Capricorn

Capricornus

Constellation
List of stars in Capricornus
Abbreviation	Cap
Genitive	Capricorni
Pronunciation	/ˌkæprɨˈkɔrnəs/, genitive /ˌkæprɨˈkɔrnaɪ/
Symbolism	the Sea Goat
Right ascension	21
Declination	−20
Area	414 sq. deg. (40th)
Main stars	9, 13
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	49
Stars with known planets	2
Bright stars	1
Nearby stars	4
Brightest star	δ Cap (Deneb Algedi) (3.0m)
Nearest star	LP 816-060 (17.9 ly)
Messier objects	1
Meteor showers	Alpha Capricornids Chi Capricornids Sigma Capricornids Tau Capricornids Capricorniden-Sagittariids
Bordering constellations	Aquarius Aquila Sagittarius Microscopium Piscis Austrinus
Visible at latitudes between +60° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of September.

Capricornus is one of the constellations of the zodiac; it is often called Capricorn, especially when referring to the corresponding astrological sign. Its name is Latin for "horned male goat" or "goat horn", and it is commonly represented in the form of a sea-goat: a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish. Its symbol is (Unicode #2651).

Capricornus is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy. Under its modern boundaries it is bordered by Aquila, Sagittarius, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus and Aquarius. The constellation is located in an area of sky called the Sea or Water, consisting of many water-related constellations such as Aquarius, Pisces and Eridanus.

Notable features

Capricornus is the second faintest constellation in the zodiac after Cancer. Its brighter stars are found on a triangle whose vertices are α² Capricorni (Giedi), δ Capricorni (Deneb Algiedi), and ω Capricorni.

Deep sky objects

Capricorn has several galaxies and clusters. Messier 30 is a globular cluster located 1 degree south of the galaxy group NGC 7103. The constellation also harbors the wide spiral galaxy NGC 6907.

Named Stars

History

Despite its faintness, Capricornus has one of the oldest mythological associations, having been consistently represented as a hybrid of a goat and a fish since the Middle Bronze Age, first attested in depictions on boundary stones, and explicitly recorded in the Babylonian star catalogues as ^MULSUḪUR.MAŠ "The Goat-Fish" before 1000 BC. The constellation was a symbol of Ea and in the Early Bronze Age marked the winter solstice.^[1]

Due to the precession of the equinoxes the December solstice no longer takes place while the sun is in the constellation Capricornus, but the astrological sign called Capricorn begins with the solstice. The sun's most southerly position, which is attained at the northern hemisphere's winter solstice, is now called the Tropic of Capricorn, a term which also applies to the line on earth where the sun is directly overhead at noon on that solstice.

The planet Neptune was discovered in this constellation by German astronomer Johann Galle, near Deneb Algedi (δ Capricorni) on September 23, 1846, which is reasonable as Capricornus can be seen best at 4:00am in September.

Mythology

This constellation is sometimes identified as Amalthea, the goat that suckled the infant Zeus after his mother Rhea saved him from being devoured by his father Cronos in Greek mythology. The goat's broken horn was transformed into the cornucopia or horn of plenty. Some ancient sources claim that this derives from the sun "taking nourishment" while in the constellation, in preparation for its climb back northward.^{[citation needed]} However, the constellation is more often depicted as a goat with a fish's tail. One myth says that when the goat-god Pan was attacked by the monster Typhon, he dove into the Nile; the parts above the water remained a goat, but those under the water transformed into a fish.^{[citation needed]} In Sumer, the constellation was associated with the god Enki (Babylonian Ea), who brought culture out of the sea to humankind.^{[citation needed]}

Astrology

As of 2002^[update], the Sun appears in the constellation Capricornus from January 19 to February 15. In tropical astrology, the Sun is considered to be in the sign Capricornus from December 22 to January 19, and in sidereal astrology, from January 15 to February 14.

Diagram of an alternative way to connect the stars of the Capricornus constellation.

Visualizations

Early 1800 rendition of Capricornus as a sea-goat.

Ptolemy's method of connecting the stars of Capricornus has been influential. [1].

H.A. Rey has suggested an alternative visualization, which graphically shows a goat.^[2] The goat's head is formed by the triangle of stars ι Cap, θ Cap, and ζ Cap. The goat's horn sticks out with stars γ Cap and δ Cap. Star δ Cap, at the tip of the horn, is of the third magnitude. The goat's tail consists of stars β Cap and α² Cap: star β Cap being of the third magnitude. The goat's hind foot consists of stars ψ Cap and ω Cap. Both of these stars are of the fourth magnitude.

Citations

See also

• IC 1337

External links

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Capricornus
• Star Tales – Capricornus

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Capricornus

Coordinates: 21^h 00^m 00^s, −20° 00′ 00″