Puppis constellation
Puppis is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the stern of a ship. It is highest in the sky at midnight around January 13, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 39°N to 90°S.
Puppis at a glance
- Represents
- the stern of a ship
- Highest at midnight
- January 13
- Highest at 9 pm
- February 27
- Seen whole from
- 39°N to 90°S
- Brightest star
- Naos
- Stars in the figure
- 7 stars
- Origin
- Part of Argo Navis until the 1750s
When to see Puppis
Puppis is highest in the sky at midnight around January 13 and at 9 pm around February 27. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| January 15 | 11:50 PM |
| February 15 | 9:50 PM |
| March 15 | 8:00 PM |
| April 15 | 6:00 PM |
| May 15 | 4:00 PM |
| June 15 | 2:00 PM |
| July 15 | 12:00 PM |
| August 15 | 10:00 AM |
| September 15 | 7:50 AM |
| October 15 | 6:00 AM |
| November 15 | 3:50 AM |
| December 15 | 2:00 AM |
Where to look for Puppis
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, only part of Puppis rises. Its center is highest around midnight on January 13, 12° above the southern horizon.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Puppis rises in the east and sets in the west. It is highest around midnight on January 13, almost overhead.
Brightest stars in Puppis
| Star | Magnitude |
|---|---|
| Naos | 2.21 |
Puppis in myth and history
Puppis was part of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts in Ptolemy's list. Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille split the ship into Carina, Puppis and Vela in the 1750s.
Constellations next to Puppis
Find Puppis in your sky
Questions about Puppis
Puppis is highest in the sky at midnight around January 13 and at 9 pm around February 27. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Puppis rises above the horizon from 39°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 66°N to 90°S.
Naos is the brightest star in Puppis, at magnitude 2.21.
Puppis represents the stern of a ship. Puppis was part of Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts in Ptolemy's list. Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille split the ship into Carina, Puppis and Vela in the 1750s.