The 12 Zodiac Constellations

The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky containing all the 12 zodiac constellations well know as sign stars. This means if you can idenfity one of these constellation in the night sky you have find them all as they are lined up in a row.

Aries

Aries is located between Pisces and Taurus and it’s name is Latin for ram. It’s astronomical symbol is ♈. Aries has represented a ram since late Babylonian times. Aries is a relatively dim constellation, possessing only four bright stars

Taurus

Taurus is located between Aries and Gemini and to the southeast Orion and it’s name is Latin for ‘the Bull’. It’s astronomical symbol is ♉︎.

The constellation’s brightest star, Aldebaran (Arabic for “the follower”; also called Alpha Tauri), is the 14th brightest star in the sky.

Taurus holds well known star cluster called the Pleiades or Seven Sisters.

Pleiades

Gemini is located between Taurus and Cancer, Canis Minor to the south and Orion to the south-west. It’s name is Latin for ‘twins’. It’s astronomical symbol is ♊︎.

The two brightest star in Gemini are named after two twin half-brothers from Greek Mythology, Castor and Pollux.

Cancer is located between Gemini and Leo and Canis Minor to the southwest. It’s name is Latin for ‘crab’ and it’s astronomical symbol is ♋︎.

Cancer is the second dimmest of the zodiacal constellations, having only two stars above the fourth magnitude.

Leo is located between Cancer and Virgo and It’s astronomical symbol is ♌︎. Leo’s brightest star is Regulus meaning ‘prince’ or ‘little king’ in latin.

It’s name is Latin for ‘lion’ and to in Greek Mythology represented the Nemean Lion killed by the hero Heracles as one of his twelve labors. Located south to Leo is the smaller faint constellation Leo Minor, its name is latin for ‘the smaller lion’.

Virgo is located between Leo and Libra and it’s name is Latin for ‘maiden’ and Its astronomical symbol is ♍︎. Virgo can be easily found through its brightest star, Spica.

Virgo Libra

Libra is fairly faint constellation located between Virgo and Scorpius. It’s name is Latin for ‘scales’ or ‘balance’ and it’s astronomical symbol is ♎︎. Libra is seen as weighing scales but many during cultures also seen Libra as the Claws of the Scorpion. That scorpion being the nearby constellation Scorpius.

Scorpius

Scorpius is located between Libra and Sagittarius, it’s astronomical symbol is ♏︎. Scorpius contains many bright stars, including it’s brightness, Antares, often referred to as “the heart of the scorpion” and “rival of Mars” for its distinct reddish hue.

At scorpion’s curved tail are the stars Shaula and Lesath, whose names both mean “sting.” Because they are so close to each other, they are sometimes referred to as the Cat’s Eyes. In Greek mythology, Scorpius is associated with the scorpion connected to Orion, the hunter, when he boasted to the goddess Artemis that he would kill every animal on Artemis or sometimes Gaia, Mother Nature, sent a scorpion to kill Orion. After Zeus raised Orion and the scorpion to the sky, the Orion hunts every winter but flees every summer when the scorpion comes.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius is located between Scorpius and Capricornus and it’s name is Latin for ‘archer’. It’s astronomical symbol is ♐︎.

Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow. The constellation’s brighter stars form an recognizable shape known as “The Teapot” with the fainter stars providing the outline of the horse’s body.

Sagittarius famously points its arrow at the heart of Scorpius, the reddish star Antares.

Capricornus

Capricornus is located between Sagittarius and Aquarius and it’s astronomical symbol is ♑︎.

It’s name is Latin for ‘horned goat’ or ‘goat horn’ and is commonly represented as a sea goat: a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish.

Aquarius

Aquarius is located between Capricornus and Pisces and it’s astronomical symbol is ♒.

It’s name is Latin for ‘water-carrier’ or ‘cup-carrier’ as the constellation is a representation of water.

Pisces

Pisces is located between Aquarius and Aries, it’s astronomical symbol is ♓︎.

It’s name is Latin for ‘fishies’ and is seens as a distant pair of fishes connected to each other.