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 112944HIP 112958HIP 112959HIP 112962HIP 112980HIP 109220HIP 109222HIP 109223HIP 109229HIP 109236HIP 109241HIP 109243HIP 109244HIP 109248HIP 109265HIP 109269HIP 109271HIP 113011HIP 113014HIP 113015HIP 113020HIP 113021HIP 113024HIP 113026HIP 113028HIP 109290HIP 109297HIP 109298HIP 109301HIP 109302HIP 113045HIP 113047HIP 113050HIP 113056HIP 113059HIP 109316HIP 109317HIP 109330HIP 113070HIP 113078HIP 113080HIP 113085HIP 109344HIP 109356HIP 109357HIP 113091HIP 113117HIP 113122

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.