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 114218HIP 114223HIP 117924HIP 117926HIP 117929HIP 117940HIP 114229HIP 114231HIP 114242HIP 114244HIP 114246HIP 114251HIP 114252HIP 117948HIP 117949HIP 117950HIP 117958HIP 117964HIP 117966HIP 114255HIP 114257HIP 114261HIP 114271HIP 114276HIP 117977HIP 117978HIP 117980HIP 117985HIP 117988HIP 117989HIP 117994HIP 114284HIP 114296HIP 114304HIP 118002HIP 118006HIP 118011HIP 118020HIP 114310HIP 114311HIP 114323HIP 114325HIP 114330HIP 114338HIP 114340HIP 114355HIP 114359HIP 114370

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.