Equuleus constellation
Equuleus (the Little Horse) is a constellation in the northern sky, best seen in the evening in September. Its brightest star is Kitalpha (magnitude 3.92). Equuleus covers 72 square degrees and is the 87th-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Equuleus
Facts
| Latin name | Equuleus (genitive: Equulei) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Equ |
| Meaning | the Little Horse |
| Area | 72 square degrees (87th of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 21.2 h, declination +8° |
| Visible from | latitudes 90° N to 77° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | September (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Kitalpha |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 10 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 1 |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Aquarius, Delphinus, Pegasus |
How to find Equuleus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in September evenings: at about 9 pm Equuleus stands highest, around 58° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 47° above the horizon. The months before and after (August and October) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Equuleus borders Aquarius, Delphinus and Pegasus.
Stars of Equuleus
Equuleus has 10 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitalpha | α Equulei | 3.92 | G0III+A5V | 190 ly |
| — | δ Equulei | 4.49 | F5V+G0V | — |
Printable Equuleus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Equuleus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Equuleus 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 Equuleus
What is the brightest star in Equuleus?
Kitalpha, at magnitude 3.92, about 190 light-years away.
When can you see Equuleus?
Equuleus is best seen in the evening in September. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 90° N and 77° S.
How many stars are in Equuleus?
10 stars in Equuleus are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 1 of them have official IAU names.
What does Equuleus mean?
Equuleus means “the Little Horse” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Equ and the genitive, used in star names such as α Equulei, is Equulei.
