Nothing but The Facts About the Constellation Capricorn - by John Sinitsky

Nothing but The Facts About the Constellation Capricorn - by John Sinitsky
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The facts

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1. Image of: A goat-fish, a mythical creature that has a head of a goat and a tail of a fish.

2. Right ascension: 20H to 21H 52m

3. Declination: -28 to -9 degrees

4. Quadrant: SQ4

5. Latitudes visible at: Between +62 degrees and -90 degrees

6. Time best visible: At 21:00 in September

7. Area of sky covered: 414 square degrees

8. Rank in constellation size: 40th

9. Notable and Named Stars: Alpha-1 Capricorni, Alpha-2 Capricorni, Beta Capricorni (Dabih), Gamma Capricorni (Nashira), Delta Capricorni (Scheddi), Epsilon Capri (Castra), Zeta Capricorni (Marakk), Eta Capricorni (Armus), Theta Capricorni (Dorsum), Nu Capricorni (Alshat), Pi Capricorni (Okul), Ro Capricorni (Bos), Psi Capricorni (Pazan), Omega Capricorni (Baten Algiedi)

10. Other objects in the constellation: M30 (NGC 7099)

11. Brightest star: Delta Capricorni (Deneb Algiedi, Scheddi, with an apparent magnitude of 2.87)

12. Nearest star: HD 192310, about 28.78 light-years away

13: Meteor showers: Capricorniden-Sagittariids, Alpha Capricornids, Chi Capricornids, Siga Capricornids, Tau Capricornids

14. Mythology: In Greek mythology, the Capricorni is a symbol for the goat Amalthea, which breast-fed Zeus in his infant years. As a sign of acknowledgement, Zeus has put her into the sky. It is also being associated with Pan – the Greek God of forests and shepherds.

15. Historical significance: Long ago, In Shumer, Goat-Fish was associated with nki – a god of crafts, water. Later, in Babylon Enki was renamed to Ea, and also became the god of intelligence and creation.

16. Symbolic significance: There are also stars named by ancient Chinese astronomers – for instance, Psi Capricorni is called Yue (battle axe)

17. Position in the Zodiac: Tenth.

18. Traits associated with Capricorn in astrology: ambition, hard-work, responsibility, reliability, caution.

photocapricorn

This photo of the constellation Capricornus shows, enlarged in their true color, the main “naked eye” stars that make up the shape of the constellation.

Image courtesy of <em>https://www.scienceandart.com</em>

Capricorn Images

Other Interesting Stories

In September 1846 Johann Galle, German astronomer, based on the calculations of French mathematician Urbain Le Verrier, discovered Neptune in the Capricorn Constellation.

Australian Aborigines call the Capricorn a kangaroo constellation.

For more constellations of the zodiac follow this link.