Pisces (constellation)

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Pisces
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Abbreviation	Psc
Genitive	Piscium
Symbology	the Fish (plural)
Right ascension	1 h
Declination	15°
Area	889 sq. deg. Ranked 14th
Number of stars (Bayer-Flamsteed)	78
Number of bright stars (magnitude < 3)	0
Number of nearby stars (Distance < 100 ly)	2
Brightest star	η Psc (App. magnitude 3.6)
Nearest Star	107 Psc (Distance: 24.4 ly)
Meteor showers	Piscids
Bordering constellations	Triangulum Andromeda Pegasus Aquarius Cetus Aries
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −65° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of November

For the astrological sign, see Pisces (astrology).

Pisces (IPA: /ˈpʌɪsiːz/, Latin: fish (plural), symbol Image:Pisces.svg, Unicode ♓) is a zodiac constellation which lies between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east.

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.

1 Mythology
- 1.1 Astrology
2 Notable Deep Sky objects
3 Stars
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Mythology

The constellation resembles two roundish objects, each of which is tied to the same point by a long length of string [1]. Generally the objects have been considered as fish, although since by including fainter stars visible to the naked eye, the strings themself take on the appearance of stick-figure bodies (with the roundish objects thus becoming heads). Some forms of early Greek mythology viewed it as men bound to a point. It is generally thought that in earlier depictions, only the constellation Piscis Austrinus was considered to be a fish.

According to one version in Greek mythology, this constellation represents fish into which Aphrodite and her son Eros transformed in order to escape the monstrous Typhon. The two fishes are often depicted tied together with a cord (or their tails), to make sure they do not lose one another.

According to another version, since the binding point is below the ecliptic, and thus considered to represent being in the underworld, and that one of the figures (the one on the left) appears to escape, but the other (on the right) seems to head back toward the ecliptic, then, together with Cetus (another constellation in the Zodiac sign of Pisces), this may have formed the basis of the myth of the capture of Cerberus, one of The Twelve Labours of Herakles.

[edit] Astrology

Main article: Pisces (astrology)

The Western astrological sign Pisces of the tropical zodiac (February 19 - March 20) differs from the astronomical constellation and the Hindu astrological sign of the sidereal zodiac (March 12 - April 18).

[edit] Notable Deep Sky objects

Pisces contains one galaxy that is listed in Charles Messier's catalog, namely the spiral galaxy Messier 74.

[edit] Stars

Stars with proper names:

(113/α Psc) (double) 3.82, 4.33 Alrescha [Al Rescha, Alrischa, Alrisha, Rescha, El Rischa, Al Richa] or Kaitain or Okda
Alrescha < ? ar-riša' The ropes
Okda < عقدة ^{c^uqda[h]} Knot

(4/β Psc) 4.48 Fum al Samakah
< فم السمكة fum/fam al-samakah Mouth of the fish
(6/γ Psc) 3.70 Simmah
< A Babylonian fish goddess, together with Anunitum
(86/ζ Psc) – double 5.21, 6.44 Revati
< Vedic-Hindu for "the Abundant"
(99/η Psc) 3.62 Alpherg or Kullat-Nunu
[Alpherg = a error for Alpherd?] Alpherg The Spout or the Pouring Point of Water
< Babylonian name meaning "Cord of the Fishes" or "Dwelling Place of the Fishes"
(110/ο Psc) 4.26 Torcularis Septentrionalis
< torculāris septemtriōnālis Of the Northern Wine/Oil Press
(83/τ Psc) 4.51 Anunitum
< A Babylonian fish goddess, together with Simmah
(28/ω Psc) 4.03 Vernalis
< Latin for "Of the Spring" (referring to the vernal equinox; ω Psc rests on the vernal equinox)
van Maanen's star (HIP 3829) 12.38 – closest single white dwarf