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 113123HIP 113128HIP 109369HIP 109375HIP 109378HIP 109380HIP 109382HIP 109385HIP 109388HIP 109390HIP 109391HIP 109392HIP 113150HIP 113153HIP 113154HIP 113163HIP 109395HIP 113184HIP 113192HIP 113194HIP 113199HIP 113204HIP 109428HIP 109430HIP 109442HIP 109444HIP 109446HIP 113214HIP 109460HIP 109466HIP 109476HIP 113242HIP 113250HIP 113261HIP 109498HIP 109500HIP 109509HIP 113276HIP 113279HIP 113286HIP 113292HIP 109525HIP 109526HIP 109528HIP 113295HIP 109544HIP 109560HIP 109571

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.