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 109574HIP 109578HIP 113338HIP 113345HIP 113348HIP 113363HIP 113378HIP 113379HIP 109607HIP 109613HIP 109616HIP 113383HIP 113391HIP 113395HIP 113399HIP 113406HIP 113409HIP 109634HIP 109637HIP 109643HIP 109646HIP 109647HIP 109650HIP 109652HIP 109656HIP 109672HIP 109675HIP 109683HIP 109685HIP 109689HIP 113412HIP 113415HIP 113416HIP 113417HIP 109695HIP 109698HIP 109707HIP 109709HIP 109717HIP 113440HIP 113451HIP 113456HIP 109720HIP 109721HIP 109722HIP 109733HIP 113471HIP 113473

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.