All the constellations They are a set of stars that we can observe from our planet and that can come to 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 what is the ninth constellation of the zodiac group and is represented by a centaur with a bow in 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 must know is the location of this constellation. The constellation Sagittarius is also known by the name of "the archer." It is located in the southern hemisphere and below the Equator. It can be easily observed during the autumn, winter and spring seasons. However, it cannot be seen in the southern hemisphere in the summer time, as it becomes 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 has a shape similar to a centaur with a bow in his hand. There are also people who represent him with a kettle. Among the stars that form a very bright groupinge 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 characteristic of the constellation Sagittarius is that it has extrasolar planets.
Main stars of the constellation Sagittarius
Since this constellation is formed by a great as the important of stars, it is necessary to emphasize the most important ones. Let's see what 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 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 star with large proportions and is located closer, 85 light years away. It is an orange star.
- arkab: it is also 85 light years away, but it is a binary star. This means that 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 an origin in Greek mythology. In this case, we find a constellation representing Chiron centaur. It is about a being half man half horse. This mythological being was a wise man highly respected for all the extensive knowledge he had in the world 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 made him have to suffer for a long time since he could not die but was still damaged by the arrow. His agony was so hard that in order to free himself from his immortal curse, he offered Prometheus his immortality. In this way, he intended to rest eternally. Thanks to the God Zeus, he was able to place it among the main stars in the sky. This is how he had today we know him in the constellation 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 suitable for the stars to do thanks to the condensation of matter. The nebulae in this constellation are very numerous and include the Lagoon Nebula, the Sagittarius Star Cloud and the Omega Nebula.
As for astrology, all the constellations of the zodiac have different meanings. This constellation of the zodiac is number nine and is collected 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 have an extraterrestrial origin. It came to us through the constellation Sagittarius. This message was quite mysterious and consisted of a series of numbers and letters that has not yet been deciphered. There are people who believe this story and others who think it is media stuff.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the constellation of Sagittarius.