Capricornus

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Capricornus symbol (fixed width)

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Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Capricornus

Capricornus constellation map visualization

Capricornus is one of the constellations of the zodiac, which is situated on the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for "horned goat" or "goat horn", and it is commonly represented in the form of a sea-goat: a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish. Its symbol is (♑).

History and Mythology

The constellation of Capricornus has a rich history that dates back to ancient civilizations. It is one of the oldest recognized constellations in the sky. The constellation was associated with the god Pan in Greek mythology, who had the legs and horns of a goat. According to one myth, when Pan was attacked by the monster Typhon, he dived into the Nile; the parts of him that were submerged turned into a fish, while the remaining parts stayed as a goat, creating the image of the sea-goat.

In Babylonian astronomy, Capricornus was associated with the god Ea and was often depicted as a creature that was part goat and part fish. This imagery is believed to have influenced the later Greek depiction of the constellation.

Astronomy

Capricornus is one of the 88 modern constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy. It is located in an area of the sky known as the Sea or Water, featuring other water-related constellations such as Aquarius, Pisces, and Eridanus.

Stars

The constellation Capricornus is not particularly bright, with its brightest star, Deneb Algedi (δ Capricorni), being a magnitude 2.85 star at its brightest phase. Other notable stars include Algedi (α Capricorni), Dabih (β Capricorni), and Nashira (γ Capricorni).

Deep Sky Objects

While Capricornus does not contain any Messier objects, it does house several interesting deep sky objects. These include globular clusters such as M30 (NGC 7099) which can be observed with small telescopes.

Astrology

In astrology, Capricorn is the tenth sign of the zodiac and covers the period from December 22 to January 19. It is a cardinal sign, and it is associated with the element Earth. People born under the sign of Capricorn are said to be disciplined, responsible, and practical, but they can also be perceived as pessimistic or overly conventional.

See Also

• Zodiac
• Astrology
• Ptolemy
• Pan (mythology)