Pegasus (Peg-a-sus, abbreviated as Peg, Latin: Pegasi) is one of the 88 constellations that make up the night sky. The constellations are not evenly distributed over the sky.
Pegasus occupies 1120.794 square degrees of the night sky, or 2.72 percent of the total.
Pegasus is the 7th biggest star in the night sky in terms of size.
The Winged Horse is the name of the constellation.
The constellation was created by the Ancient Greco-Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy, who lived between 90 and 168 A.D. and lived between 90 and 168 A.D.
The major constellation is composed of 13 stars.
2689 stars were surveyed and detailed by the Hipparcos satellite.
On a clear night sky, the constellation has 209 stars that may be viewed with the naked eye.
Pegasus is not one of the twelve constellations that show as the Sun sets in the Zodiac.
Pegasus is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere.
Pegasus is located north of the Ecliptic, not the Celestial Equator.
The terrestrial equator is projected into space as the Celestial Equator.
The Ecliptic depicts the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
The Earth’s axis is 23.44 degrees, which is why the two are different.
The Ecliptic is used to create the Zodiac constellations.
This webpage contains information on 26 Extrasolar Planets (Exoplanets) in this constellation.
Exoplanets have their own section in Pegasus.
S Pegasi is the biggest star in the constellation of Pegasus that has been discovered so far.
This constellation contains one deep space object discovered by Charles Messier.
The following is a list of the 146 non-Messier deep space objects covered on this site.
In This Article...
What animal represents the zodiac sign of Ophiuchus?
Were you born between the 30th of November and the 18th of December?
On your birthday, the sun will most likely pass in front of the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer.
I’m almost expecting to hear someone say:
You’re entirely correct. That’s because Ophiuchus is a zodiac constellation, not a sign. Continue reading to learn more about the differences between astrological signs and astronomical constellations, when and where to look for Ophiuchus, the deep-sky gems it holds, its mythology, science, and more.
Signs versus constellations
On August and September evenings, the Serpent Bearer stands tall in the south to southwest sky from Northern Hemisphere latitudes. Ophiuchus is closer to above from the Southern Hemisphere. Antares, the brightest red star in the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion, is also close by.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) drew up the official boundary lines for all 88 constellations in the 1930s. Rasalhague, Ophiuchus’ brightest star, and Antares, Scorpius’ brightest star, are labeled in the photo below of the constellation Ophiuchus. Rasalhague is a bright star that marks Ophiuchus’ head, although it pales in comparison to Antares, the star that depicts the Scorpion’s beating heart.
Ophiuchus is in a bad way. Despite the fact that the ecliptic passes through him, no one ever claims him as a birth sign. After all, the zodiac band stretches 8 degrees north and south of the ecliptic, with a total width of 16 degrees. The constellations aren’t evenly distributed along this area in our sky, either. Everyone who reads astrological advice online is familiar with the zodiac signs. There are 12 zodiac signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, and so forth. However, there is no Ophiuchus.
However, the moon and planets pass through Ophiuchus on a regular basis. Likewise, the sun. From roughly November 30 to December 18, the sun is in front of Ophiuchus.
Around November 21, or anytime the sun is exactly 30 degrees west of the December solstice point, the sun is said to enter the sign of Sagittarius. On the December 21 solstice, the sun enters the sign of Capricorn. So, regardless of the sun shining in front of the constellation Ophiuchus from November 30 to December 18, the sun passes through the sign Sagittarius for the month leading up to the December solstice.
The December solstice point, by the way, travels one degree westward in front of the zodiacal constellations or backdrop stars every 72 years or so. By the year 2269, the December solstice point will have finally moved into the constellation Ophiuchus.
When and where to locate Ophiuchus
Summer in the Northern Hemisphere is the ideal time to see Ophiuchus (Southern Hemisphere winter). Late July and early August in the Northern Hemisphere show this constellation high in the southern sky during twilight and early evening. On fall evenings in the Northern Hemisphere, it can be visible in the southwest sky.
This relatively large constellation lies to the north of Scorpius the Scorpion and to the south of Hercules the Hero in the sky. If you’re familiar with the brightest star in Scorpius, Antares, try star-hopping to Ophiuchus from this crimson beauty. The star Rasalhague appears on Ophiuchus’ skull (Alpha Ophiuchi).
In tradition and in the sky, Ophiuchus is associated with the Serpent constellation.
If you have a dark sky, you might notice that this is one constellation that looks exactly how it should: a large man holding a snake.
Ophiuchus is derived from two Greek words that signify serpent and holding.
Deep-sky objects in Ophiuchus
Take your binoculars and scan Ophiuchus, which lies in the Milky Way band and has numerous deep-sky wonders, on a night when the moon isn’t visible. For example, Ophiuchus has a lot of globular clusters. M10 and M12 are the two simplest globular clusters to see with conventional binoculars, as seen in the chart above. They seem as weak puffs of light via binoculars, but with a telescope, you can see these globular clusters for what they are. They’re massive stellar metropolis with hundreds of thousands of stars that span a hundred to a few hundred light-years in diameter.
The Pipe Nebula, a massive interstellar cloud of gas and dust spreading across nearly 7 degrees of sky, is another big deep-sky favorite. That’s about the width of three to four fingers at arm’s length. This dark nebula is located in southern Ophiuchus at a distance of 600 to 700 light-years and can be viewed with the naked eye in a dark, transparent sky. The Pipe Nebula is located to the east of Antares and to the north of Shaula and Lesath. The above chart shows these two stars (but not the Pipe Nebula).
Ophiuchus in myth and star lore
Ophiuchus represents Asclepius, the Greek deity of medicine and doctors, in Greek mythology. He is always shown with a large serpent or snake in his hand. A snake’s venom can either kill or cure, depending on how it’s utilized. Asclepius is claimed to have manufactured a healing elixir from Serpens the Serpent’s venom, Gorgon’s blood, and an unknown herb. Until the god of the underworld, Pluto, appealed to the king of the gods, this potion granted humanity immortality. Pluto urged Zeus to rethink the consequences of death’s death.
We have no idea how Pluto made his case. Maybe he just said that what never lives never dies, and that no mortal can have one without the other. Sophocles may have summed up the myth’s core theme when he said:
It is preferable to die and sleep the never-waking slumber than to live after the soul’s life has passed.
In his Four Quartets, poet T.S. Eliot may have mirrored the notion of the ever-living story:
In any case, according to legend, Zeus seized the elixir, exiled Asclepius from Earth, and enshrined the great physician in the celestial realms. The Staff of Asclepius, which represents the World Health Organization and other medical organizations, pays homage to this legend and reflects the powerful celestial shape of Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer.
Ophiuchus in history and science
A supernova explosion of a star within our own Milky Way galaxy hasn’t been seen in almost 400 years. However, in the year 1604, a supernova known as Kepler’s Supernova blasted into the scene, allowing for 18 months of naked-eye sight. It sparkled in the southern hemisphere of Ophiuchus, not far from the Pipe Nebula.
Tycho’s Supernova, which lighted up Cassiopeia in 1572, was followed by Kepler’s Supernova in 1604. The Aristotelian notion of an unchangeable world outside the orbit of the moon was shattered by these supernovae, which sent shock waves through Europe’s elite. Tycho Brahe measured the 1572 supernova’s parallax, proving that it was not an atmospheric phenomenon. In reality, the supernova flashed well beyond the orbit of the moon. Shortly after, in 1604, Kepler’s Supernova seemed to hammer home the point once more.
Furthermore, in 1577, Tycho Brahe estimated the distance of a comet and discovered that it was also farther away than the moon. Aristotelians wanted to believe comets were gases burning in the atmosphere, but Tycho disproved Aristotle’s unchanging universe theory once more.
Bottom line: For nearly two weeks each year, the sun passes through the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, making Ophiuchus an unofficial member of the zodiac. Learn the difference between astrological signs and astronomy constellations, as well as how to find Ophiuchus.
Who gave Pegasus his name?
The first 48 constellations, including Pegasus, the winged horse, were identified and documented by Ptolemy, an ancient astronomer. Pegasus was formed when Perseus killed Medusa in Greek mythology, and he was known for making water flow from the earth. The Square of Pegasus is a stellar pattern made up of the stars Markab, Alpheratz, Scheat, and Algenib in the constellation Pegasus.
What is the name of the zodiac sign Aquarius?
Aquarius is a Zodiac constellation and one of the oldest known constellations. Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer, first recorded Aquarius in the second century. Its Latin name means “cup carrier” or “water bearer.”
Is Ophiuchus an uncommon species?
Aries is the second rarest zodiac sign, followed by Sagittarius, both of which are fire signs, according to Stardust. “Aries is the first sign of the zodiac,” Stardust explains, noting that this sign is known for having a spark of creativity that “gets everyone up and moving.” The third rarest zodiac sign, Sagittarius, “falls during the autumn season and is renowned to be adventurous and free-spirited,” according to Stardust.
Ophiuchus, who shall he marry?
I’m not directly touched by the rekindled dispute regarding Ophiuchus, the 13th zodiac sign, because I’m a proud (and predictably stubborn) Taurus. The sign, which lies between Scorpio and Sagittarius and encompasses those born between November 29 and December 17, is not universally accepted as a part of the official zodiac. However, learning about the sign’s history and the psychological attributes of Ophiuchus is fascinating. Most importantly, if you use astrology for love (and who doesn’t? ), you might be even more interested in how the Ophiuchus sign behaves in relationships and which signs are most and least compatible with them.
For those of you who were as perplexed as I was, Ophiuchus (pronounced Of-ee-You-Cus) means “serpent carrier” and represents a human being entwined with a snake ideal for all you Slytherins out there. Their personality is complex, and their ideal spouse is someone who can complement them and deal with some of their less desirable characteristics.
The most important aspect of a successful relationship with Ophiuchus, according to Wong, is respecting their need to be free and unbound, as well as their want to be appreciated. An Ophiuchus is best suited to someone who is intelligent but content in a “supporting role.” “The perfect spouse shouldn’t require as much praise and should have inner confidence to complement what an Ophiuchus can offer,” she says. “Like the crew of a movie that shines a light on the star, the perfect partner needs to be a solid backbone for the partnership.”
If you’re wondering if you and an Ophiuchus are a good match, these are the five most compatible signs for the serpent bearer.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Because they’re both creative daydreamers, the Neptune-ruled Pisces is the ideal match for Ophiuchus. Pisces is a sign that puts their heart and soul into their relationships and loves to play a more supportive role, which is a good match for Ophiuchus’ romantic requirements. These are two signs, according to Wong, who can easily express their emotions and feelings. “More than that, both signs are easygoing when it comes to adapting to new situations,” she adds, “so they’d be fantastic together in times of change.”
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
Capricorn, a realistic, goal-oriented, and ambitious sign, would get along swimmingly with Ophiuchus. They’re both intellectually ambitious, hardworking, and competitive in their professional and personal lives, according to Wong. When one of you needs to put in extra time at work, both partners will be understanding and supportive, because they understand that some things are required in order to reach your goals. Capricorn has no objections to Ophiuchus spending time for themselves, but will gladly listen to their complaints if they need someone to listen. Capricorn will be a grounding influence for Ophiuchus if they are in one of their moods. These two appear to be a well-balanced power pair.
Ophiuchus (November 29 to December 17)
When it comes to love, not every zodiac sign can effectively date another zodiac sign. After all, your worst characteristics will almost certainly be reflected back to you. Wong, on the other hand, believes that a couple with two Ophiuchus signs would have a lot of fun together. “Because an Ophiuchus is always looking for pleasure, it seems logical that they are particularly compatible with their type, especially when traveling,” she explains.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Cancer is no exception for Ophiuchus, who seems to perform well with sensitive Water signs. Cancer and Ophiuchus, according to Wong, are a wonderful match because both are devoted and possessive signs. “The latter trait can verge on jealousy at times,” Wong explains. “It does, however, prepare the way for physical and emotional fulfillment, both of which are essential components of a healthy partnership.” Cancer, like Pisces, is content to perform the supporting role, which Ophiuchus values much in a mate. Overall, Cancer and Ophiuchus are a solid match because Cancer will make Ophiuchus feel at ease, while Ophiuchus will make Cancer feel needed.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
“Libras – a gentle combination of Capricorn and Pisces are intellectuals, creative thinkers, and art enthusiasts, therefore Ophiuchus and Libras complement each other well,” Wong explains. They’ll hit it off immediately away and have enthralling discussions that will last for hours. Ophiuchus and Libra both have a “a desire to go to new locations and explore the unknown.” Another relationship-oriented sign, Libra, is obsessed with keeping their spouse happy. Libra will provide space for Ophiuchus if they require it. Libra is more than happy to reassure them and shower them with attention if they need it. These two signals are likely to begin as friends before moving on to a more romantic level.
Is Pegasus a girl or a boy?
Pegasus Meaning and Origin Pegasus is a boy’s name that means “from a water spring.” In Greek legend, a white winged steed rose from Medusa’s blood when she was beheaded by Perseus. In his battle against the Chimera, the hero Bellerophon rode Pegasus.
