Aquarius constellation
Aquarius (the Water Bearer) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in October. Its brightest star is Sadalsuud (magnitude 2.91). Aquarius covers 980 square degrees and is the 10th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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How to find Aquarius, step by step
From the Great Square of Pegasus.
- On autumn evenings find the Great Square of Pegasus high in the south.
- Follow the west side of the square from Scheat through Markab and continue about the same distance to the southwest.
- You reach Sadalmelik, next to a small Y of four stars, the Water Jar. The rest of Aquarius is faint and stretches south toward Fomalhaut.
Detailed star map of Aquarius
Facts
| Latin name | Aquarius (genitive: Aquarii) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Aqr |
| Meaning | the Water Bearer |
| Area | 980 square degrees (10th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 22.3 h, declination −10° |
| Visible from | latitudes 65° N to 87° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | October (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Sadalsuud |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 96 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 8 |
| Messier objects | M2, M72, M73 |
| Neighbors | Aquila, Capricornus, Cetus, Delphinus, Equuleus, Pegasus, Piscis Austrinus, Pisces, Sculptor |
How to find Aquarius
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in October evenings: at about 9 pm Aquarius stands highest, around 40° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 65° above the horizon. The months before and after (September and November) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Aquarius borders Aquila, Capricornus, Cetus, Delphinus, Equuleus, Pegasus, Piscis Austrinus, Pisces and Sculptor.
Stars of Aquarius
Aquarius has 96 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sadalsuud | β Aquarii | 2.91 | G0Ib | 462 ly |
| Sadalmelik | α Aquarii | 2.96 | G2Ib | 253 ly |
| Skat | δ Aquarii | 3.27 | A3V | 160 ly |
| — | 88 Aquarii | 3.66 | K1III | — |
| — | λ Aquarii | 3.74 | M2.5IIIaFe-1 | — |
| Albali | ε Aquarii | 3.77 | A1V | 244 ly |
| Sadachbia | γ Aquarii | 3.84 | A0V | 126 ly |
| — | 98 Aquarii | 3.97 | K0III | — |
| — | τ2 Aquarii | 4.01 | M0III | — |
| — | η Aquarii | 4.02 | B9IV-Vn | — |
| Ancha | θ Aquarii | 4.16 | G8III-IV | 191 ly |
| — | ψ1 Aquarii | 4.21 | K0III | — |
Deep-sky objects in Aquarius
Aquarius contains 3 objects from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Messier 2 (M2): globular cluster, 6.3 mag
- Messier 72 (M72): globular cluster, 9.0 mag
- Messier 73 (M73): asterism, 8.9 mag
Printable Aquarius map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Aquarius figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Aquarius is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Aquarius
What is the brightest star in Aquarius?
Sadalsuud, at magnitude 2.91, about 462 light-years away.
When can you see Aquarius?
Aquarius is best seen in the evening in October. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 65° N and 87° S.
How many stars are in Aquarius?
96 stars in Aquarius are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 8 of them have official IAU names.
What does Aquarius mean?
Aquarius means “the Water Bearer” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Aqr and the genitive, used in star names such as β Aquarii, is Aquarii.
