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> Constellation of Capricornus

Constellation of Capricornus

author: A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-cst12-00006

Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 40 cm

Capricornus (the Sea Goat, Capricorn to astrologers) is one of the more surprising mythical creatures projected on the sky, a male goat with the tail of a fish. However, adjoining Aquarius and Piscis Austrinus, it is in a particularly watery part of the sky. The orientation of this strange creature is set by its brightest star, Deneb Algiedi (d Cap, the Goat's tail), while Algedi (or Giedi, a Cap) simply means goat or ibex. Though it is not particularly conspicuous the constellation is of ancient lineage, predating the ancient Greeks, perhaps because in ancient times the northern Winter Solstice occured in Capricornus. Because of precession, it is now in Aquarius though the idea is preserved in the Tropic of Capricorn which is the line around the northern hemisphere globe where the Sun is directly overhead at noon in mid-winter.
Best seen in the early evening in September.

Keywords for this photo:

ASTRONOMY - CAPRICORNUS - CONSTELLATION - LINE - MAP - POSTER - STAR - ZODIAC -