Aries (constellation)

Aries

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List of stars in Aries
Abbreviation:	Ari
Genitive:	Arietis
Symbolism:	the Ram
Right ascension:	3 h
Declination:	+20°
Area:	441 sq. deg. (39th)
Main stars:	3, 10
Bayer/Flamsteed stars:	67
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 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.

[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] 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]

[edit] Astrology and religion

Main article: Aries (astrology)

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

[edit] References

1. ^ "Astronomica", chapter 20, Hyginus, translation by Mary Grant

This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (February 2008)

• 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Aries

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Aries
• NightSkyInfo.com: Constellation Aries
• Star Tales – Aries

Astronomy | Constellations of the Zodiac
Aries	Taurus	Gemini	Cancer	Leo	Virgo	Libra	Scorpius	Ophiuchus	Sagittarius	Capricornus	Aquarius	Pisces
Astrology | Signs of the Zodiac
Aries	Taurus	Gemini	Cancer	Leo	Virgo	Libra	Scorpio	Sagittarius	Capricorn	Aquarius	Pisces