Pisces
The faint fish worth tracking down
Best on December–February evenings · northern sky.
Pisces is a large but faint zodiac constellation tucked between the bright landmarks of autumn and winter. It represents two fish bound together by a cord, and its stars form a wide, scattered pattern best known as the location where the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator. No brilliant stars here, but a patient eye is rewarded.
How to find it
Best on winter evenings from the northern hemisphere, hanging in the southern sky between the Great Square of Pegasus and the bright stars of Aries. Start at the Great Square — the large, nearly empty box formed by four stars in Pegasus and Andromeda — and sweep east and slightly south. The faint curve of Pisces trails away from that corner, with its two fish stretching beneath and beside the Square.
Brightest stars
The brightest named star is Kullat Nunu (η Psc) at magnitude 3.62, a modest beacon by any standard. Torcularis Septentrionalis (ο Psc) at 4.26 and Alrescha (α Psc) at 4.33 follow close behind, all requiring a reasonably dark sky to pick out well.
Worth seeing
Alrescha, marking the knot where the two fish are bound, is a rewarding target — sitting at the junction of the two faint star-chains that trace each fish, it gives the whole scattered pattern a satisfying focal point.
Frequently asked
When is Pisces visible?
Winter evenings, roughly December through February, when it rides the southern sky from northern latitudes. It's a zodiac constellation, so it sits along the ecliptic and is accessible from both hemispheres, though northern observers get the best high-sky view.
What are the brightest stars in Pisces?
Kullat Nunu (η Psc) leads at magnitude 3.62, followed by Torcularis Septentrionalis (ο Psc) at 4.26 and Alrescha (α Psc) at 4.33. None are especially bright, so a dark sky helps.
Which hemisphere is Pisces best seen from?
Northern hemisphere observers get the best view, with Pisces climbing into the southern sky on winter evenings. Southern hemisphere observers can see it too, but it stays relatively low on the horizon.
Nearby constellations
Cetus · Pegasus · Aries · Andromeda · Aquarius · Perseus · Cassiopeia · Eridanus