Fomalhaut is a star of the constellation PsA, located within the vast expanse of the Milky Way galaxy. Designated as Magnitude 1.17, it is a relatively cool, blue-white star, belonging to the spectral classification of A1V. This specific designation posit

Fomalhaut’s recognizable presence stems from its proximity to the brightest star in the Night Sky, Sirius. Sirius is designated as UMa 109, an object of significant luminosity that serves as a clear indicator for its relative position within the Milky Way. Although Sirius’s brightness is far more readily apparent, its faintness does not overshadow the relatively well-defined location of Fomalhaut as a patch of starlight amidst the darker background. Considering Sirius’s brightness, Fomalhaut is a relatively small and easily visible star – its visual prominence in the sky might be subtle for casual observers.

The formation of Fomalhaut is rooted in the relatively gentle stellar evolution of young stars. Stars in its immediate vicinity undergo a period of rapid mass loss and stellar winds – a phenomenon which is particularly prominent in the late stages of a star's life. Fomalhaut is, therefore, a relatively simple star to identify. This location within the Milky Way’s structure results in a unique stellar environment where it is a prime location for further studies, particularly as it features a complex debris disc, the “debris disc” observed through telescopes from the James Webb Space Telescope.

How to see it

Fomalhaut has a visual magnitude of about 1.17: under a reasonably dark sky it is typically reachable with the unaided eye.

Sky position

Equatorial coordinates for Fomalhaut: right ascension 22h 57m 39s, declination −29° 37′ 20″ (J2000), in the region of the Piscis Austrinus constellation (IAU figure PsA).

Piscis Austrinus — Explore by constellation

Catalog context

Fomalhaut. It appears in classical and modern catalogs as Bayer/Flamsteed designation 24Alp PsA, HIP 113368, HD 216956, Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-113368. In the SkyKeepsake Piscis Austrinus (PsA) browse hub it sits with other stars of the same IAU figure.

Catalog identifiers

Gaia

Gaia DR3 HYG-HIP-113368

HIP

113368

HD

216956

gaia_dr3

HYG-HIP-113368

Bayer / Flamsteed

24Alp PsA

Also known as

• 24Alp PsA
• Gaia DR3 TOP 5M HYG-HIP-113368
• Gl 881
• HD 216956
• HIP 113368
• HYG-HIP-113368

Observed properties

Visual magnitude

1.17