Pisces the Fish is likely one of the constellations of the zodiac, which signifies that it lies on the ecliptic, or path of the sun and planets by our sky. At the moment, Jupiter lies inside the constellation’s borders and can stay right here till mid-Could 2023.
Pisces has the nickname of first constellation of the zodiac, as a result of the sun seems in entrance of this constellation in the course of the March equinox. One tropical yr is often outlined because the time period between successive March equinoxes. So – on this sense – the March equinox marks the start of a brand new yr. And that’s the reason Pisces typically seems as marking the start line of the zodiac.
The very best time to view constellations within the night time sky is once they’re reverse the sun within the sky. The rise at sundown and are up all night time. So, if the sun is in Pisces in March, then the alternative aspect of the calendar, October and the next months, is an efficient time for observing Pisces. In December, by the point the sky is darkish, Pisces is already excessive within the southern sky for us within the Northern Hemisphere. Pisces is at its highest for the night at about 8 p.m. native time in December.
Methods to discover Pisces
You want a dark-country sky to see this pretty dim constellation swimming in what the early stargazers thought-about to be a watery area of the lore-laden heavens. Pisces is northeast of the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer and to the northwest of the constellation Cetus the Whale.
Thankfully, you’ll find Pisces somewhat handily by referring to the signpost referred to as the Great Square of Pegasus. Look first for the Circlet of Pisces – in any other case referred to as the top of the Western Fish – to the south of the Sq. of Pegasus. When you’ve discovered the Western Fish, go on from there to catch the Jap Fish that’s leaping upward to the east of the Sq. of Pegasus. As seen from the northern tropics or the Southern Hemisphere, the Jap Fish seems to be plunging downward. Your entire constellation appears to be like just like the letter V, and a really sleek and beautiful V at that.
The celebs of the Fish
Pisces has few vivid stars. The celebs most individuals deal with are those that create the Circlet of Pisces. The brightest star right here is the three.7-magnitude Gamma Piscium. Shifting counterclockwise across the circle, we subsequent discover Theta Piscium at magnitude 4.2. Then comes Iota Piscium at magnitude 4.1. Lastly is Lambda Piscium at magnitude 4.5. These stars are too dim to see from a light-polluted metropolis.
Marking the underside of the V-shape the place the tails of the fish come collectively is a magnitude-3.8 star named Alrisha, or Alpha Piscium. Fourteen degrees northwest is magnitude 3.6 Eta Piscium, the constellation’s brightest star. (Midway in between is magnitude 4.2 Omicron Piscium.) Simply over one diploma east from Eta Piscium is the one Messier object in Pisces.
The lone Messier object
Pisces can solely declare one Messier object – that’s, a fuzzy object resembling a comet however actually a star cluster, nebula or galaxy – inside its borders. It’s Messier 74 (M74), a face-on spiral galaxy looming at an estimated 35 million light-years distant.
Within the month of March, when it’s technically attainable to see all of the Messier objects within the span of 1 night time throughout a Messier marathon, this Messier object within the constellation Pisces is one that’s generally missed.
That’s as a result of, at the moment of yr, M74 lurks somewhat low within the western sky at dusk and rapidly sinks out of view shortly thereafter. Plus, this distant galaxy has an especially low floor brightness, so wonderful seeing situations are completely essential for catching it. You don’t want a big telescope as a lot as you want a dark, clear sky.
Strive recognizing it this December utilizing averted vision on a dark, clear moonless night time.
Pisces in mythology and star lore
Greek and Roman variations of Pisces’ sky lore appeared to have come from Syria, the place fish have been thought to be divine. There appears to be some confusion as as to whether the traditional Syrians abstained from fish altogether or solely fish from the Chalos River (presently known as the Queiq or Aleppo River).
The Syrian goddess of affection and fertility, Atagartis, is usually portrayed as half girl and half fish. She is considered the origin of the Greek goddess Aphrodite and the Roman goddess Venus.
In accordance with Greek mythology, the fire-breathing monster Typhon was about to devour Aphrodite (the Roman Venus) and her son Eros (the Roman Cupid), in order that they became fish and jumped into the Euphrates River to make an important escape. Mom and son tied themselves along with a wire to verify they’d not lose each other within the tumbling waters.
How lengthy is the Age of Pisces?
By some definitions, we’ll proceed to reside inside the Age of Pisces as lengthy the sun shines in entrance of this constellation on the March equinox. By the best way, though the sun hasn’t appeared in entrance of the constellation Aries on the equinox for over 2,000 years, we nonetheless confer with the March equinox level because the First Level in Aries.
If we settle for the constellation boundaries as outlined by the International Astronomical Union, the Age of Pisces began in 68 B.C. and the Age of Aquarius will start in 2597.
However there are a lot of assorted views on this, a few of which you’ll examine on this put up: When does the Age of Aquarius begin?
Backside line: Pisces the Fish is a zodiac constellation that’s excessive within the sky on December evenings. Search for it and its asterism, the Circlet of Pisces.
Meet Taurus the Bull in the evening sky
Meet Gemini the Twins, home to 2 bright stars
Meet Cancer the Crab and its Beehive Cluster
Leo the Lion and its backward question mark
Virgo the Maiden in northern spring skies
Meet Libra the Scales, a zodiacal constellation
Scorpius the Scorpion is a summertime delight
Sagittarius the Archer and its famous Teapot
Capricornus the Sea-goat has an arrowhead shape
Meet Aquarius the Water Bearer and its stars
Meet Pisces the Fish, 1st constellation of the zodiac
Say hello to Aries the Ram
Born under the sign of Ophiuchus?
