Pisces

Circlet of Pisces

Western Fish

common observer pattern · high confidence

This modest oval of fourth- and fifth-magnitude stars is the western fish of Pisces. It is a dark-sky naked-eye pattern and a useful autumn test of sky contrast.

Central RA: 23^h 37^m 06.5^s
Central Dec: +04° 05′ 46″
Brightest member: V 3.69
Best months from 50°N: September–December evenings
Suggested instrument: naked-eye
Approx. span: 11.1°

Finder context

This wider chart is deliberately schematic: it uses nearby bright-star context and boxes the asterism’s member-star footprint, but it does not draw official constellation boundaries or promise horizon/season precision.

Framing: Approximate member-star span: 11.1°; use at least 15.5° field for context.

Observing and imaging

Naked eye

Primary naked-eye pattern; suburban skies should show the main stars unless the description notes a low horizon or dark-sky need.

Binoculars

Binoculars are optional: use them to check colours, nearby doubles, or richer Milky Way background.

Small scope

A telescope is usually too narrow for the whole shape; use it after the pattern has guided you to a target.

Imaging

Frame as a wide-field scene in/near Pisces; a field of view around 16° keeps context without claiming exact constellation boundaries.

Observability from your latitude

Uses this asterism’s centroid RA/Dec: transit altitude, hours above 20°, and a month-scale evening window. Default is Edmonton-ish 50°N.

Latitude 50°NMonth Sky darkness Bortle 4 · limit V 6.1

Naked-eye visibility by sky class

Approximate limiting magnitudes: Bortle 3 ≈ V 6.6, Bortle 5 ≈ V 5.6, Bortle 7 ≈ V 4.6. The shape is counted recognisable when at least 70% of defining stars clear the limit.

Bortle 3: 7/7 stars — fully visibleBortle 5: 7/7 stars — fully visibleBortle 7: 5/7 stars — partial

Member stars

Name	Bayer / Flamsteed	HR	RA J2000	Dec J2000	V mag
6Gam Psc	6Gam Psc	HR 8852	23^h 17^m 09.9^s	+03° 16′ 56″	3.69
28Ome Psc	28Ome Psc	HR 9072	23^h 59^m 18.7^s	+06° 51′ 48″	4.01
17Iot Psc	17Iot Psc	HR 8969	23^h 39^m 57.0^s	+05° 37′ 35″	4.13
10The Psc	10The Psc	HR 8916	23^h 27^m 58.1^s	+06° 22′ 44″	4.28
18Lam Psc	18Lam Psc	HR 8984	23^h 42^m 02.8^s	+01° 46′ 48″	4.50
8Kap Psc	8Kap Psc	HR 8911	23^h 26^m 56.0^s	+01° 15′ 20″	4.94
19 Psc	19 Psc	HR 9004	23^h 46^m 23.5^s	+03° 29′ 12″	5.04

Source and confidence

common observer pattern; high confidence. Commonly used constellation-part or seasonal guide-pattern name, with member-star positions plotted from BSC5.

Citations

Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed.: Hoffleit, D. & Warren, W.H. Jr. (1991). Positions, V magnitudes, Bayer/Flamsteed identifiers. source
Star Tales: Ridpath, I. Constellation and asterism notes used to cross-check common sky-pattern names. source
The Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues: ESA SP-1200 (1997). Used as the modern astrometric reference named by the atlas; the MVP pages expose BSC5 J2000 fields for the plotted bright-star members.