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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Pisces
Origin:
Pisces is the twelfth constellation in the ancient zodiac and the current
location of the Vernal Equinox. The Vernal Equinox is point where
the celestial equator and ecliptic cross and the location of the Sun on
the first day of spring. It is also the day when the lengths of the
day and night are equal, which falls on or near March 21. It is a
relatively large, ancient constellation of mostly faint stars.
Besides the Greeks and Romans, Pisces
has been known as the "Fish" (or "Fishes") by the
Babylonians, Persians, Turks, Arabs, and Syrians. The Chinese called
the star group at various times the Dark Warrior, the Northern Emperor,
and the Pig. After western influence into China, the constellation
became known there too as the Two Fishes.
Information:
Pisces is a fall/winter constellation which runs generally
east-west. As such, the time of southern transit is a little
difficult to define. However, the head (known as the
"Circlet") of the southern-most fish culminates at 9 pm on
October 28 and the "knot" in the cords that hold the two fishes
together transits at 9 pm on December 3. The "Circlet" is
easy to find south of the Great Square of Pegasus
but the other stars are more challenging, especially in urban skies.
Pisces is generally described as two
fishes with ribbons or cords tied to their tails with the other ends of
the cords tied together in a knot at Alpha-Piscium (the point where the
northern-most fish and southern-most fish meet). Pisces is the
galaxy hunter's jewel box. In fact, the only deep sky objects in
Pisces are galaxies. All require at least a 20-cm (8")
telescope.
Mythology:
According to Greek myth, there was a horrific and evil god Typhon (hence
the storm called the typhoon) who was determined to dethrone Zeus and the
other gods of Olympus. So powerful was the evil god that he caused
the immortals to flee into Egypt in exile. Zeus alone remained to
fight and defeat Typhon. Aphrodite (Venus) and her son Eros (Cupid)
were walking along the banks of the Euphrates (perhaps Eridanus) when Typhon arrived. Unable to escape
with the other gods, they dived into the river where they took the form of
fishes and escaped. Despite their successful metamorphosis, we
know from the constellation Capricornus (the
Sea Goat) the hazards of attempting to escape by leaping into the river. |
