About the Zodiac

The Sea

• The first three Zodiac constellations all lie within a region of the sky nicknamed "The Sea." Capricornus, Aquarius and Pisces are three very non-distinct star groupings with hardly any bright stars to set them apart from other constellations. Capricornus is supposed to represent a sea-goat but looks more like a Cheshire cat's grin. Aquarius the Water Bearer looks like a stick figure, while Pisces the Fishes seems more like the letter "V." In the United States these three Zodiac constellations are best observed in the fall months.

Ram and Bull

• Aries the Ram is the Zodiac constellation that requires a person to use the most imagination to even come close to seeing it for what it is named. It is basically a handful of nondescript dull stars. Taurus the Bull contains multiple interesting objects to the astronomer, including the open star clusters named the Hyades and another called the Pleiades. In addition, the first magnitude star Aldebaren is located in Taurus, which does closely mimic the head and horns of a charging heavenly bull, with Aldebaren being one of the bull's eyes.

Twins, Crab and Lion

• Gemini the Twins contains a pair of first magnitude stars in Castor and Pollux, which are close to each other in the sky. This Zodiac constellation was named in honor of two siblings from ancient times. It lies next to Cancer the Crab, which has few bright stars but does contain the beautiful Crab Nebula and an open star cluster called the Praesepe. Leo the Lion, which is a sure sign of spring in the Northern Hemisphere when it swings into view in the night sky, is made up of a sickle-shaped bunch of stars that form the lion's head and a triangular-shaped group that makes up the lion's haunches. The first magnitude star Regulus marks the heart of the lion.

Virgo and Libra

• Virgo the Maiden is the largest Zodiac constellation in terms of the amount of the sky it takes up. This constellation represents a virgin and Spica, the brightest star in the grouping, is supposed to represent an ear of wheat in her hands. Libra the Scales is the sole member of the Zodiac that does not denote a living entity, as it signifies a set of scales.

Scorpion and Archer

• Scorpius the Scorpion is where one finds the red giant star Antares, which would extend outwards all the way to the orbit of Mars if it were suddenly substituted for our Sun. The Scorpion lies within the rich field of stars that makes up the Milky Way, and Sagittarius the Archer is right in the center of this, which is the galaxy that our solar system exists in. Sagittarius contains many nebulas, star clusters and other objects that, when viewed with a high-powered telescope, elicits awe in even the most seasoned observers. In myth the archer is shooting an arrow at the scorpion's heart, which is where Antares lies. These two constellations are staples of the summer sky.