Phe · Phoenicis
Phoenix Constellation
IAU constellation mapPhePhoenix (Phe) is one of the 88 constellations recognised by the International Astronomical Union. It covers 469 square degrees of the southern sky in quadrant SQ1. Its brightest star is Ankaa. The Latin genitive of the name is Phoenicis, used to form star names within the constellation. The IAU standardised all constellation boundaries in 1930.
Quick facts
- IAU name
- Phoenix
- Abbreviation
- Phe
- Latin genitive
- Phoenicis
- Hemisphere
- southern
- Area
- 469 sq deg
- Brightest star
- Ankaa
- Quadrant
- SQ1
- Family
- Bayer
- Mythology origin
- Greek
- Discovery era
- Keyser and de Houtman, 1597-1598 (Bayer 1603)
Mythology
The Phoenix was introduced by Keyser and de Houtman during their 1595–1597 southern voyage and published by Johann Bayer in 1603. The mythical phoenix — a bird that cyclically regenerates from its own ashes after 500 years — appears in both Greek and Egyptian tradition as a symbol of resurrection and immortality. The Egyptians associated it with the Bennu bird of Heliopolis. Ankaa (Alpha Phoenicis), its brightest star, is an orange giant of magnitude 2.40 lying about 77 light-years from Earth. Phoenix spans 469 square degrees north of the Magellanic Cloud region, visible from southern latitudes in November. The Phoenix Dwarf Galaxy, a faint Local Group member, lies within its boundaries.
Overview
Phoenix is one of the 88 constellations formally recognised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). It occupies 469 square degrees of sky in the southern hemisphere sky, best visible at latitudes between +45 and -90 degrees in December. The constellation belongs to the Bayer family of constellations. Its Latin genitive is Phoenicis, the form used when naming stars within the constellation — for example, the brightest star Ankaa may appear in catalogues as Alpha Phoenicis or similar. The IAU standardised the boundaries of all 88 constellations in 1930 under the direction of Eugène Delporte, using straight lines of right ascension and declination to eliminate the ambiguities of earlier variable-boundary systems.
Notable stars
The brightest star in Phoenix is Ankaa. Individual stars within Phoenix are conventionally named using Bayer designation — Greek letters followed by the Latin genitive of the constellation name (Phoenicis) — introduced by Johann Bayer in his 1603 star atlas Uranometria. Flamsteed numbers (numeric designators followed by Phoenix) were added by John Flamsteed in his 1712 catalogue. Variable stars, double stars, and deep-sky objects within the Phoenix boundary are catalogued by the IAU with the abbreviation Phe.
History and catalogue
Phoenix was introduced or documented by Keyser and de Houtman, 1597-1598 (Bayer 1603). The modern IAU constellation boundaries were formally established in 1930. The designation Phe is the official three-letter IAU abbreviation used in star catalogues, variable star designations, and positional references. The family classification 'Bayer' groups this constellation with others sharing a region of sky or a common historical source in astronomical literature.
Sources & further reading (2)
- official-iau — accessed 2026-05-06
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-06
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Phoenix mean?
Phoenix is the Latin name used by the IAU to designate this constellation. The name comes from classical Latin and Greek astronomical tradition. In star catalogues, stars within Phoenix are designated using the genitive form of the name (e.g. Alpha Phoenix or similar Latin genitive forms) — a naming convention introduced by Johann Bayer in his 1603 atlas Uranometria and still in use today.
How large is Phoenix compared to other constellations?
Phoenix covers 469 square degrees of sky. The full sphere of the sky contains 41,253 square degrees, so Phoenix occupies about 1.1% of the total sky. For comparison, the largest constellation is Hydra at 1303 square degrees; the smallest is Crux at 68 square degrees.
When and where is Phoenix visible?
Phoenix is primarily a southern hemisphere constellation. Observers at high northern latitudes cannot see it; it is best appreciated from the southern tropics or high southern latitudes. The brightest star, Ankaa, serves as the main visual anchor for locating the constellation. As with all constellations, the best viewing conditions are a dark sky away from artificial light pollution, with the constellation high enough above the horizon to minimise atmospheric absorption.
