Pyxis

Pyxis, the Compass (specifically, a mariner's compass), is a small, faint constellation located near the former constellation Argo Navis. Though not officially part of the Argo, its position and nautical name connect it thematically to the great ship. Astrologically, Pyxis carries themes of direction, inner guidance, and the ability to find one's bearings when landmarks are absent.

Pyxis represents the internal compass that guides us when external reference points fail. It teaches that true direction comes from within, from an alignment with something deeper than circumstance. Like the magnetic compass that always finds north regardless of weather or visibility, Pyxis symbolizes the soul's inherent orientation toward its purpose.

Lacaille placed Pyxis near the mast of the former Argo Navis, though it was not originally part of that ancient constellation. The mariner's compass revolutionized navigation by allowing sailors to determine direction without visible stars, a fitting metaphor for navigating life's uncertain passages. Some have suggested Pyxis occupies the space where the ancient mast of the Argo once stood.

Introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1752 as Pyxis Nautica (the Nautical Compass), later shortened to Pyxis.

Pyxis is a faint constellation located between Puppis and Hydra, with no star brighter than magnitude 3.7. It lies in the general region of the Milky Way but in a less dense section. Best viewed from February through April from southern latitudes. T Pyxidis, a recurrent nova within its borders, is one of the most studied cataclysmic variable stars and has erupted multiple times in recorded history.