Pisces constellation diagram. Mysterious constellation Pisces. The myth of the constellation Pisces
Major zodiac constellation Fish- a good gift for lovers of autumn out-of-town observations. In city light, the constellation is practically indistinguishable. The point of the vernal equinox is located in Pisces, that is, the Sun crosses the celestial equator.
Legend and history
Despite the great age of the constellation (known since ancient times), there are few legends about it. Pisces is included in the catalog of the starry sky of Claudius Ptolemy "Almagest".
Venus and Cupid in Egypt, fleeing from the monstrous powerful giant Typhon, turned into fish in the sky, thereby hiding from the enemy.
Characteristics
| Latin name | Pisces |
| Reduction | Psc |
| Square | 889 sq. degrees (14th place) |
| Right ascension | From 22 h 45 m to 02 h 00 m |
| Declension | From −7° to +33° |
| Brightest stars (< 3 m) | No; brightest η Psc - 3.62 m |
| Number of stars brighter than 6 m | 75 |
| Meteor showers |
|
| Neighboring constellations | |
| Constellation visibility | From +83° to −57° |
| Hemisphere | Northern |
| Time to observe the area Belarus, Russia and Ukraine | October |
The most interesting objects to observe in the constellation Pisces
1. Spiral Galaxy M 74 (NGC 628)
At one time, the astronomer managed to discover one remarkable spiral galaxy - M 74 or NGC 628. Scientists were able to determine the distance of the galaxy from the solar system and the result was 35 - 40 million light years. With apparent dimensions of 10.5′ × 9.5′, the brightness of the galaxy is 9.1 m. The structure and size of the galaxy are very similar to ours. Several more small and faint deep-sky objects have been discovered in the immediate vicinity of the galaxy. It is assumed that M 74 is the main galaxy of a small local group.
2. Spiral Galaxy NGC 488
Small (apparent dimensions - 5.4′ × 3.9′) and dim (brightness - 10.4 m) spiral galaxy NGC 488 has a very rich and bright core. With a 20-centimeter telescope, the spirals of the galaxy cannot be distinguished, only a dim, foggy speck.
Surprisingly, so far not a single orbital telescope has been able to photograph this galaxy in detail.
The search can begin from a bright 4th magnitude star Al Risha ( α Psc) and move clockwise along the bright stars until μ Psc, then lower the telescope tube a little. You can try to immediately find a star in the optical finder μ Psc.
Search for galaxies NGC 488 and NGC 524
3. Spiral Galaxy NGC 524
Another faded and nondescript spiral galaxy NGC 524 type S0. The branches (sleeves) are not pronounced at all; only a slightly light core is visible. For a moment it may seem like an elliptical galaxy. By the way, do you remember what else S0-type spiral galaxies are called? Right, lenticular.
Brightness NGC 524- 10.4 m, corner dimensions - 2.8′ × 2.8′.
A few years ago, NASA was able to use several thousand images of this galaxy to NGC 524 assemble one in high resolution and in detailed detail.
NGC 524. Note the perfectly round shape of the galaxy
On the star atlas above, green arrows show the approximate route to the desired galaxy. Using an optical finder using sufficiently bright stars, you can get almost close to the galaxy. And then it’s a matter of technology. Try it and share your impressions in the comments after the review.
4. Spiral Ring Galaxy NGC 660
The article separately identifies a type of galaxy with spiral rings (5). Their peculiarity is that they have two stellar disks that rotate at different angles relative to each other.
In amateur and semi-professional telescopes, hardly a dozen such galaxies can be counted. Therefore, we do not miss the unique chance in October and point our telescopes at the constellation Pisces and find NGC 660. Despite the weak magnitude (10.7 m), the apparent dimensions are 8.3′ × 3.2′.
We begin the search with the brightest star of the constellation Kullat Nunu ( η Psc):
In the very north of Pisces, almost on the border with the constellation, there is a group of galaxies consisting of 8 members. The brightest galaxy in the group is NGC 383- with a brightness of 11.9 m and visible dimensions of 2.0′ × 1.7′. Belongs to the lenticular type.
Above it, galaxies can be seen in 20-25 centimeter telescopes NGC 379 And NGC 380. Below them a little to the south are: NGC 386, NGC 375, NGC 384, NGC 385 And NGC 388. Unfortunately, it is not possible to at least distinguish each of the galaxies even with a 25-centimeter telescope, unless you are in the mountains hundreds of kilometers from the nearest populated area.
It is noteworthy that the 8 galaxies of the group were not discovered simultaneously or even by one astronomer. For example, NGC 375 was noticed only at the end of the 19th century, and NGC 383 also by William Herschel in 1784. How many galaxies can you see?
Despite the fact that below I indicated the direction from a faint star σ Psc(5.5 m), personal recommendation is to start from the double bright star of the constellation Mirakh and then lower the telescope tube perpendicular to the plane of the Earth.
Multiple star systems
6.1 Al Risha binary star (α Psc)
Al Risha- a double star system, which consists of components with brightnesses of 5.2 and 4.3 m. The angular distance between the stars is slightly more than 2″.
6.2 Double star ζ Psc
ζ Psc- a double star system that consists of a giant of spectral class A7 and a main sequence star of class F7. The brightness of the stars is 5.2 and 6.3 m. Angular distance between components is 21″. In an amateur telescope with a magnification of 100x or more, the gap is clearly visible.
Well?! We are waiting for October, clear weather, absence of the Moon (you can already feel how rare this is), we go away from city lights and carefully and diligently look for a galaxy with a spiral ring NGC 660. And then, in addition, we fix other deep-sky objects of the constellation with our eyes in the eyepiece of the telescope Fish.
The brightest stars are 3.6; 3.7 and 3.8 visual magnitudes. The star Alrish (α Pisces), which means "string" in Arabic, is located in the southeastern corner of the constellation and is a visual double; its rather bright components are separated by a distance of 2.6?. 2° south of δ Pisces lies van Maanen's Star, probably our closest single white dwarf, 13.8 light years away. Also located in the constellation spiral galaxy M74, the largest observable face (magnitude 9.4 mag., angular diameter 10"). In the western part of the constellation there is one of the brightest carbon stars TX Pisces (19 Pisces), which has a dark red color.
On a clear and moonless night, about 75 faint stars can be discerned with the naked eye in the constellation Pisces. Only three of them are brighter than fourth magnitude. If the brightest stars are connected by lines, they form a characteristic geometric figure of the constellation Pisces: an acute angle with its apex at the point where the star α Pisces is located. One side of the angle faces north and ends in a small triangle created by three faint stars. The other side faces west and ends in an elongated pentagon of five relatively bright stars. Just to the west of the western apex of the pentagon is the star β Pisces, the second brightest in the constellation. You need to have a vivid imagination to see in such a geometric figure two fish, distant from each other and connected by a wide ribbon. This is how they are depicted on ancient star maps and star atlases.
There are no remarkable objects in the constellation Pisces that can be observed with the naked eye. Of interest is α Pisces, which is a double star with bright components: the main star has a magnitude of 4m.3, and its companion has a magnitude of 5m.3. But due to the small angular distance between them (only 2"), the components can only be seen separately using a telescope.
With a regular telescope you can observe the double star ψ" Pisces. This is a bright and beautiful star. The main star has a magnitude of 5m.6. At an angular distance of 30" from it there is a satellite whose magnitude is 5m.8. In the visual field of the telescope, this pair presents an amazing sight.
Asterisms
The constellation is often distinguished two asterisms: Northern fish(three stars - τ, υ and φ) and Western fish(seven stars - γ, κ, λ, 19, ι, θ and 7). The last asterism in the Arab tradition also called Crown.
Observation
Located in Pisces vernal equinox point. The Sun is in the constellation from March 12 to April 18. The best conditions for observations are in September-October.
Story
Ancient constellation. Included in the starry sky catalogue.
Greek mythology mentions the flight of the Olympian gods to Egypt, frightened by the monstrous Typhon. There, fleeing, they turned into various (usually attributive) animals, and, in particular, Aphrodite - into a fish. In later poetic interpretations, her son Eros turned into a fish along with her, which was reflected in the sky in the form of a constellation.
click on the image to enlarge it
| Lat. Name | Pisces |
|---|---|
| Reduction | Psc |
| Symbol | |
| Right ascension | from 22 h 45 m to 2 h 00 m |
| Declension | from -7° 00’ to +33° 00’ |
| Square | 889 sq. degrees |
| Brightest stars (value< 3 m) |
|
| Meteor showers |
|
| Neighboring constellations |
|
| The constellation is visible at latitudes from +83° to -57°. The best time for observation is September-October. |
|
constellation Pisces from the Atlas "Uranographia" of John Hevelius (1690)
constellation Pisces from the Atlas "Uranographia" by J. E. Bode (Berlin 1801)
click on the image to enlarge it
constellation Pisces from the Atlas "Urania's Mirror" (London, 1825)
Mythology
One legend that has come down to us from time immemorial tells that when the Sun, in its apparent movement along the ecliptic, passed through the constellation Pisces, heavy spring rains began to fall. Then two fish appeared in the sky. But the legend does not explain why they are connected with a long and wide ribbon.
The ancient Greeks often mentioned the constellation Pisces in mythological stories that captivate with their poetry.
Every morning, when the rays of Helios began to gild the high mountain peaks and drops of dew still sparkled like diamonds in the green grass and on the leaves of flowers, the Nereids emerged from the depths of the sea, holding hands, fifty daughters of the sea god - the soothsayer Nereus. They danced merrily and had fun on the seashore. Their songs and laughter calmed the stormy waves of the sea, their singing even tamed wild animals. One of the Nereids - the beautiful Galatea - once chased a motley butterfly and fell behind her sisters. At this time, Akid, the son of Semetis, was passing there, tall, slender and handsome, like the god Apollo. Galatea saw him, forgot about the butterfly and fixed her deep blue eyes on him. But Akid, enchanted by her divine beauty, forgot where and why he was going, and headed towards her...
The young people fell in love with each other and from that day were inseparable. Every day, as soon as Galatea appeared on the seashore, Akid took her hand, and the two of them went into a small grotto located not far from the rocky peak...
But not only Akid loved the beautiful Galatea. The one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus, huge as a mountain, noticed her one day on the seashore, radiant with youth and beauty, and mad love flared up in the heart of the terrible Cyclops, whom no one dared to approach for fear of being torn to shreds and eaten. Galatea was afraid of the terrible Polyphemus and always avoided him. Polyphemus's love for Galatea grew more and more intense. Every day he drove his numerous flocks of sheep to a high mountain peak, sat on it and began to play the pipe, which he himself made from hundreds of thick stalks of reeds. The sounds of his pipe could be heard far away and the trees swayed. They also reached the ears of Galatea and Acidas, who were sitting in their favorite place near the grotto, far from the gaze of the terrible Cyclops Polyphemus. But one day he saw them and, maddened by love for Galatea, rushed down from the mountain peak and rushed towards them. The earth trembled from the tramp of his feet, the sea became agitated... Galatea and Akid were frightened and rushed into the stormy sea. There, turning into fish, they rushed into the depths of the sea, connected by a long and wide ribbon - the personification of the love that binds them.
The gods pulled two fish from the sea and took them to heaven. There they left them in the form of the constellation Pisces, attracting people’s attention and reminding them of the strong and sincere love of Galatea and Akida, who in the sky in the form of fish are connected to each other with a long and wide ribbon - love.
Another story is no less tragic. King Priam had a brother Titon, who charmed the winged goddess of dawn Eos with his beauty, who kidnapped Titon and took him to her place on the edge of Earth and Heaven. The gods gave him immortality, but did not give him eternal youth. Days and years passed and left merciless marks on his face.
Once Titon noticed in the distance the goddess of love Aphrodite, walking with her son Eros, who was ready at any moment to shoot a love arrow from a drawn bow into the heart of a god or a mortal. Dressed in gold-woven clothes, with a wreath of fragrant flowers on her head, Aphrodite walked holding her son’s hand. And where the beautiful goddess walked, wonderful flowers grew and the air smelled of freshness and youth. Fascinated by her beauty, Tithon rushed after Aphrodite, who began to run away with her son. A little more, and Tithon should have overtaken them. To escape his pursuit, Aphrodite and Eros threw themselves into the Euphrates River and turned into fish. The gods placed two fish in the sky among the constellations, connected by a wide and long ribbon, personifying great maternal love.
One day Aphrodite and her son Eros were sitting in idleness on the banks of the Nile. (Well, of course, we could speculate about the origin of Eros, whose son he is and when he was born. But in this fable he is the son of Aphrodite.) Suddenly Typhon, a chthonic [?] teratomorph [?] (nicely wrapped, right?) attacked them. ): a hundred dragon heads on a human body, and instead of legs there are two snakes!
Aphrodite and Eros jumped into the water at once, and Zeus temporarily turned them into fish so that they could escape unhindered. (Or they swam away on two fish, which, you see, is funny.)
Perhaps, instead of Eros, Adonis, a Cypriot youth with whom Aphrodite was at one time infatuated, took part in this chase story.
(By the way, we can’t help but remember the constellation here.)
Sometimes this myth is attributed to the Southern Fish, and Pisces is considered its offspring.
I note that Ovid in “Metamorphoses” gives a hint that fish is an attributive animal of Aphrodite, born in the sea.
In co-territorial cultures, local gods were associated with the Greek gods and, in general, the mixing of myths from different religions in the Hellenistic era was a widespread phenomenon. In particular, a certain Syrian goddess was identified with Aphrodite. The following myth is told about her birth (completely different from the Greek one, but reminiscent of the apocrypha of another story - about Leda!).
A huge egg fell from the sky into the Euphrates River. The river fish pushed him ashore, and the pigeons sat there. Aphrodite emerged from the egg... well, or rather, that same Syrian goddess. At her request, Zeus placed the constellation Pisces in the sky.
But here is a completely different story - about Galatea, the daughter of Nereus, and the beautiful young man Akidas, the son of Pan. They went on a date on the island of Sicily, where the ferocious Cyclops Polyphemus lived. Polyphemus was inflamed with passion for Galatea and waylaid the couple on the seashore. The canonical version says that he crushed Akida with a huge rock, and Galatea turned the blood flowing from under the rock into a transparent, clean river.
But there is another ending that is relevant to us. Akid and Galatea managed to throw themselves into the sea when they heard the stomping of an approaching giant, turned into two fish and swam away - in order to fly up into the sky.
Character, lifestyle, career, love of Pisces
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Character of Pisces Perhaps, in the entire Zodiac circle there is no sign more mysterious than Pisces. The depths in which they swim are truly bottomless, leaving little chance for mere mortals to look into them.
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The Pisces man has a rare talent in this world: he knows how to be happy. Moreover, he is capable of this not only in the Sultan’s palace, but also in the notorious hut. His serenity, talent, compassion, kindness can attract you like a magnet, but know that the Pisces man is not a leader by nature, but rather a follower. Before your appearance, he was led through life by Fate, parents, friends, but now it’s your turn. It just so happens that the success of Pisces in life largely depends on how circumstances develop. Or on how decisively those around him will act. It’s just that he himself often confuses his inner world with the outer one. By and large, he’s already happy with everything, but don’t give in to his relaxation. Remember: Pisces has enormous potential, which, with your help, he can successfully realize.
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Every man secretly dreams of someone like a Pisces woman. She is so fragile, tender, pure and defenseless that it seems that it would have been much better for her to have been born in the century before last! The Pisces woman seems to have stepped out of the pages of one of the novels of that time. Looking at it, the word “emancipation” will immediately fly out of your head, but you will immediately understand what Tolstoy had in mind when he wrote about “fluttering eyelashes”, “languid gaze” and other similar things that are incredible today. Pisces is a clear illustration to the saying that a woman’s strength is in her weakness. And this power is truly enormous.
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Pisces need love just like they need air, sunlight and food. Charming and sweet Pisces are dual in love - on the one hand, they strive for intimacy and relationships, on the other, they need privacy and personal space where they can be alone with their thoughts and dreams. Pisces have the best compatibility with people who can give them stability and protection - as a rule, these are all representatives of the elements Earth and Water. Pisces in love are ready to devote themselves completely to their chosen one, live by his ideas and desires, often forgetting about their aspirations and needs. They are gentle, compassionate, immensely romantic and sublime. They tend to wear rose-colored glasses, forgive endlessly, be the first to take a step towards reconciliation and see perfection in their loved one, which is why they often allow themselves to be used and suffer disappointment. But if Pisces meet a worthy and compatible life partner who can appreciate the pure diamond of their soul, they will be completely happy.
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A dreamy, impressionable, emotional Pisces child is endowed with enormous creative potential and a rich imagination! Like no one else, he needs an affectionate, delicate attitude. By surrounding your baby with care and understanding, you will help him realize and reveal the unique abilities with which he is generously endowed by nature. Pisces baby
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Do you need Pisces' consent on some issue? It's simple: relieve them of the need to make decisions, prepare answers to all the questions you want to ask, clearly and confidently voice your position.
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Pisces are very talented, but impractical: in life they can achieve everything or nothing. They are completely devoid of ambition; fame, money and power are practically an empty phrase for them. It is not surprising that they themselves find it difficult to find their way in life, and often they hope to meet a person who would take on all organizational issues. If there is an impresario or literary agent who knows how to turn their talent into money, Pisces can get rich. However, sometimes they can spend their whole lives waiting for such a “genie in a bottle.” That is why for Pisces, more than for anyone else, it is important to learn to show perseverance and at least sometimes swim against the flow, despite the circumstances. In this case, they are able to reach enormous heights. The subtle nature of Pisces best finds application in professions that are in one way or another connected with creativity. In addition to the traditional professions of an artist, singer or musician, Pisces can be excellent makeup artists, stylists, designers, hairdressers, and teachers at an art school. The compassion of Pisces makes them indispensable workers in areas related to medicine and charity. In addition, the innate connection of Pisces with the subtle world can be used in a magic salon: many Pisces know how to guess and predict the future.
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The love of Pisces is a real net, and Pisces themselves usually get entangled in them. In love, sometimes they themselves do not understand where they are going and what they want. It is typical for them to choose an unattainable object of admiration, ignoring a good match that is going straight into their hands. In addition, they may be mistaken in their feelings, mistaking falling in love for love to the grave or real feelings for simple friendship. What their love certainly lacks is calculation. Well, logic.
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Pisces have fragile health, and, being carefree creatures, they do not care much about it. Their subtle, emotional nature is the cause of nervous disorders, insomnia, headaches, and gastrointestinal disorders. In addition, they are susceptible to frequent colds and lung diseases. However, Pisces have a powerful weapon against all diseases - this is their bright, surprisingly harmonious view of the world. In difficult moments, he gives them the strength to withstand illness and trouble.
Compatibility horoscope: constellation of the zodiac sign Pisces pictures - the most complete description, only proven theories based on astrological observations of several millennia.
Bright stars in the sky form characteristic figures. Such clusters are called constellations. People always look at the stars for a long time, trying to unravel the mystery of their cosmic origin. They want to find among the constellations those they once read or heard about. Twelve of the celestial figures are constellations of zodiac signs. Each of them is associated with legends that tell about its discovery and explain its name. What are these zodiac signs?
The zodiac is a certain belt of the sky along which some planets, the Moon and the Sun move, passing 12 constellations on their way. Since they are located in the zodiac field, they got their name - the constellations of the zodiac. Each of them in ancient astrology was designated or accompanied by a certain symbol called a zodiac sign. Here is a simple story of how the constellations of zodiac signs appeared.
How many are there in total?
The sun travels around a large circle of the celestial sphere every year. This circle (called the zodiac, 360 degrees in total) is divided into 12 sectors of 30 degrees each, named after the constellations that the Sun passes on its way.
Each month corresponds to the zodiac sign in which the Sun moves in that month. Once upon a time, the constellations of the zodiac signs served people as a calendar, since the Sun traveled in each of them for about a month. But since the point of the vernal equinox constantly moves (every 70 years by 1°), the Sun today, within one month, moves not through one, but through two nearby constellations, but the designations that previously existed for months have been preserved. The Sun moves through the constellation Virgo for the longest time - 44 days, and the Sun moves through the constellation Scorpio in 6 days. To be fair, it should be noted that the Sun, between November 30 and December 18, passes through another cluster of stars - Ophiuchus, but it just so happened historically that it did not get a month, and it was not included in the constellations of zodiac signs.
Origin of names
People have come up with their own name for each constellation of zodiac signs. According to one version, the origin of the names of the zodiac signs corresponds to the exploits of Hercules. Other versions are based on ancient Greek myths about the gods of Olympus. Each name and sign has its own legend. It is interesting that, despite the ancient Greek origin, all the names of the zodiac signs have been written in Latin since ancient times.
Today, astrologers name 12 zodiac signs, united by 4 elements:
- earth – Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo;
- waters – Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces;
- fire - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius;
- air - Libra, Aquarius, Gemini.
According to mystical teachings, the signs of the zodiac - constellations in the sky - endow people born under them (that is, in the month when the Sun passes a certain constellation) with certain character traits.
Aries constellation
The first spring months - March and April (21.03 - 20.04) - correspond to the zodiac sign Aries. The constellation Aries consists of 20 stars. Mesartim, Sharatan, Gamal are the three brightest stars of Aries. About 2000 years ago, the location of the vernal equinox was in Aries. According to astronomers, she will not return here soon, but after a long 24,000 years.
One of the myths tells how Aries saves Phrixus and Hella, two children who, at the behest of the evil stepmother Ino, must be sacrificed. The fate of the children turned out differently, but the memory of the golden fleece lamb was forever preserved by the starry sky.
Constellation Taurus
Taurus (April 21 – May 21) is a very noticeable constellation; an attentive observer will see up to 130 of its stars, 14 of them are visible especially clearly. The brightest are Aldebaran, Nat and the star Alcyone and Zeta Tauri. The summer solstice point is located in this constellation.
According to one legend, Taurus is identified with Zeus. He took on this image to kidnap Europa, the daughter of the Phoenician king.
In the constellation Gemini you can see about 70 stars, two of which – Castor and Pollux – are the brightest. The immense brotherly love of Castor and Pollux, which ancient Greek myths tell about, prompted people to find two shining celestial stars and call them Gemini. The sign corresponds to May and June (22.05 – 21.06).
Constellation Cancer
The summer months - June and July (22.06 - 23.07) - correspond to the zodiac sign Cancer. The constellation Cancer is very large and at the same time the weakest, it is lost against the background of its bright neighbors and brothers Leo and Gemini. In good weather at night you can see about 60 stars in the constellation without telescopic instruments. The brightest is Altarf or Beta Cancri.
Legend associates the appearance of this constellation in the sky with the name of Hercules’ irreconcilable rival Hera; it was she who lifted there the sea monster that bit Hercules during the battle with Hydra. Although according to legend it was not a cancer, but a crab, astronomers liked the first name more.
Leo constellation
Another zodiac sign is named after the constellation Leo (July, August). The constellation Leo is the brightest in the zodiac family. Its largest star is called Regulus, which means king. The constellation is also interesting because in November, once every 33 years, you can see star showers of a meteorite shower in it.
The mythological Nemean lion (with which the appearance of the constellation is associated), born of the half-woman, half-snake Echidna, was able to defeat the illegitimate son of Zeus, Hercules. And the great Thunderer immortalized his son’s victory by lifting the defeated monster into heaven.
Constellation Virgo
Virgo is a large cluster of stars in the zodiac, 164 of its stars are visible without a telescope or spyglass. The brightest is Spica. In our era, the autumnal equinox is located in the constellation Virgo. The zodiac sign corresponds to August and September.
Numerous legends connect the Virgin either with Rhea, the mother of Zeus, or with Themis, or Gaia, the earth mother.
Constellation Libra
Libra – the months of September and October. Once upon a time, its constituent stars were part of the constellation Scorpio, but, having moved away, they subsequently formed a new constellation. The origin of the constellation is associated with the daughter of Zeus Astraea, who, without getting tired, walked the earth, assessing the unjust and fair deeds of people with the help of scales.
It consists of 83 stars, the brightest of which are Zuben el Shemali and Zuben el Genubi.
Scorpio has also found its place among the zodiac signs. This southern zodiac constellation is one of the brightest in the sky, it has 17 stars, the brightest of which is Antares.
As the myths tell, Scorpio, who fatally stung the young hunter Orion, settled next to him forever in the heavens. This zodiac sign corresponds to October and November.
Sagittarius (months November and December) is the brightest cluster of stars. 115 stars of the constellation will appear before the attentive gaze of the observer, of which 14 stars are very bright, the championship is held by Alnazl, Albaldakh, Kaus Borealis, Kaus Meridianalis, Askella, Nunki and Kaus Australis.
This is a very interesting part of the sky. There are three nebulae, the center of the galaxy and a supermassive black hole. The constellation Sagittarius is the winter solstice point.
Sagittarius is the image of the mighty mythological centaur, forever rushing across the sky.
The zodiac sign Capricorn corresponds to December and January. Without telescopic equipment, 86 stars of this cluster can be seen. Beta Capricorn is the brightest of all.
There are many legends about this constellation. Ancient Greek mythology says that Capricorn was the son of Hermes. He, frightened by the hundred-headed Titan, rushed into the sea. After which his appearance changed greatly, he turned into a goat with a fish tail. The gods were amazed at the sight of the monster and took him to heaven.
Aquarius (months January and February) is another large cluster of stars on the solar path, with seven stars being the brightest. Aquarius is easily visible at night between August and October. Closer to the second half of summer, active meteorite showers can be observed in the constellation. Aquarius is also famous for the fact that it contains the huge Helix Nebula, which is closest to Earth. According to ancient legends, the name of the constellation means “master of the waters.”
The zodiac sign Pisces corresponds to February and March. The largest star in the constellation is Alrisha. There are 75 visible stars in the cluster. This is the point of the spring equinox.
According to mythological legends, fish are lovers Akid and Galatea. Pursued by the Cyclops Polyphemus, who was in love with Galatea, they, in order not to be separated, rushed into the depths of the sea and were swallowed up by it. The gods took the lovers to heaven and gave them eternal life in the constellation Pisces.
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Constellations of the zodiac signs
There are many myths associated with the dozen constellations of zodiac signs in the sky. Many believe that being born under one sign or another determines the characteristics of a person’s character and life path. And very often people are interested in why only these constellations were chosen as patrons of people being born.
Zodiac constellations and zodiac signs
The Sun and Moon make their annual journey across the sky along a certain path. And in a year they pass through 12 constellations, which were called the constellations of the zodiac signs. An ordinary horoscope compares a person’s date of birth with the passage through the zodiacal constellation of the Sun, but there is also a lunar horoscope that compares a person’s birthday with the position of the earth’s satellite in the sky.
It is worth noting that dates were initially marked with the help of zodiacal constellations, because... it was just a calendar. The passage of the Sun through one zodiac sign was approximately a month. Today, the beginning of entering a new zodiac sign has shifted - it falls on the first days of the third trimester of the month. This happened because the point of the equinox (spring) gradually shifts - by 1 degree over 70 years.
Images, names and symbols of the zodiac constellations
For centuries, astronomers and astrologers, looking at the 12 groups of fixed stars that make up the zodiac, saw images in these groupings - mostly animal images - and named the constellations according to these images. All images are associated with mythological characters.
Pisces/Pisces Two fish joined together
Pisces Aquarius Capricorn Sagittarius Scorpio Libra Virgo Leo Cancer Gemini Taurus AriesZodiac sign Pisces
– The Sun and Moon are in the sign of Pisces. History of the sign, description, characteristics
The sign of Pisces is generally cold and windy; however, the leading part is mild, the middle part is humid, and the last part is hot. The northern parts are windy, the southern parts are humid.
Claudius Ptolemy - On the weather - "Mathematical treatise in four parts"
Zodiac sign Pisces ♓ – denotes the twelfth 30-degree segment of the zodiacal belt, when counting from the point of the vernal equinox (Fig. 2 and 3), with ecliptic coordinates 330°, ±5°19′; 360°, ±5°19′.
In 2017, the Sun is in the sign of Pisces from 18 February 2017 14:31 By 20 March 2017 13:28 MSK (Moscow time). The average dates when the Sun is usually in this zodiac sector: February 20 – March 20.
This sign received its name from the constellation Pisces (Fig. 4), which at the beginning of our era was located entirely in this segment.
In our time, due to precession* - a cyclic change in the direction of the earth's axis relative to the stars, the Sun is simultaneously in the constellation Pisces and in the sign of Pisces for 8 days: from March 12 to March 20 (Fig. 2):
Rice. 2 The zodiac sign Pisces, the constellation Pisces and their relative position in a spherical projection (in the ancient view, the heavens consisted of several nested spheres surrounding the Earth).
The area of the sky corresponding to the zodiac sign Pisces in our astronomical era, by the way, just the era of Pisces, looks like this:
Rice. 3. The zodiac sign Pisces is the area of the starry sky corresponding to the sign of Pisces. The region of the sign of Pisces includes the “watery” part of the stars of the constellation Aquarius, and the southwestern edge of the constellation Pisces. The thin red line in the figure is the line of the celestial equator, as you can see it intersects with the ecliptic in the constellation Pisces. When the Sun reaches this point, the Spring Equinox occurs.
The philosophers of antiquity endowed the sign of Pisces with the following properties:
– The zodiac sign Pisces, (lat. Pisces), which received its name from the constellation Pisces, is a feminine sign (according to the rules of alternation), and Pisces is also the second, “aquatic” abode of Jupiter.
– The sign of Pisces personifies autumn, the extinction of the element (element) Water and gravitates towards the essences that make up Water – cold and humidity. The embodiment of the properties of these primary elements in a person born under this sign is a hidden, rarely manifested explicitly melancholic type of temperament (but it dominates among other components).
– In ancient times, Pisces were distinguished by the following characteristics and properties: based on the location of the constellation Pisces relative to the plane of the celestial equator – northern; according to seasonality – winter-spring; The following are in harmony with the sign of Pisces: metal - tin (from Jupiter); precious metals – silver and white gold; precious stones - aquamarine, amethyst, other transparent and white stones with a blue and turquoise tint are also suitable.
And also at the sign Fish, according to the beliefs of the philosophers of antiquity, there is one important feature - in this sign The fateful influence of the Sun on earthly processes, although it is already becoming significant, can still not always play a decisive role in the formation of the temperament of people born during the stay of the daylight in this sign; much depends on the “combination games” of other planets.
Sign Pisces, Sun and planets
According to the ideas of ancient philosophers, the Sun, Moon and other planets in the zodiac sector of Pisces acquired approximately the following possibilities of influence on earthly processes:
☉ Sun. Pisces is a winter-spring sign and the strength of the Sun’s influence on the course of earthly life in this sign is not yet great, but it grows from 2/3 to 1 conditional point (1 point is the strength of influence on earthly processes at the moment of exaltation or fall);
☽ Moon. In the sign of Pisces, the influence of the Moon on earthly processes begins to grow (its conditional “strength” is about 1/3 of a point);
♀ Venus. The sign of Pisces is the sign of exaltation of Venus; when it enters this sign, its influence becomes greater than one (from 1 to 1 1/3 points);
♃ Jupiter– In Pisces, Jupiter is again at home, although his “influence” is less than in Sagittarius (maximum 1 2/3 points);
☿ Mercury. The sign of Pisces is a sign of the fall of Mercury’s forces, the conditional strength of its influence on earthly processes becomes less than one (strength from 1 to 2/3 points);
♂ Mars. In Pisces, Mars is the most influential planet, it is even “stronger” than Jupiter despite the fact that it is at home (from 1 2/3 to 2 points);
♄ Saturn in the sign of Pisces is no longer as influential as in the previous ones (from 1 1/3 to 1 point).
The most influential planet in the winter of 2016-2017, Saturn, will be in the sign of Sagittarius until January 2018, thereby creating the prerequisites (according to Ptolemy) for the winters to be cold, and the majority of “winter children” (children born in winter) “Sagittarius”.
Pisces sign, nature, weather and plants
The Sumerians, who lived in Mesopotamia and created a system of zodiac signs for calculating time, dedicated the eleventh zodiac sector, the sign of “heavenly water”, to the deity of the water elements Enki and the next sign also belonged to him, since after the rainy period there came a period of rising water in the Tigris and Euphrates and the upper reaches fish were rushing into the rivers to spawn. This system passed from the Sumerians to ancient Babylon.
The ancient Greeks, who inherited the zodiac system of Babylon, replenished the properties of the zodiac signs based on their perception of the world, but retained the name and ancient history of both the sign and the corresponding constellation. Already in late antiquity, Ptolemy attributes weather properties to the sign of Pisces typical for late February - early March in Ancient Alexandria (page epigraph).
The timing of plant sowing is directly related to the annual movement of the Sun, but the zodiacal movement of the sun covers too long periods of time, and the timing of sowing is literally often determined by days, and here the Moon comes to the rescue. The Moon moves through the signs of the zodiac at least twelve times faster than the Sun. Based on the position of the Moon, its phases and the “interaction” of the Moon with the signs of the zodiac, favorable timing of work with crops was determined. The ancient Greeks already knew quite a lot about how to determine these dates - observations had been accumulating for thousands of years even before them, and a separate article will be devoted to this topic: Moon in Pisces - Zodiac sign Pisces, Moon and plants. For those who at the moment have no desire to delve into agricultural issues related to this sign, I will tell you the main thing: Pisces, from the point of view of crop yields, is a fertile sign (fifth place in terms of fertility).
Pisces sign and people
“Pisces are characterized by increased sensitivity of perception of the world, which sometimes leads to the fact that even a minor reason can cause offense.”
In our time, a person born under the Sun in the sign of Pisces is endowed with character traits traditionally attributed to this sign. But in reality, in 40% of cases everything may not be so. The ancient Greeks believed that the Sun in this sign “is not yet strong,” and other planets may indicate the patron sign of the newborn.
Ancient philosophers did not particularly rely on the signs of the zodiac in terms of predicting fate and for the most part believed that the character and destiny of a person is formed mainly under the influence of his life experience, and the zodiac sign determines, for those born under it, only the dominant temperament and fortitude (according to Ptolemy: "resistance to fate"):
The dominant type of temperament of those born under the sign of Pisces is melancholic**, the strength of spirit is average, but the dictates of their mind usually dominate their emotions, as a result of which most of them succeed in many achievements in life, especially in the field of art. Successful Pisces are most often writers, artists, actors and musicians.
According to the ideas of ancient medicine, people under the sign of Pisces should be especially attentive to the health of their legs and liver with the gallbladder.
Zodiac sign Pisces and Russia
Significant events that unfolded in the history of Russia when the Sun was under the sign of Pisces
March 3, 1613 of the year– The Zemsky Sobor elected 16-year-old Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov to reign;
27 February 1617– the Russian-Swedish War of 1614 was completed, the Stolbov Peace Treaty was signed, Novgorod was returned to Russia;
February 21, 1709– Russian troops defeat the Swedes in the battle of Krasny Kut, Charles XII miraculously escapes captivity;
February 21, 1784- decree of Catherine II to build a fortress on the shore of the Big Bay in Crimea and call it Sevastopol;
March 18, 1861– Alexander II solemnly announced the abolition of serfdom in Russia;
March 12, 1863– birth of Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky, scientist, founder of biogeochemistry, radiogeology, creator of the doctrine of the biosphere and its evolution;
February 23, 1879– birth of Kazimir Malevich, an outstanding Russian and Soviet avant-garde artist;
March 8, 1908– a rally “For Women’s Equality” took place in New York; two years later, the Congress of the Second International (Copenhagen) proclaimed March 8 as International Women’s Day;
March 12, 1918– Moscow became the capital of Soviet Russia, the Bolshevik government moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow;
February 23, 1918- publication of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars "The Socialist Fatherland is in Danger", the beginning of the mass entry of volunteers into the ranks of the Red Army;
March 2, 1969– an incident occurred on Damansky Island, an armed conflict between the USSR and the PRC;
In the sign of Pisces the current zodiacal cycle ends and a new one begins, the Sun moves into the first zodiacal sector, which is called zodiac sign Aries.
Work on the article “Zodiac Sign Pisces” will continue.
Abstract: Zodiac sign Pisces and people. Zodiac sign Pisces, temperament – About compatibility.
* Constellation Pisces
"As for Pisces, the stars in the area of the head of the southern fish have the influence of Mercury and, to some extent, Saturn; the stars on the body - the influence of Jupiter and Mercury; the stars on the tail and the southern part of the ligament - the influence of Saturn and, to some extent, Mercury. As for the northern fish, the stars on its body and ridge act like Jupiter and, to some extent, Venus; the stars in the northern part of the ligament are like Saturn and Jupiter; and the bright star at the conjunction is like Mars and, in part, Mercury." (Fig. 7)
Claudius Ptolemy - On the influence of the stars - "Mathematical treatise in four parts"
The Sun currently passes through the constellation Pisces for 37 days: from March 12 to April 18. Due to the precession of the earth's axis***, the constellations shift over time relative to the point of the vernal equinox and the apparent movement of the Sun through them occurs with increasing delay. The constellations, gradually shifting counterclockwise, going around the entire zodiac circle, return to their original places after 25,776 years.
Rice. 4 Constellation Pisces ( ♓ Pisces – lat.), the brightest stars are signed.
Probably one of the most ancient variants of the contour drawing of Pisces.
The constellation Pisces is most convenient to observe from the end of August until the beginning of February. Pisces culminates at midnight during October. Despite the fact that Pisces ranks third among the zodiac constellations in terms of area, they do not have bright stars. The pattern of Pisces is as difficult to see as real fish in river water. The brightest star of η Psc, Alfarg, its apparent brightness corresponds to only the fourth magnitude (3.62). Despite the inconspicuousness of the stars of the constellation, everyone is eagerly waiting for the Sun to enter the constellation Pisces, because it contains vernal equinox point(the point of intersection of the ecliptic and the celestial equator). After all, after the Sun passes the point of the vernal equinox, the astronomical spring!
The stars, the names of which are presented in the figure, are arranged in order of decreasing brightness (increasing apparent magnitude) as follows: Alfarg (η Psc, 3.62); Symmachus (γ Psc, 3.70); Alrisha (α Psc, 3.82); Samaka (β Psc, 4.48); Anunitum (τ Psc, 4.51).
When a constellation contains a large number of stars of similar brightness, then, as a rule, it is possible to create many options for visualization schemes. (You can practice finding these options for the constellation Pisces by moving your cursor to Fig. 4 or on an even larger picture by clicking on the picture.)
In the northernmost part of the constellation, a group of five relatively bright stars form a contour resembling a small but tailed fish - this is the “northern Pisces” asterism ****, and in the southwestern part a group of 6 stars forms the “southern Pisces” (Fig. 5).
Probably, many have already noticed that the brightest star of the constellation in our picture has two names Alfarg and Kullat Nunu. Kullat Nunu- this is one of the most ancient names of stars that have reached us, as the Sumerians called this star more than four thousand years ago. Literally translated it means “rope for fish”, that is, kukan. This suggests that the Sumerians 4000 years ago perceived the constellation Pisces the same as we do now. According to their beliefs, Pisces is an attribute of the ancient god Enki (see Aquarius). In a literal sense it is the Fish of Enki swimming on a kukan, and in a symbolic sense it is the fish wealth of the Tigris and Euphrates.
The constellation Pisces came to the ancient Greeks through Babylon in a ready-made form (Fig. 5), but the Sumerian legend did not fit into the Greek epic. But as they say, “if you have something to drink, you will find a reason,” and the Greeks found several myths for the constellation. True, most of them are somewhat tautological - in all of them the gods turn into fish and the thread connecting the fish is not mentioned in any way. I present here only one myth, in my opinion the most interesting:
Aphrodite with her son Eros (Venus and Cupid in the Roman version) walked along the bank of a big river (perhaps it was the Euphrates, or maybe the Nile). Aphrodite admired the flowers, Eros practiced archery. And they were secretly watched by the immortal but aging demigod Titon, who was in love with Aphrodite. Eros accidentally hit the hiding old man with an arrow. This made him inflamed with such love that he chased Aphrodite and his son. They ran along the river bank, crying for help. And, oh Miracle, two huge fish swam and transported Aphrodite and Eros to the other side of the river. In gratitude, Aphrodite gave Pisces her waist ribbon. Zeus, who learned this story, immortalized the responsive fish in the heavens (Fig. 5 and 7):
Rice. 5 Another way to visualize the constellation Pisces
At the latitude of Babylon, Athens and especially Alexandria, the zodiacal constellations pass near the zenith, and the ecliptic line is almost perpendicular to the horizon and the stars are so bright that it seems you can reach them with your hand. And on warm southern nights, looking at the constellations, ancient thinkers could give freedom to their imagination, but the most interesting thing is that if you give children a starry picture of a constellation and say that these are two fish, then they will definitely find these fish:
Constellation Pisces. Outline drawing of "Fish" - diagram. Author of the diagram Sergey Ov
Rice. 6 Constellation Pisces. An outline drawing of exotic marine fish, including the brightest stars of the constellation.
Ptolemy's epigraph to the section on the constellation is well illustrated by a collage created on the basis of a picture from the atlas of Jan Hevelius; probably, ancient and medieval astronomers could literally perceive the starry sky as a living panorama of legends:
Rice. 7 The constellation Pisces is a collage based on a drawing in the atlas of Jan Hevelius (only those stars that were included in the atlas by Hevelius himself are highlighted.
** Currently, several similar definitions of the melancholic type of temperament and the behavioral characteristics of its owner are common:
"A melancholic (Greek melas (melanos) - black, chole - bile) is one of the four types of temperament; a person whose behavior is characterized by a low level of mental activity, slow reactions to current stimuli, restraint of motor skills and speech, and rapid fatigue."
Glossary of psychological terms. Under. ed. N. Gubina.
"A melancholic person is a subject with one of the four main types of temperament (in the Hippocratic classification). A person with a melancholic temperament can be characterized as easily vulnerable, inclined to deeply experience even minor failures, but outwardly reacting sluggishly to the environment. Characterized by a low level of mental activity, slowness of movements, restraint of motor skills and speech, rapid fatigue. Melancholic people are distinguished by high emotional sensitivity, depth and stability of emotions with weak external expression, and under unfavorable conditions they may develop increased emotional vulnerability, isolation, and alienation.
S.Yu. Golovin. Dictionary of a practical psychologist.
Somewhat “reviving” and generalizing these definitions, in accordance with our topic, we get:
The melancholic person is outwardly inhibited and passive. Those with this temperament have very well developed powers of observation and intuition. They are characterized by increased sensitivity of perception of the world, which sometimes leads to the fact that even a minor reason can cause offense, and in female representatives - tears.
Melancholic people have great impressionability and an unstable mental organization and often experience restlessness, a sense of danger, and anxiety over completely insignificant reasons. They are characterized by passivity - both internal and external. A person with a melancholic temperament is often unsure of himself, he is unstable, gets tired quickly, and the slightest difficulty makes him give up. He is frightened by new surroundings, unfamiliar people, and is easily lost and embarrassed. In a critical situation, he withdraws into himself.
But on the other hand, these people pay a lot of attention to their inner world. The life of the soul, their inner world is much more important for them than external events and people around them.
The constellation Pisces is part of the zodiac group of twelve constellations through which the Sun makes its annual circle. This has been known to people for many thousands of years.
Location on the star map
The constellation Pisces is located in the Northern Hemisphere. In our country you can observe it in early autumn. The constellation is not striking in the starry sky. It is considered quite dim, although it contains many interesting objects.
On the star chart, Pisces is located between Aries and Aquarius. One of the fish reaches towards, the other towards. The fish are connected by an imaginary ribbon. The starting point of the constellation is the star Alrish.
The Sun passes through the constellation Pisces in 38 days. According to the modern calendar, this is the period from March 12 to April 18.
The constellation consists of two clearly distinguishable groups: Northern Pisces (it consists of three stars) and Western Pisces (seven stars).
Neighbours
The closest neighbors of the constellation are Aries, Triangulum, Cetus, Andromeda, Pegasus, Aquarius.
If you imagine the constellation Pisces geometrically, then these are two rays that make up an acute angle. The ray going north ends in a triangle with obtuse angles. The ray going to the west is not an equilateral pentagon.
The closest neighbors of Pisces, more noticeable and larger: Aquarius, Aries, Triangle, Andromeda, Pegasus, Whale.
How to find the constellation Pisces?
You need to look for it among its brighter neighbors. It's easy to get your eyes drawn to the large, bright square that Andromeda and Pegasus form. Two constellations seem to cover Pisces. The fish consisting of five stars is closer to Pegasus. Three-star fish to Andromeda.
It is even easier to find the bright Perseus, he points to Aries, next to which the constellation Pisces is located.
Under the obtuse angles of Cassiopeia (which is impossible not to notice), Andromeda is located, below Andromeda is Pisces.
When to observe the constellation?
It is good to observe in the Northern Hemisphere from the onset of autumn until the first month of winter. The most favorable months: September, October, if autumn clouds and rains allow this.
History of discovery
Mention of these stars can be found in ancient Phoenician legends. Information about the constellation Pisces, in a slightly modified form, is imprinted on Babylonian cuneiform cylinders. In its current form and description it came to us from the enlightened Greeks.
Pisces, as an independent constellation, was identified and mentioned in the second century by Claudius Ptolemy, in his catalog of the starry sky “Almagest”.
This group of stars is especially clearly visible in the sky during periods of rain and floods, when the surface of the earth is saturated with moisture. The most favorable time for water inhabitants. Perhaps people saw Pisces in the bright stars.
Stars that make up the constellation
75 stars of this constellation can be seen on a clear night in the sky, armed with the simplest amateur telescope.
For people who are not interested in astronomy, it will be enough to know that the vernal equinox point is located in the constellation Pisces. It is here that the Sun comes every year and daylight hours begin to increase in the Northern Hemisphere and decrease in the Southern Hemisphere.
Pisces will not shock the observer with the brightness of the stars. In the sky, as on earth, they are cold-blooded and invisible.
Al pherg
The first star of the constellation, according to the brightness of its glow, is considered Al pherg or Kullat Nunu. It belongs to the fourth category of stellar magnitude. The giant star shines 316 times more powerfully than the Sun. It is 294 light years away from Earth. She shines blue light for us.
Alrisha
The beginning of the constellation is Alpha Pisces, the star of Alrish. This Arabic name translates as rope or twine. In Alrish, the mythological rope that binds Pisces connects. The star is in third position in brightness. It is interesting because it represents twins - two white dwarfs.
Omega Pisces
Another double star, Omega Pisces. According to the classification, it is a dwarf, 106 years away from Earth.
Other stars
Gamma Pisces is in second place in brightness. This is a yellow giant. The distance to Earth is 130 years.
The carbon star TX Pisces can be seen in Western Pisces. It shimmers dark red and is quite bright.
Closer to our planet is Iota in the constellation Pisces - only 45 light years. This is a yellow dwarf.
The closest inhabitant of the constellation Pisces to Earth is van Maanen's Star. She is one of the closest white dwarfs to the Sun. It's 14 St. years. The star was discovered at the beginning of the last century by a Dutch astronomer, after whom it was named. Located on the ray leading to Western Fish.
Galaxy Messier 74
But perhaps the most interesting object in the constellation is the spiral galaxy. Its astronomical name is Messier 74. It is difficult for amateur astronomers to observe, it is located between Etta Pisces and Alpha Aries.
The galaxy is undergoing a process of star formation and over the past ten years two supernovae have been born. The galaxy was discovered by Pierre Michelin in 1780. And modern astronomers have discovered a black hole in M74 emitting a powerful X-ray glow.
Mythology
The Greeks saw the arrangement of the stars as their gods. They made up stories related to them. Two Pisces are the reincarnated goddess of beauty Aphrodite and her son Eto.
They took the form of fish to hide from the pursuit of the monster Typhon, a monstrous dragon with a hundred heads that spewed fire.
There is another version of this escape, in which Pisces were assistants to Aphrodite and Eros. They covered them under water and moved them to a safe place.
The third version of the appearance of the constellation is the story of the Cyclops’ blind passion for the beautiful Galatea. He found her with her beloved young man and chased after them. The lovers tried to escape into the sea and drowned.
In any of the myths, this was a miraculous deliverance or an attempt to preserve love. The image of the event is captured in the starry sky.