Aries (constellation)

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Aries
Aries
Click for larger image
List of stars in Aries
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: 67
Stars known to have 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
Delta Arietids
Epsilon Arietids
Daytime-Arietids
Aries-Triangulids

Bordering constellations: Perseus

Triangulum
Pisces
Cetus
Taurus

Visible at latitudes between +90° and −60°
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of December

Aries (pronounced /ˈɛəriːz/, Latin: ram, symbol , Unicode ♈) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It lies between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east.

Contents

[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] 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] Astrology and religion

Main article: Aries (astrology)

The Western astrological sign Aries of the tropical zodiac (March 21April 20) differs from the astronomical constellation and the Hindu astrological sign of the sidereal zodiac (August 15 - October 15).

[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.
  • Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

[edit] External links

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