Aquarius Constellation
Aquarius (The Water Bearer)
Aquarius is a prominent constellation representing a water-bearer, often depicted as a young man pouring water from a jar. It is one of the twelve zodiac signs and is located in the Southern Hemisphere. Known for its distinct shape, Aquarius is also famous for its association with water, although the constellation itself has no actual connection to water bodies.
Key Features
- Bright Stars: Aquarius has a few notable stars, although it is not particularly known for its brightness:
- Alpha Aquarii (Sadalsuud): The brightest star in Aquarius, a yellow giant located about 540 light-years away.
- Beta Aquarii (Sadalmelik): A yellow giant star located about 105 light-years away.
- Gamma Aquarii (Sadachbia): A star in the eastern part of Aquarius, located about 136 light-years away.
- Deep-Sky Objects: Aquarius is home to several interesting deep-sky objects:
- Messier 2 (M2): A large globular cluster located about 37,500 light-years away.
- Messier 73 (M73): A small, open cluster of stars.
- NGC 7009 (The Saturn Nebula): A planetary nebula that appears similar in shape to the planet Saturn, located about 2,500 light-years away.
Mythological Background
In Greek mythology, Aquarius is often associated with Ganymede, a beautiful young boy who was abducted by Zeus and taken to Olympus to serve as the cupbearer to the gods. Ganymede was tasked with pouring water (nectar) for the gods, a role that made him immortal and placed him among the stars as Aquarius. The water-pouring symbol represents the flow of life and the nourishment of the gods.
Another mythological interpretation connects Aquarius with the ancient god of water, who was believed to bring water to the earth during floods or droughts. This connection emphasizes Aquarius' association with change, renewal, and the balance of nature's elements.
Cultural Significance
Aquarius is traditionally seen as a sign of progress, intellectualism, and humanitarianism in astrology. People born under this sign (between January 20 and February 18) are often associated with innovative thinking, originality, and a desire to bring about social change. Aquarius is considered a symbol of reform, especially in regard to social justice and environmental concerns.
In ancient cultures, the water-bearer was a figure of great importance, symbolizing the life-giving force of water, which is essential for survival and prosperity. In the night sky, Aquarius is a relatively faint constellation but one that is rich in history, symbolism, and meaning.
Aquarius (The Water Bearer)
Aquarius is a prominent constellation representing a water-bearer, often depicted as a young man pouring water from a jar. It is one of the twelve zodiac signs and is located in the Southern Hemisphere. Known for its distinct shape, Aquarius is also famous for its association with water, although the constellation itself has no actual connection to water bodies.
Key Features
- Bright Stars: Aquarius has a few notable stars, although it is not particularly known for its brightness:
- Alpha Aquarii (Sadalsuud): The brightest star in Aquarius, a yellow giant located about 540 light-years away.
- Beta Aquarii (Sadalmelekh): A yellow giant star located about 105 light-years away.
- Gamma Aquarii (Sadachbia): A star in the eastern part of Aquarius, located about 136 light-years away.
- Deep-Sky Objects: Aquarius is home to several interesting deep-sky objects:
- Messier 2 (M2): A large globular cluster located about 37,500 light-years away.
- Messier 73 (M73): A small, open cluster of stars.
- NGC 7009 (The Saturn Nebula): A planetary nebula that appears similar in shape to the planet Saturn, located about 2,500 light-years away.
Mythological Background
In Greek mythology, Aquarius is often associated with Ganymede, a beautiful young boy who was abducted by Zeus and taken to Olympus to serve as the cupbearer to the gods. Ganymede was tasked with pouring water (nectar) for the gods, a role that made him immortal and placed him among the stars as Aquarius. The water-pouring symbol represents the flow of life and the nourishment of the gods.
Another mythological interpretation connects Aquarius with the ancient god of water, who was believed to bring water to the earth during floods or droughts. This connection emphasizes Aquarius' association with change, renewal, and the balance of nature's elements.
Cultural Significance
Aquarius is traditionally seen as a sign of progress, intellectualism, and humanitarianism in astrology. People born under this sign (between January 20 and February 18) are often associated with innovative thinking, originality, and a desire to bring about social change. Aquarius is considered a symbol of reform, especially in regard to social justice and environmental concerns.
In ancient cultures, the water-bearer was a figure of great importance, symbolizing the life-giving force of water, which is essential for survival and prosperity. In the night sky, Aquarius is a relatively faint constellation but one that is rich in history, symbolism, and meaning.
Aquarius Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Aquarius rise | 16:37 | |
| Sunset | 17:36 | 11° |
| Civil sunset | 18:04 | 17° |
| Twilight start | 18:36 | 23° |
Moonrise, 84.2% illuminated  | 19:16 | 30° |
| Aquarius transit | 22:22 | 48° |
| Astronomical observing session begins | 23:33 | 45° |
| Astronomical observing session ends | 03:40 | 5° |
| Aquarius set | 04:06 | |
| Moonset | 09:29 | -56° |
Track Aquarius Position Throughout the Night
← 1 September 2026 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Nebulae in the constellation Aquarius
IC1433 NED02
Galaxy
M72
Globular Cluster
M73
Association of stars
M2
Globular Cluster
Annual motion of Aquarius
| Date | Wed, 2 September 2026 |
| Twilight start | 19:02 |
| Twilight end | 03:01 |
| Twilight duration | 8h 59m |
| Rise | 16:33 |
| Set | 04:02 |
| Elevation at transit | 48° |
| Transit time | 22:18 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 21h 56m 06s", Dec: -4° 52' 28s |
| Magnitude | - |
| Constellation |
The vertical axis shows the hours of the day, while the horizontal axis spans the days of the year.
The reddish area marks when the constellation is above the horizon. The white line shows when it reaches its highest point in the sky. View detailed visibility information in a table with rise, transit, and set times for each date.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for defining and standardizing the official constellation boundaries used in celestial mapping.
Special thanks to Sky & Telescope Magazine and contributors Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg for producing the charts and tables. Alan MacRobert’s constellation patterns were influenced by the work of H. A. Rey and adjusted to align with earlier traditions.