Aquarius

Aquarius, the Water Bearer, is one of the oldest recognized constellations with roots in Babylonian astronomy. It contains the TRAPPIST-1 system, a remarkable ultracool red dwarf hosting seven Earth-sized rocky planets, three of which are in the habitable zone. Aquarius also contains the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), one of the closest planetary nebulae to Earth.

The Zodiac family comprises the 12 constellations that lie along the ecliptic — the apparent path of the Sun across the sky over the course of a year. These are among the oldest recognized constellations, with origins in Babylonian astronomy dating back over 3,000 years. The ecliptic crosses each zodiac constellation at different widths, meaning the Sun spends varying amounts of time in each — from about 7 days in Scorpius to 45 days in Virgo.

Mythology & History

The zodiac constellations carry some of the richest mythological traditions in astronomy. Aries recalls the golden ram whose fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts. Gemini represents the twins Castor and Pollux, one mortal and one divine. Leo honors the Nemean Lion slain by Heracles as his first labor. The Babylonians originally used these constellations for agricultural timing, and their astrological associations developed later through Greek and Roman traditions. The modern astronomical boundaries were standardized by the IAU in 1930.

Observation Tips

Zodiac constellations are visible from both hemispheres since they straddle the celestial equator. Each is best observed when it reaches opposition (opposite the Sun in the sky), which occurs roughly six months from the dates when the Sun is in that constellation. The zodiac contains many spectacular deep sky objects: the Orion-adjacent Taurus hosts the Pleiades (M45) and Crab Nebula (M1), Virgo is home to the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, and Sagittarius points toward our galaxy's center with its dense Milky Way star clouds.

HIP 117237HIP 117247HIP 117256HIP 113552HIP 113576HIP 117262HIP 117267HIP 117274HIP 117277HIP 113583HIP 113586HIP 117317HIP 117325HIP 117338HIP 117349HIP 117391HIP 113801HIP 113828HIP 113865HIP 113887HIP 113972HIP 114058HIP 114111HIP 117446HIP 117494HIP 117533HIP 117544HIP 117557HIP 117569HIP 117587HIP 117611HIP 117671HIP 117713HIP 117736HIP 117745HIP 117753HIP 117813HIP 114164HIP 114172HIP 114182HIP 117879HIP 117882HIP 117886HIP 117891HIP 117905HIP 117910HIP 117911HIP 114204

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Aquarius constellation?
Aquarius (Aqr) is one of the 88 IAU-recognized constellations in the Southern hemisphere. Aquarius, the Water Bearer, is one of the oldest recognized constellations with roots in Babylonian astronomy. It contains the TRAPPIST-1 system, a remarkable ultracool red dwarf hosting seven Earth-s
How many stars are cataloged in Aquarius?
StarFYI currently catalogs 2,187 stars in the constellation Aquarius.
What is the brightest star in Aquarius?
The brightest star in Aquarius is Sadalsuud.
How large is the Aquarius constellation?
Aquarius covers 979.85 square degrees of the sky.
What family does Aquarius belong to?
Aquarius belongs to the Zodiac Family of constellations.