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Sky-Tonight.com / Constellations / Pegasus
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Columbus, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
39.9625
Longitude:
-83.0061

Pegasus Constellation

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Pegasus, the winged horse, is a constellation featuring the Great Square of Pegasus, which is used to locate nearby constellations like Andromeda.

Pegasus

Pegasus is a prominent constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse from Greek mythology. Recognized for its large, square-shaped asterism, Pegasus has been an object of fascination in astronomy and mythology for centuries. Its stars and deep-sky objects offer rich opportunities for observation and study.

Key Features

  • Bright Stars: Pegasus contains several notable stars, including:
    • Markab: A bright star marking one corner of the "Great Square of Pegasus."
    • Scheat: A red giant and one of the brightest stars in the constellation.
    • Algenib: A blue-white star that completes the Great Square.
    • Enif: A luminous star representing the nose of the winged horse.
  • Asterism: The "Great Square of Pegasus" is an easily identifiable feature of the constellation, formed by four stars that create a large quadrilateral in the night sky.
  • Deep-Sky Objects: Pegasus hosts several fascinating celestial objects, including:
    • Messier 15 (M15): A dense globular cluster located about 33,000 light-years away, containing hundreds of thousands of stars.
    • NGC 7331: A spiral galaxy often referred to as a "twin" of the Milky Way due to its similar structure.
    • Stephan's Quintet: A group of interacting galaxies, offering a stunning example of galactic dynamics. The brightest member of the visual grouping is NGC7320

Mythological Background

In Greek mythology, Pegasus was a divine winged horse born from the blood of Medusa after she was slain by the hero Perseus. Pegasus played a significant role in the tale of Bellerophon, who rode the horse to defeat the Chimera, a fire-breathing monster. As a reward for his service, Pegasus was placed among the stars by Zeus, where he continues to inspire stories of heroism and adventure.

Pegasus also appears in other cultural myths and legends, symbolizing freedom, power, and creativity. Its imagery as a winged horse has persisted as a powerful symbol across art and literature.

Cultural Significance

The constellation Pegasus has long been used as a celestial marker and is associated with artistic and poetic inspiration. In ancient times, its appearance in the night sky was often linked to seasonal changes and the passage of time, serving as a guide for both farmers and navigators.

Pegasus Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 11.4% illuminated04:0938°
Moon Set18:12-25°
Astrosession begin21:59-23°
Pegasus Rise00:42
Astrosession end04:5748°
Civil sunrise05:3755°
Sunrise06:1060°
Pegasus Transit07:5471°

Track Pegasus Position Throughout the Night

← Sun, 25 May 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe Pegasus changing position in the night sky.

Annual motion of Pegasus

Time
DateSun, 25 May 2025
Twighlight start22:39
Twighlight end04:08
Twighlight duration5h 29m
Rise00:42
Set15:06
Elevation at transit71°
Transit time07:54
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 22h 36m 05s", Dec: 20° 30' 00s
Magnitude-
Constellation
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Pegasus, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Pegasus is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for defining and standardizing the official constellation boundaries, which provide a consistent framework for celestial mapping.

Special thanks to Sky & Telescope Magazine and contributors Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg for their collaboration in producing the charts and tables. The constellation patterns, drawn by Alan MacRobert, were influenced by the work of H. A. Rey and thoughtfully adjusted to align with earlier traditions.