For other uses, see Aries. 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.
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.
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).
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.
Mythology
According to Greek mythology, Aries was a ram, possibly a golden one, that got the gods' mission to save Helle and Phrixos from a king Cretheus for false accusations. The ram managed to save Phrixos into the land of Colchis, while Helle instead ended up in the arms of Poseidon. In gratitude for this, Phrixos sacrificed the ram to the gods and hanged its skin in a temple.[1]
Astrology
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As of 2002, the Sun appears in the constellation Aries from April 19 to May 13. In tropical astrology, the Sun is considered to be in the sign Aries from March 21 to April 20, and in sidereal astrology, from April 15 to May 15.
References
- ^ "Astronomica", chapter 20, Hyginus, translation by Mary Grant
- 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.
External links
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Constellation history |
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The 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy after 150 AD |
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The 41 modern additional constellations from 1603 AD and forth |
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