Capricornus is one of the zodiac constellations. Its name means "horned goat," "goat horn," or "having horns like a goat," and it is most usually shown as a sea goat, a mythical monster that is half goat and half fish.
Capricornus is one of the eighty-eight current constellations, as well as one of the forty-eight recorded by Claudius Ptolemy in the second century. Capricornus (♑︎) is the old astrological symbol for it. Aquila, Sagittarius, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus, and Aquarius are the constellations that surround it now. The constellation is part of the Sea or Water region of the sky, which includes numerous water-related constellations like Aquarius, Pisces, and Eridanus. It is the tiniest constellation in the zodiac.
Capricornus is one of the eighty-eight current constellations, as well as one of the forty-eight recorded by Claudius Ptolemy in the second century. Capricornus (♑︎) is the old astrological symbol for it. Aquila, Sagittarius, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus, and Aquarius are the constellations that surround it now. The constellation is part of the Sea or Water region of the sky, which includes numerous water-related constellations like Aquarius, Pisces, and Eridanus. It is the tiniest constellation in the zodiac.
History
The constellation was initially depicted on a cylinder seal during the twenty-first century BCE (Espak 2006), and it was expressly mentioned in Babylonian star catalogues before 1000 BCE. The winter solstice was in the constellation in the Early Bronze Age, but owing to equinox precession, the December solstice is currently in the constellation Sagittarius. (Rogers 1998) From late January to mid-February (Ridpath & Tirion 2001), the Sun is in the constellation Capricorn (as opposed to the astrological sign). Although the solstice in the northern hemisphere's winter no longer occurs when the sun is in the constellation Capricornus, as it did until 130 BCE, the astrological sign Capricorn is still used to denote the solstice's position, and the Tropic of Capricorn, which also refers to the line on the Earth where the sun is directly overhead at local noon on the day of the solstice, is still used. (Ridpath & Tirion 2001) On September 23, 1846, German astronomer Johann Galle discovered the planet, Neptune, at Deneb Algedi (Capricorni), since Capricornus is best viewed from Europe at 4:00 a.m. (although, by modern constellation boundaries established in the early 20th century CE, Neptune lay within the confines of Aquarius at the time of its discovery). |
Visual
The brighter stars of Capricornus can be found on a triangle with the vertices 2 Capricorni (Giedi), Capricorni (Deneb Algiedi), and Capricorni. The method used by Ptolemy to connect the stars of Capricornus was influential. Capricornus is frequently depicted as a goat with a fishtail. (Ridpath & Tirion 2001) H.A. Rey's alternative method of connecting the stars of the Capricornus constellation is depicted in this diagram. |
Deep-sky Objects
M30 – Globular Cluster
NGC 7103 – Galaxy (Brightest in the group)
NGC 6907 – Spiral Galaxy
HCG87 – Galaxy Group
Main stars – 9
Bayer stars – 49
Stars with planets – 5
Stars brighter than Magnitude 3.0 – 1
Stars within 32Ly – 3
Bordering
constellations
Aquarius
Aquila
Sagittarius
Microscopium
Piscis Austrinus
Meteor showers
Alpha Capricornids – mid-July to mid-august – 2-5 per hour with flares 5-9per hour
Chi Capricornids – Late January – Late February with a peak around 13th February
Sigma Capricornids – Late March
Tau Capricornids – Late July
Capricornids-Sagittariids – Late March
M30 – Globular Cluster
NGC 7103 – Galaxy (Brightest in the group)
NGC 6907 – Spiral Galaxy
HCG87 – Galaxy Group
Main stars – 9
Bayer stars – 49
Stars with planets – 5
Stars brighter than Magnitude 3.0 – 1
Stars within 32Ly – 3
Bordering
constellations
Aquarius
Aquila
Sagittarius
Microscopium
Piscis Austrinus
Meteor showers
Alpha Capricornids – mid-July to mid-august – 2-5 per hour with flares 5-9per hour
Chi Capricornids – Late January – Late February with a peak around 13th February
Sigma Capricornids – Late March
Tau Capricornids – Late July
Capricornids-Sagittariids – Late March