Constellations · Constellation · Aquarii · Aqr
Constellation
Aquarius
The water-bearer — Ganymede, pouring water from a jar into the mouth of the Southern Fish. One of the oldest recorded constellations.
- Genitive
- Aquarii
- Area
- 980 square degrees · 10th of 88
- Brightest star
- Sadalsuud · magnitude 2.90
- Naked-eye stars
- 176 brighter than magnitude 6.5
- Highest at midnight
- late August
History
The Babylonians pictured a god pouring from an overflowing vase, linked to the rainy season when the Sun passed through this part of the sky. The water in this region — Pisces, Cetus, Eridanus — is sometimes called the Sea.
Look for
The Water Jar is a small Y of four stars. The stream flows down towards Fomalhaut, the one bright star in a watery, empty stretch of sky.
Look for
The Helix Nebula here is one of the nearest planetary nebulae — nicknamed the Eye of God for its photographs.