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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Aquarius
Origin:
One of the oldest constellations, dating back to the time of the
Babylonians, Aquarius is the 12th sign in the modern
zodiac. Aquarius is one of the 48 constellations described by
Ptolemy in the Almagest (A.D. 140).
Information:
Aquarius, the Water Bearer, is a large important Fall constellation
(northern latitudes). Aquarius follows Capricornus
by one month, culminating at 9 pm (or so) on November 1 (or so).
Rather than the whole constellation resembling any single object, the
individual asterisms of Aquarius define its pattern. Aquarius is
quite easy to find even though it is somewhat dispersed; it sits south of
the Great Square of Pegasus and north of the
bright star Fomalhaut in Pisces Austrinus
- the brightest star in the southern Fall sky (for northern observers).
Mythology:
The whole area in the celestial sphere around Aquarius is associated with
water or rain. The Babylonians referred to the area as the
"Sea" and populated it with several aquatic creatures: Cetus the Whale, Capricornus
the Sea Goat, Pisces the fishes, Eridanus the River, and Delphinus
the Dolphin. Aquarius is normally drawn as a man carrying a
large water jug which is the source of life-giving water to the Sea.
The Egyptian hieroglyph for water is the same as that used for Aquarius. |
