Pisces Constellation
Pisces Constellation
Pisces
is a constellation of the zodiac. Its name is the Latin plural for fish, and its symbol is
(
Unicode ♓
). It lies between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east. The ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect within this constellation and in Virgo.
Notable features
The Vernal equinox is currently located in Pisces, due south of ω Psc, and, due to precession, slowly drifting below the western fish towards Aquarius.
Van Maanen's Star, at 12.36 magnitude, is located in this constellation.
Pisces contains one galaxy that is listed in Charles Messier's catalog, named the spiral galaxy Messier 74.
Asterisms and subdivison
- Testudo (the Turtle): 24 - 27 - YY(30) - 33 - 29 Psc.
- Piscis Boreus (the North Fish): σ - 68 - 65 - 67 - ψ 1 - ψ 2 - ψ 3 - χ - φ - υ - 91 - τ - 82 - 78 Psc.
- Linum Boreum (the North Cord): χ - ρ,94 - VX(97) - η - π - ο - α Psc.
- Linum Austrinum (the South Cord): α - ξ - ν - μ - ζ - ε - δ - 41 - 35 - ω Psc.
- Piscis Austrinus (the South Fish): ω - ι - θ - 7 - β - 5 - κ,9 - λ - TX(19) Psc.
- The Circlet : γ - 7 - θ - ι - TX - λ - κ,9 Psc.
Mythology and visualizations
The constellation is commonly represented as two fish, each of which is tied to the same point by a long length of string. The fish are connected at the tails. However, the 'strings' can also be interpreted as stick-figure men (with the 'fish' thus becoming their heads), and some forms of early Greek mythology viewed it as men bound to a point, with only the constellation Piscis Austrinus considered to be a fish.
According to one Greek myth, Pisces represents the fish into which Aphrodite and her son Eros transformed in order to escape the fire god Typhon; they are tied together with a cord on their tails, to make sure they do not lose one another. Alternatively, the twin fishes were placed in the heavens in honor of their heroic deed of saving Aphrodite and Eros from Typhon on the river Euphrates.
Babylonian
The constellation Pisces and the astrological sign Pisces share a fish symbol. According to J. H. Rogers the fish symbol originates from some composition of the Babylonian constellations Zibatti-meš (maybe Šinunutu 4 "the great swallow" in current eastern Pisces) and KU 6 ("the fish, Ea", Piscis Austrinus). The constellation then went under the name DU.NU.NU , Rikis-nu.mi , "the fish cord". Rogers thinks this constellation was somehow misinterpreted and turned around so that the current northern fish is on the border of Andromeda, instead of being constituted by Piscis Austrinus.
Astrology
Main article: Pisces (astrology)While the astrological sign Pisces per definition runs from ecliptical longitude 330° to 0, this position is now mostly covered by the constellation of Aquarius, due to the precession from when the constellation and the sign coincided. According to new agers and some tropical astrologers, we are currently in the Age of Pisces,, while other maintain that we are in the Age of Aquarius.
As of 2002, the Sun appears in the constellation Pisces from March 12 to April 18. In tropical astrology, the Sun is considered to be in the sign Pisces from February 20 to March 20, and in sidereal astrology, from March 15 to April 14.
References
- ^ Allen, R. H., (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (rep. ed.). New York, NY: Dover Publications Inc.. p. 163 342. ISBN 0486210790.
- ^ Ciofi, C., Torre, p., Costellazioni Estinte (nate dal 1700 al 1800): Sezione di Ricerca per la Cultura Astronomica
- ^ Smyth, W. H., (1884) The Bedford Catalogue
- ^ Horvatin, S., Testudo, the turtle: obsolete constellations
- ^ a b c d Hevelius, J., (1690) Firmamentum Sobiescianum , Leipzig, Fig.N
- ^ Star Tales – Pisces
- ^ Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions by J. H. Rogers 1998, page 19 page 27
- ^ Nicholas Campion, The Book of World Horoscopes
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide , Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
- Richard Hinckley Allen, Star Names, Their Lore and Legenc , New York, Dover: various dates.
- Thomas Wm. Hamilton, Useful Star Names , Holbrook, NY, Viewlex: 1968.
External links
- The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Pisces
- Star Tales – Pisces
Coordinates:
Photo of Constellation Pisces, Fish The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations pisces.jpg. Your browser doesn't understand frame definitions.
Clickable Astronomy Images in the Pisces Constellation ... Tips: Explorer only, sorry. No Netscape or Mozilla !! Move mouse over the picture for constellation figures
A Constellation visible from the Southern Hemisphere in the coming month.
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Media in category "Pisces (constellation)" The following 16 files are in this category, out of 16 total.
Pisces is a constellation of the zodiac. Its name is the Latin plural for fish, and its symbol is (Unicode ♓). It lies between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east.
Pisces . Abbreviation: Psc Genitive: Piscium Translation: The Fishes Sky Chart; Peoria Astronomical Society Pisces Page; Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Pisces is a constellation visible from Earth, named for its characterization as a fish.
Pages in category "Pisces constellation" The following 70 pages are in this category, out of 70 total. This list may not reflect recent changes (learn more).
Britannica online encyclopedia article on Pisces (constellation), (Latin: Fishes), in astronomy, zodiacal constellation lying between Aries and Aquarius, at about 1 hour right ...
Pisces - Constellations - Digital Images of the Sky
Pisces Constellation Pictures Halak csillagkép Photos Images
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Pisces Constellation
Category:Pisces (constellation) - Wikimedia Commons
Pisces (constellation) - Wikipedia, the free ...
Pisces
Pisces constellation - Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki
Category:Pisces constellation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pisces (constellation) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia
