- Aries (constellation)
Infobox Constellation
name=Aries
abbreviation=Ari
genitive=Arietis
symbology=the Ram
RA=3
dec=+20
areatotal=441
arearank=39th
numbermainstars=3, 10
numberbfstars=67
numberstarsplanets=3
numberbrightstars=2
numbernearbystars=2
brighteststarname=α Ari (Hamal)
starmagnitude=2.0
neareststarname=Teegarden's Star
stardistance=12.6?
numbermessierobjects=0
meteorshowers=May Arietids Autumn Arietids Delta Arietids Epsilon Arietids Daytime-Arietids Aries-Triangulids
bordering =
PerseusTriangulum
PiscesCetus
Taurus
latmax=90
latmin=60
month=December
notes=Aries (pron-en|ˈɛəriːz, _la. ram, symbol 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 ofSun '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 object s 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 andPhrixos from a king Cretheus for false accusations. The ram managed to save Phrixos into the land ofColchis , while Helle instead ended up in the arms ofPoseidon . In gratitude for this, Phrixos sacrificed the ram to the gods and hanged its skin in a temple. [ [http://www.theoi.com/Text/HyginusAstronomica2.html#20 "Astronomica", chapter 20, Hyginus, translation by Mary Grant] ]Astrology and religion
The Western
astrological sign Aries of thetropical zodiac (March 21 –April 20 ) differs from the astronomical constellation and the Hindu astrological sign of the sidereal zodiac (August 15 -October 15 ).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.External links
* [http://www.allthesky.com/constellations/aries/ The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Aries]
* [http://www.nightskyinfo.com/constellations/aries/ NightSkyInfo.com: Constellation Aries]
* [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/aries.htm Star Tales – Aries]
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