#alpha pavonis

Pavo, whose name is Latin for "peacock", is another one of the constellations added by Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in 1598 based on animals sighted by early Dutch explorations to the East Indies. While Pavo is likely based on the green peacock, there are some alternative origins too!

With the Argo Navis somewhat nearby in the southern skies, there might be a Greek connection. Argos, the ship-builder, was changed into a peacock by Hera and placed into the sky along with his ship! In other myth associated with Zeus and his love of Io, Hera banished Io and arranged for Argus Panoptes, a creature with one hundred eyes (aka a peacock), to guard the now-pregnant Io from Zeus.

Alternatively, it could be a name that honors Reynier Pauw, a major financial supporter of the early Dutch explorations. His last name is actually Dutch for "peacock"!

There is only one named star in Pavo: