The constellations They are a group of stars that we can observe from our planet and that can resemble various emblematic figures. Most of the names given to these constellations have an explanation and an origin. One of the most important groups of constellations are those of the zodiac. Today we are going to talk about the constellation sagittarius, which is the ninth constellation of the zodiac group and is represented by a centaur with a bow in his hand.
In this article we are going to explain all the characteristics, origin and history of the constellation Sagittarius.
Key features
The first thing we need to know is the location of this constellation. The constellation of Sagittarius is also known as "The Archer." It is located in the southern hemisphere and below the equator. It can be easily observed during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. However, it cannot be seen in the southern hemisphere during the summer, as it is visible in the northern hemisphere. We can locate it exactly between the constellation of Scorpio and the constellation of Capricorn.
The main characteristic of this constellation is that it resembles a centaur holding a bow. Some people also depict it with a teapot. Among the stars that form a very bright group we find the X Sagittarii and the star W Sagittarii. One of the stars that it also has within the group is known by the name of Pistol, since it has the highest luminosity of all the stars in the galaxy.
Another representative feature of the Sagittarius constellation is that it has extrasolar planets, like other interesting constellations.
Main stars of the constellation Sagittarius
Since this constellation is made up of a large number of stars, the most important ones are worth highlighting. Let's see which ones they are:
- nunki: It is a star with a bluish-white color and is located at a distance of 210 light years.
- -Polis: It is a star with large proportions that is accompanied by another star from group B and that also has a bluish white color.
- Rukbat: this star is located much further away, about 250 light years from the solar system and is white.
- Kaus average: It is a large star and is located closer, 85 light-years away. It is an orange-colored star.
- arkab: It's also 85 light-years away, but it's a binary star. This means there are two stars in one.
- alnasel: it is considered a star of the group of giants. We can consider the sun as a medium star, so you just have to imagine the size of this star. Its color is yellow and it is located 125 light years away.
- Eta: It is also considered a giant star but it is red. It is the closest of all the stars in this constellation, located 70 light years from the solar system.
Mythology and history of the constellation Sagittarius
As we can see from other constellations, almost all of them have their origins in Greek mythology. In this case, we find a constellation that represents the centaur Chiron. He is a half-man, half-horse creature. This mythological being was a highly respected sage for his extensive knowledge of medicine. Its origin came from the cross between Cronos and the nymph Filira.
Chiron was wounded in combat by an arrow, but he had one important condition: he was an immortal being. This caused him to suffer for a long time, as he couldn't die but was still damaged by the arrow. His agony was so severe that, in order to free himself from his curse of immortality, he offered his immortality to Prometheus. In this way, he intended to rest eternally. Thanks to the god Zeus, he was able to place him among the major stars of the firmament, forming part of the constellations. This is how we know him today in the constellation of Sagittarius.
In this constellation there are many stars that dare each other due to gravity. This is how groups of globular clusters are formed. Millions of very old stars are clustered in these globular clusters. Some of these stars are estimated to be 1.000 million years old or older.. There are also open or galactic clusters made up of millions of younger stars that are only about 100 million years old.
Among the main globular clusters that we have in the constellation of Sagittarius we have the great Sagittarius cluster and the globular cluster M55.
Nebulae, astrology and aliens
As we know, nebulae are those places in the galaxy where stars are formed. These places have as essential chemical elements hydrogen, helium and cosmic dust. These places are ideal for stars to form through the condensation of matter. The nebulae in this constellation are numerous, including the Lagoon Nebula, the Sagittarius Star Cloud, and the Omega Nebula, among other well-known nebulae in the sky.
In astrology, all the constellations of the zodiac have different meanings. This constellation is the ninth and is represented by the planet Jupiter. In astrology, Sagittarius is a sign that represents wisdom, since it seeks to know the origin and meaning of all existing things. People born under this sign love to travel and are passionate about getting to know other cultures around the world. They seek the spiritual and they are happy and sociable people. However, they can become depressed without an apparent cause.
Lastly, in 1977 our planet received a signal from space. It is thought to be of extraterrestrial origin. It reached us via the constellation of Sagittarius. This message was quite mysterious and consisted of a series of numbers and letters that have yet to be deciphered. Some people believe this story, while others think it's media hype.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the constellation of Sagittarius.