Finding & Observing Pisces
Abbreviation
Psc
Area (sq degrees)
889
Brightest Star
Eta Piscium (3.62)
Visibility (UK)
Sep – Nov
Best Month
October
Zodiacal
Yes (Mar 12–Apr 18)
Neighbours
Aries, Andromeda, Pegasus, Aquarius, Cetus
Special Feature
The Vernal Equinox point is now here
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Step One
How to Find Pisces
Finding Steps
Step 1: Locate the Great Square
The Great Square of Pegasus (a large empty square) is the key landmark. In October evenings, look for this prominent four-star asterism in the eastern sky. Pisces lies immediately south of the Square's lower edge.
Step 2: Find the Circlet
South of the Great Square's western edge, look for the Circlet: a faint pentagon of five 4th/5th magnitude stars. In dark skies it's visible to the naked eye as a subtle loop. This is the western fish of the pair.
Step 3: Trace the Cord
From the Circlet, trace a line of faint stars northward and then eastward: this is the cord binding the two fish. It leads toward Alrescha (Alpha Piscium), which marks the knot where the two cord strands meet.
Step 4: Locate the Eastern Fish
From Alrescha, trace the eastern fish downward and to the left, a second stream of fainter stars flowing in the opposite direction. Eta Piscium marks the body of this fish.
Seasonal Visibility
| Month | Direction | Altitude at 10 PM | Observability |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | East-southeast, very late | ~5° | Very low, late night only |
| September | East, rising at midnight | ~15° | Becoming visible mid-evening |
| October | East-southeast, 50°+ altitude | ~50° | BEST MONTH: excellent height and darkness |
| November | Due south, still high | ~45° | Still very good, starting to set |
| December | Southwest, fading | ~25° | Setting earlier each night |
The Stars
Key Stars of Pisces
Eta Piscium (η Psc)
Brightest star in Pisces despite no special designation. Located in the western fish/body region. A moderately distant yellow giant, and a useful reference point for locating other fainter stars in the constellation.
Alrescha (α Piscium / Kaitain)
The "cord knot": marks the point where the cords binding the two fish are joined. A tight binary pair of A-type stars. Currently separable in 15cm+ telescopes; will become easier to split in coming decades as the pair widens.
Gamma Piscium (γ Psc)
One of the stars of the Circlet (western fish) asterism. An orange giant; part of the small pentagon-shaped asterism south of the Great Square. Named as part of the "lucky stars" group in ancient traditions.
Omega Piscium (ω Psc)
Part of the cord connecting the two fish, the upper part near the Circlet. A near subgiant showing slight variability over weeks. Marks a key waypoint along the cord between the two fishes.
TX Piscium (19 Psc): Carbon Star
One of the reddest stars visible to the naked eye, a carbon star with deep ruby-red colour caused by carbon molecules absorbing blue light. Compare it through binoculars against nearby white stars for a striking colour contrast. Subtle magnitude variations occur over weeks.
Van Maanen's Star (White Dwarf)
The nearest isolated white dwarf to Earth, just 14.1 light-years away. Completely invisible to the naked eye at magnitude 12.4, but observable in a 30cm telescope. The cooling ember of a dead star system, slowly fading over billions of years.
History & Legend
Mythology & History
Greek & Roman Mythology
Aphrodite (Venus) and Eros (Cupid) transformed themselves into fish and tied themselves together with a cord to escape the monster Typhon's attack (the same event where Pan leapt into the Nile, many gods fled into the Euphrates as animals that night). Athena later placed them in the sky. The cord ensures they never become separated in their flight through the cosmos.
Mesopotamian Tradition
Babylonian texts from around 1200 BCE describe this region as "tails" (ZIBB.AN.NA): the tails of two fish that swam in the heavenly sea. The region between the fish was called "the great swallow" or was associated with the god Ea's domain (Ea being the god of waters and wisdom).
Egyptian Lore
Two sacred fish in the Nile: the Nile carp (Oxyrhynchus) and the Nile perch (Phagrus). These two fish swam before Horus and Isis's boat, guiding them on their cosmic voyage. In some traditions the fish ate the phallus of Osiris which was thrown into the Nile, making them both sacred and taboo.
Hindu & Vedic Tradition
Pisces contains the nakshatras Uttara Bhadrapada (associated with the sea serpent Ahir Budhnya) and Revati (associated with Pushan, god of journeys and paths). Revati marks the beginning/end of the zodiac and is linked to nourishment and safe journeys. The vernal equinox was historically near Revati and marked the start of the Hindu year.
Chinese Astronomy
The area near the western fish and cord region contains parts of several Chinese lunar mansions. The bonds/cord area falls near the lunar mansion Kuí (奎, Legs/Stride), associated with literature, culture, and the preservation of texts and knowledge through time.
Deep-Sky Objects
Deep-Sky Objects
M74: Phantom Galaxy
Challenging
Type
Spiral galaxy
Magnitude
9.4
Distance
32 million ly
Surface Brightness
14.2 mag/arcmin²
One of the most challenging Messier objects, a nearly face-on spiral with very low surface brightness. Requires dark skies and at least a 20cm telescope for a satisfying view, though 10cm shows a faint haze. Deep photographs reveal beautiful grand design spiral arms. Classic "challenging Messier": test your observing skills on this one. Observers call it the "Phantom" because it disappears into the background light from most locations.
TX Piscium: Carbon Star
Easy
Type
Variable carbon star
Magnitude
~4.9
Distance
900 ly
Colour
Deep ruby-red
One of the reddest stars in the sky, a carbon star that absorbs blue and green light, leaving only deep red. Visible to the naked eye and striking in binoculars against nearby white stars. Its colour is unlike normal stars and makes for an excellent colour-contrast observing exercise.
Alrescha: Double Star
Medium
Type
Binary star pair
Magnitudes
4.13 + 5.31
Separation
1.8" (closing)
Orbital Period
660 years
A tight binary of two A-type white stars. Requires 15cm+ telescope to cleanly split at present; will become easier as they widen over the coming decades. A 660-year orbit means the pair's motion is measurable: your observations now will contribute to refining the orbital parameters decades hence.
The Circlet Asterism
Easy (dark sky)
Type
Asterism (5 stars)
Magnitudes
3.7–5.0
Size
~10° diameter
Pattern
Pentagon
The five-star Circlet forms a faint but recognisable pentagon shape visible to the naked eye south of the Great Square of Pegasus, a satisfying constellation figure. In dark skies it appears as a subtle but distinct loop. Each star of the Circlet has a name and history in ancient astronomical traditions.
NGC 488: Spiral Galaxy
Photo
Type
Spiral galaxy
Magnitude
10.3
Distance
90 million ly
Feature
Grand-design spiral
A nearly perfect grand-design spiral with tightly wound arms, a classic photogenic target. 20cm shows the elongated disc; photographs reveal exceptional symmetry with elegant spiral structure. A test of your imaging system's ability to capture fine detail on distant galaxies.
Van Maanen's Star: White Dwarf
Photo (large scope)
Type
White dwarf
Magnitude
12.4
Distance
14.1 ly
Status
Cooling stellar remnant
Not visible without a large telescope: the cooling remnant of a dead star just 14.1 light-years away. Its position in Pisces can be found in star atlases near RA 0h, Dec -5°. A target for advanced imagers willing to hunt down one of our nearest stellar corpses.
Getting Started
Beginner Observing Guide
1
Locate the Great Square of Pegasus. This is your primary landmark, a large empty square of four bright stars. Once you've identified the Great Square, Pisces lies immediately south of its lower edge in the evening sky.
2
Identify the Circlet. South of the Great Square, look for the Circlet: a faint pentagon of five 4th/5th magnitude stars forming the western fish. In dark skies this asterism is visible to the naked eye as a subtle loop. Binoculars make it much easier to see. Look further south from here and you're into Cetus, the sea monster Pisces' fish are traditionally fleeing.
3
Trace the cord upward and eastward. From the Circlet, follow a chain of fainter stars northward (the cord binding the fish). This leads toward Alrescha (Alpha Piscium), which marks the knot where the cord joins.
4
Find the eastern fish. From Alrescha, trace a second stream of stars flowing downward and to the left (the opposite direction from the Circlet). Eta Piscium marks the body of this eastern fish.
5
Hunt M74 with a telescope. This challenging galaxy requires dark skies and will test your averted vision technique. With a 20cm scope and wide-field eyepiece on a moonless night, you may glimpse the faint spiral structure. This is a genuinely rewarding achievement.
6
Observe Alrescha binary split. Use 150× magnification on a 15cm+ scope to cleanly separate the two A-type components of Alrescha (Alpha Piscium). Compare their colours, both should appear white-blue. Record the angular separation and orientation, contributing data for the 660-year orbital period.
Observing Kit
Naked Eye
Circlet, cord outline
Binoculars
TX Piscium red star
8cm Refractor
M74 attempt, Alrescha
20cm Dobsonian
M74 proper view, NGC 488
DSLR Camera
M74 spiral structure
Best Time
October, 10 PM local
Recommended equipment for observing Pisces
Kit we've tested and reviewed in full
Pisces rewards patience. Its stars are faint but the Circlet asterism is a satisfying finder target, and TX Piscium is one of the reddest stars you can observe with a small telescope, a carbon star so red it looks almost unreal. Sweep slowly and the area yields background galaxies too.
Binoculars
The Circlet, the small ring of stars marking the western fish's head, is a pleasing binocular pattern. TX Piscium's deep orange-red colour is noticeable even in binoculars against the blue-white background stars. Alpha Piscium is a slightly closer double that just splits in good binoculars. A useful constellation for navigating the Pegasus Square region.
~£149
Buy at FLO
Entry telescope
TX Piscium at 50× is a deep red-orange carbon star, one of the coolest and reddest you can find. The colour intensifies at higher magnification. Alpha Piscium (Alrescha) is a tight but satisfying double at 150×. NGC 488, a beautiful face-on spiral galaxy, shows as a round glow with a brighter core, a rewarding find in a faint constellation.
~£194
Buy at FLO
Step up
NGC 488's spiral structure becomes more apparent at 150× with averted vision. NGC 524, a lenticular galaxy, shows as a smooth elliptical glow. The M74 group in nearby Pisces (though M74 is on the border with Aries) rewards 200mm on a dark night with its low surface-brightness arms. This area benefits from the longest possible dark adaptation and the steadiest seeing.
~£341
Buy at FLO
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Need help choosing? See our binoculars and telescope guides.
Going Deeper
Advanced Observing
Age of Aquarius Precession
The vernal equinox point (where the Sun crosses the celestial equator in March) has precessed from Aries into Pisces around 68 BCE and will enter Aquarius around 2597 CE. We're not yet in the "Age of Aquarius": that won't occur for another 600 years! You're observing the constellation that currently hosts this critical astronomical reference point.
M74 Surface Brightness Challenge
M74's extreme low surface brightness (14.2 mag/arcmin²) makes it the classic "challenging Messier" object. Use averted vision (looking slightly to the side so light falls on the rod-rich periphery of your eye, more sensitive to faint light). Observe at highest magnification that still shows the full disc. Dark adaptation of 30+ minutes is essential.
TX Piscium Carbon Star Photometry
TX Piscium varies by approximately 0.4 magnitude over weeks to months. Using a DSLR and photometry software, monitor its brightness variation and compare it against nearby reference stars. This allows you to contribute amateur photometric data to ongoing stellar variability studies.
Alrescha Orbital Monitoring
Over the next decades, the separation between Alrescha's two components will widen measurably as they orbit. Your observations recorded today, position angle (PA) and separation (ρ), become valuable data points for refining the 660-year orbital period. Use a micrometers eyepiece and record both parameters to highest precision.
Pro Tip: The Vernal Equinox
The vernal equinox point (☽) is currently located in Pisces, not Aries (due to precession). There's nothing to see, no object marks the location, but you can locate the reference point on a good star atlas near RA 0h, Dec 0°. It's conceptually fascinating: the moment the Sun crosses here (around March 20–21 in the northern hemisphere) marks the beginning of spring.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Pisces
Pisces is a large but faint zodiac constellation. The most recognisable part is the Circlet: a small ring of five faint stars representing the western fish. Look for it south of the Great Square of Pegasus in autumn evenings. A long, curved chain of stars connects the Circlet westward to the second fish, which lies below Andromeda. No individual star in Pisces is particularly bright.
Pisces is best seen from the UK between October and December. It reaches its highest point in the south during November evenings, though it never gets very high from UK latitudes. The Sun passes through Pisces from mid-March to mid-April, so the constellation is not visible during that period.
The Vernal Equinox (spring equinox) is the moment each year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving northward, around 20 March. The point in the sky where this crossing occurs is called the First Point of Aries, but due to the slow wobble of Earth's axis (precession), this point has migrated from Aries into Pisces over the past 2,000 years. It currently lies within Pisces and is slowly moving towards Aquarius.
In Greek mythology, Pisces represents Aphrodite and her son Eros, who transformed themselves into fish and tied themselves together with a cord to escape the monster Typhon. The cord connecting the two fish in the constellation symbolises this link. In Babylonian tradition the constellation was associated with the tails of two fish and was linked to the goddess Anunitum.
Pisces lies away from the galactic plane, so it lacks bright clusters and nebulae, but it contains several interesting galaxies. The Circlet Galaxy (M74) is one of the most face-on spiral galaxies in the sky, beautiful in photographs but notoriously faint and challenging to observe visually, requiring dark skies and a medium telescope. It is considered one of the hardest Messier objects.
Pisces has no particularly bright stars. Eta Piscium is the brightest at magnitude 3.6, a yellow giant about 294 light-years away. Alrescha (Alpha Piscium) marks the knot where the cords tying the two fish together meet; it is a close binary star. The Circlet is formed by five stars including Gamma, Kappa, Lambda, Iota, and Theta Piscium.
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