What it looks like
Puppis is a sprawling southern constellation lying along the Milky Way, once the stern of the great ship Argo Navis. It is the largest of the three pieces into which Argo was split in 1763, containing the bright star Naos and a rich collection of open clusters visible in small telescopes.
Brightest stars
Puppis is anchored by the blue supergiant Naos, one of the hottest bright stars in the sky, with several other third-magnitude stars along its length.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naos (ζ Puppis) | +2.21 | 1,080 ly | — |
| Pi Puppis | +2.70 | 810 ly | — |
| Rho Puppis | +2.81 | 63 ly | — |
| Tau Puppis | +2.93 | 180 ly | — |
| Nu Puppis | +3.17 | 423 ly | — |
Mythology and history
Puppis is the stern of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, cut from the greater constellation in 1763.
The stern of the Argo
Puppis represents the stern and poop deck of Argo Navis, the great ship that carried Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. When Lacaille reworked the southern sky in 1763, he divided the unwieldy 1,900-square-degree constellation into three: Carina for the keel, Vela for the sails, and Puppis for the stern. The three pieces still sit alongside one another along the Milky Way, and are collectively referred to as the Argo stars.
How to find it
Look for a long, loose chain of stars along the Milky Way south of Canis Major on summer evenings.
- Find bright Sirius, then look south and east along the Milky Way.
- Puppis is rich in open clusters worth sweeping with binoculars.
- Best from the southern hemisphere on summer evenings.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Pup
- Genitive
- Puppis
- Meaning
- The Stern
- Brightest star
- Naos
- Main stars
- 9
- Area rank
- 20th
- Best visible
- February
- Declination
- -30°
- Meteor showers
- Pi Puppids, Puppid-Velids
- Neighbours
- Monoceros, Canis Major, Columba, Pictor, Carina, Vela, Pyxis, Hydra
Deep-sky objects
Puppis is rich in open clusters, including M46, M47, M93 and NGC 2451, plus the planetary nebula NGC 2440 and the Puppis A supernova remnant. The constellation lies along the Milky Way and rewards low-power binocular sweeps.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Puppis look like?
Puppis is a large southern constellation known as the Stern, the third piece of the ancient ship Argo Navis along with Carina and Vela.
What is the brightest star in Puppis?
The brightest star in Puppis is Naos, shining at around magnitude 2.21.
When is Puppis best visible?
Puppis is best seen from southern hemisphere during February.
What is the story behind Puppis?
Puppis is the stern of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, cut from the greater constellation in 1763.
Which constellations are near Puppis?
Puppis borders Monoceros, Canis Major, Columba, Pictor, Carina, Vela, Pyxis and Hydra.
Carina
Vela