Aries (constellation)
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| Abbreviation: | Ari |
| Genitive: | Arietis |
| Symbology: | the Ram |
| Right ascension: | 3 h |
| Declination: | +20° |
| Area: | 441 sq. deg. (39th) |
| Main stars: | 3, 10 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | 65 |
| Stars with known planets: | 3 |
| Bright stars: | 2 |
| Nearby stars: | 2 |
| Brightest star: | α Ari (Hamal) (2.0m) |
| Nearest star: | Teegarden's Star (12.6? ly) |
| Messier objects: | 0 |
| Meteor showers: | May Arietids Autumn Arietids |
| Bordering constellations: | Perseus |
| Visible at latitudes between +90° and −60° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of December |
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Aries (IPA: /ˈɛːriːz/, Latin: ram, symbol 
, Unicode ♈) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It lies between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east.
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[edit] Notable features
Aries' stars are rather faint except for α Ari (Hamal) and β Ari (Sharatan). Other important stars are γ Ari (Mesarthim) and δ Ari (Botein).
Teegarden's star, a recent discovery in the constellation, is one of Sun's closest neighbors around 12 light years away. It exhibits one of the largest proper motions known at about 5.06 arc seconds/yr.
[edit] Notable deep sky objects
The few deep sky objects in Aries are very dim. They include the galaxies NGC 697 (northwest of β Ari), NGC 772 (southeast of β Ari), NGC 972 (in the constellation's northern corner), and NGC 1156 (northwest of δ Ari).
[edit] Astrology
The Western astrological sign Aries of the tropical zodiac (March 21–April 19) differs from the astronomical constellation and the Hindu astrological sign of the sidereal zodiac (April 15 - May 15).
[edit] Graphic visualization
The stars of the constellation Aries can be connected in an alternative way, which graphically shows the ram running (or jumping).
The ram's head consists of the stars α Ari, λ Ari, and β Ari: α Ari being of the second magnitude and beta Arietis of the third magnitude.
The ram's body consists of the stars α Ari, η Ari, ε Ari, 41 Ari, and 35 Ari: ε Ari and 41 Ari being of the fourth magnitude.
The ram's tail consists of the stars 35 Ari, 41 Ari, and 39 Ari.
The star γ Ari, of fourth magnitude, represents the ram's front foot, and the star δ Ari, also of fourth magnitude, represents the ram's hind foot.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- H. A. Rey, The Stars — A New Way To See Them. Enlarged World-Wide Edition. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1997. ISBN 0-395-24830-2.
[edit] External links
- The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Aries
- NightSkyInfo.com: Constellation Aries
- WIKISKY.ORG: Aries constellation
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Astronomy | Constellations of the Zodiac | Astrology |
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| Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces | |
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| The 88 modern Constellations |
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| Andromeda • Antlia • Apus • Aquarius • Aquila • Ara • Aries • Auriga • Boötes • Caelum • Camelopardalis • Cancer • Canes Venatici • Canis Major • Canis Minor • Capricornus • Carina • Cassiopeia • Centaurus • Cepheus • Cetus • Chamaeleon • Circinus • Columba • Coma Berenices • Corona Australis • Corona Borealis • Corvus • Crater • Crux • Cygnus • Delphinus • Dorado • Draco • Equuleus • Eridanus • Fornax • Gemini • Grus • Hercules • Horologium • Hydra • Hydrus • Indus • Lacerta • Leo • Leo Minor • Lepus • Libra • Lupus • Lynx • Lyra • Mensa • Microscopium • Monoceros • Musca • Norma • Octans • Ophiuchus • Orion • Pavo • Pegasus • Perseus • Phoenix • Pictor • Pisces • Piscis Austrinus • Puppis • Pyxis • Reticulum • Sagitta • Sagittarius • Scorpius • Sculptor • Scutum • Serpens • Sextans • Taurus • Telescopium • Triangulum • Triangulum Australe • Tucana • Ursa Major • Ursa Minor • Vela • Virgo • Volans • Vulpecula |
