N.

It ranks no. 6 in brightness among the 18 stars of Pyxis in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alpha Pyxidis, the brightest: it lies about 10° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 190 years ago.

Find it on the sky map

It opens in your browser. Free, no account, nothing to install.

Leave your signature on Lambda Pyxidis

Your name and a message go up on the map for everyone to read. Signing is free.

Without a lock, someone else can replace your signature. How the lock works

We'll ask for an email to confirm it's you, no password.

Write my signature

A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for Lambda Pyxidis

Constellation: Pyxis
Apparent magnitude: 4.71
Distance: 192.1 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 140.801° · Dec -28.834°
Catalogue: HIP 46026 · HD 81169

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Pyxis

Pyxis has 18 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 18 stars in Pyxis