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> Constellation of Aquarius

Constellation of Aquarius

author: A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-cst86-00007

Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 51 cm

Aquarius (The Water Carrier) is a large but relatively insconspicuous southern zodiacal constellation and has an area of about 980 square degrees, which makes it the 10th largest. Its origins as a constellation can be traced back to Babylonian times and has usually been delineated as a figure pouring water from a jar in the general direction of Capricornus and Piscis Austrinus, themselves quite watery constellations. The Sun is in this part of the sky in February and March, following the Ecliptic. The constellation embraces many objects of telescopic interest, including the Helix nebula and the Mira-like variable star R Aquarii. Also notable are the globular clusters M2 (NGC 7089) and the Saturn planetary nebula NGC 7009.
Best seen in the early evening in August.  

Keywords for this photo:

AQUARIUS - ASTRONOMY - CAPRICORNUS - CONSTELLATION - FOMALHAUT - HELIX - LINE - MAP - MICROSCOPIUM - NGC 7293 - NORTHERN HEMISPHERE - PISCIS AUSTRINUS - PLANETARY NEBULA - POSTER - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - STAR - ZODIAC -