Aquarius (constellation)

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For other uses see Aquarius (disambiguation)

Aquarius
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Abbreviation	Aqr
Genitive	Aquarii
Symbology	the Water-bearer
Right ascension	23 h
Declination	−15°
Area	980 sq. deg. Ranked 10th
Number of stars (magnitude < 3)	2
Brightest star	β Aqr (Sadalsuud) (App. magnitude 2.9)
Meteor showers	March Aquarids Eta Aquarids (May 4) Delta Aquarids (June 28) Iota Aquarids
Bordering constellations	Pisces Pegasus Equuleus Delphinus Aquila Capricornus Piscis Austrinus Sculptor Cetus
Visible at latitudes between +65° and −90° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of October

Aquarius (IPA: /aˈkwəːriəs/, Latin: water-bearer or cup-bearer) is the eleventh sign of the zodiac, situated between Capricornus and Pisces. Its symbol is (), Unicode ♒, representing part of a stream of water.

Aquarius is one of the oldest recognized constellations along the zodiac, the sun's apparent path. It is found in a region often called the Sea due to its profusion of watery constellations such as Cetus, Pisces, Eridanus, etc. Sometimes, the river Eridanus is depicted spilling from Aquarius' watering pot.

[edit] Notable objects

There are three deep sky objects that are on the Messier catalog, the Globular Cluster M2, Globular Cluster M72, and the Open Cluster M73.

Two planetary nebulae are found in Aquarius: NGC 7009, called the Saturn Nebula due to its resemblance to the planet, to the southeast of η Aquarii; and NGC 7293, the famous Helix Nebula, southwest of δ Aquarii.

See also the list of stars in Aquarius.

[edit] History

The constellation was immortalized in the 1960s, proclaimed the Age of Aquarius. However, there is no standard definition for astrological ages, so the age of Aquarius could begin in 2150 or even 2660, depending on the preferred definition. Based on the modern constellation boundaries of Pisces and Aquarius, the age of Aquarius would begin around 2660.

However, with so much of modern society reflecting the qualities of Aquarius most astrologers believe that this era has begun. Mass production, electricity, flight and space travel, electronic communications including computers the Internet, and more are all perceived to be related to the Aquarian paradigm.

[edit] Mythology

The best-known myth identifies Aquarius with Ganymede, a beautiful youth with whom Zeus fell in love, and whom he (in the guise of an eagle, represented as the constellation Aquila) carried off to Olympus to be cupbearer to the gods. Crater is sometimes identified as his cup.

Aquarius generally resembles the figure of a man, and when considering fainter humanly visible stars, it takes on the image of a man with a bucket from which is pouring a stream. Aquarius was also identified as the pourer of the waters which flooded the earth in the Great Flood, in the ancient Greek version of the myth. As such, the constellation Eridanus was sometimes identified as being a river poured out by Aquarius.

It may also, together with the constellation Pegasus, be part of the origin of the myth of the Mares of Diomedes, which forms one of The Twelve Labours of Heracles. Its association with pouring out rivers, and the nearby constellation of Capricornus, may be the source of the myth of the Augean stable, which forms another of the labours.

[edit] Astrology

Main article: Aquarius (astrology)

The Western astrological sign Aquarius of the tropical zodiac (January 20 or January 21 -to- February 18 or February 19, respectively)^[1] differs from the astronomical constellation and the Hindu astrological sign of the sidereal zodiac (February 16 - March 11).

In some cosmologies, Aquarius is associated with the classical element Air, and thus called an Air Sign (with Libra and Gemini). It is also one of the four Fixed signs (along with Leo, Scorpio, and Taurus). Its polar opposite is Leo. It is the domicile of Saturn (since its discovery Uranus has been considered Aquarius' ruling or co-ruling planet by many modern astrologers). Each astrological sign is assigned a part of the body, viewed as the seat of its power. Aquarius rules the circulatory system as well as the ankles. The symbol for Aquarius is the water bearer.

[edit] Alternative visualization

Diagram of an alternate way to connect the stars of the Aquarius constellation. The water bearer is shown running while holding a vessel and spilling some water out of that vessel.

The stars of the constellation Aquarius can be connected in an alternative way, which graphically shows the water bearer running while holding a vessel from which water is spilling.

The water bearer's head is formed by the quadrangle of stars α Aquarii, γ Aquarii, η Aquarii, and π Aquarii: α Aquarii being of the third magnitude. Star ζ Aquarii, lodged within the quadrangle, represents an eye.

The water bearer's torso is formed by the stars α Aquarii and β Aquarii, with β Aquarii being of the third magnitude.

The water bearer's left leg is formed by the stars β Aquarii and ι Aquarii, whereas his right leg is formed by the stars β Aquarii, ν Aquarii, μ Aquarii, and ε Aquarii, with these last two stars representing a foot.

The water bearer's arm is formed by the stars α Aquarii, θ Aquarii, and λ Aquarii, with λ Aquarii being the hand.

The water bearer is holding a vessel, perhaps a jar, which is formed by the stars ψ¹ Aquarii, φ Aquarii, λ Aquarii, τ Aquarii, and δ Aquarii. The open top of the vessel consists of the triangle of stars ψ¹ Aquarii, φ Aquarii, and λ Aquarii.

Water is being poured from the vessel in a pair of streamlines. The streamline on the left is formed by the stars ψ¹ Aquarii, 98 Aquarii, 99 Aquarii, and 101 Aquarii. The streamline on the right is formed by the stars ψ¹ Aquarii, 88 Aquarii, 89 Aquarii, and 86 Aquarii.

[edit] See also

Astronomy | Constellations of the Zodiac | Astrology

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpius

Ophiuchus

Sagittarius

Capricornus

Aquarius

Pisces

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Depending on the source, the dates are either January 21-February 19, or January 20 to February 18

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
• H. A. Rey, The Stars — A New Way To See Them. Enlarged World-Wide Edition. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1997. ISBN 0-395-24830-2.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Aquarius

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Aquarius
• NightSkyInfo.com: Constellation Aquarius