The constellation named Aquarius, the Water Bearer, is a group of fixed Stars seen as a man in kneeling position, his urn of cosmic water resting on one shoulder with its contents spilling out in front of and underneath him. Astrologers believe the mythology of the constellation with the same name is an important part of an astrological sign's nature, and the fixed stars add important depth to their interpretation of horoscopes.
Finding Constellation Aquarius
Aquarius was first recorded in the second century by the Greek astronomer/astrologer Ptolemy. It is an ecliptic shaped constellation that lies between the constellations Capricornus and Pisces. The constellation spans 30 degrees of longitude in the zodiac signs Aquarius and Pisces and contains 16 named fixed stars. Traditional astrology considers the Aquarius constellation a place of good fortune.
Recognizing the Aquarius Constellation
It is most easily recognizable by its plow shape and by its four stars; three corner stars and one in the center of the urn, which the water bearer is holding. It's located in a deep, dark area of the sky that's sometimes called the celestial sea. In this dark part of the night sky, you'll also find Cetus the Whale, Pisces the Fish, Delphinus the Dolphin, Eridanus the River, and Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish.
- In the Northern Hemisphere, Aquarius can be found in the southwest portion of the autumn sky.
- South of the equator, Aquarius is located overhead or high in the northern sky.
- It's more easily seen on a moonless night with a strong pair of binoculars or a small telescope.
To Find Aquarius, Find the Water Jar
Although Aquarius contains many double and triple stars, as well as the Helical Nebula, it has no particularly bright stars and can be difficult to view with the naked eye. However, if the sky is very dark, you might be able to see a noticeable pattern of stars within Aquarius. This little zigzag pattern of 30 faint fixed stars is called the water jar. They flow down toward the star Fomalhaut. Fomalhaut is in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish. The Southern Fish is the fish that drinks from Aquarius's jar.
Use Star Maps to Find Constellation Aquarius
Of course, a star map based on your location will make it much easier to locate Aquarius, and there's a website and an app for that.
- In-the-Sky is a site that creates a customized star map based on your location, plus you can also download an interactive sky map for reference if your star gazing location doesn't have internet access.
- Star Chart, available at the Apple App Store, can turn your smartphone into a constellation identifier.
Aquarius's Brightest and Fixed Stars
Aquarius contains 16 named and/or fixed stars.
The Brightest Star Is Sadalsuud
Sadalsuud is the brightest star in Aquarius. It is sometimes referred to as Lucida Fortunae Fortunarum, which is Latin for the "brightest luck of lucks." The fixed star Sadalsuud is associated with the spring and the good fortune brought by the sun when it rises after winter has passed. Its mass is six times that of our Earth's sun, and it is 2,200 times more luminous.
Astrologers recognize Sadalsuud as a sign of good fortune for all who have it prominent in their horoscopes. However, like all such gifts, the "good fortune" bestowed by Sadalsuud should not be abused. When it is, Sadalsuud can portend trouble and disgrace.
Meaning of Sadalsuud in a Horoscope
When it is prominent in a horoscope it portends:
- Great fortune
- Astrology
- Occult
- Psychic
- Visionary
- Originality
- Personal charm
- Temperance
Fixed Star Sadalmelik
Fixed star Sadalmelik is the "luck of the king." When it is prominent in a horoscope it portends:
- Occult interests
- Prominence
- success
- inventiveness
- persecution
- sudden destruction
Fixed Star Sadachbia
Fixed star Sadachbia is "the lucky star of hidden things." When it is prominent in a horoscope it portends:
- Success in ventures
- Personal charm
- Movement to richer pastures
- Discovery of lost items
Fixed Star Skat
Fixed star Skat is "the wish." When it is prominent in a horoscope it portends:
- Good fortune
- Personal charm
- Lasting happiness
- Psychic interests
- Sensitivity
- Occult interests
- Many friends
Aquarius Meteor Showers
Four known meteor showers radiate from Aquarius.
- The Southern Iota Aquarids (July through mid September)
- Southern and Northern Delta Aquarids (peaks in late July)
- March Aquarids (mid-March)
- Eta Aquarids (early May)
Astrologers speculate the meteors that radiate from a constellation express the characteristics of the constellation from which they radiate and as they fall to earth, they deposit something new or unexperienced on this planet.
The Water Symbolism of Aquarius
What is Aquarius's connection with water?
Aquarius is derived from the Latin aqua - water.
- The two wavy lines that are the glyph for Aquarius are the Egyptian Hieroglyphic for water.
- The waves symbolize water rippling in the wind (air) and indicates Aquarius is the disseminator of knowledge.
- The water flowing from the jug is symbolic of Aquarius pouring collective knowledge onto all of humanity and spreading enlightenment.
- In Babylon, Aquarius was the water god who brought the annual rains, at the time the sun was passing through the Aquarius constellation.
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Aquarius was also a water god in Egypt, where he was believed to provide the annual flood waters to the Nile to help the parched farmlands.
The Greek Myths of Aquarius
The Greek myth of Deucalion and his wife is very similar to the Judeo-Christian legend of Noah's Ark. Humanity had grown cruel, vicious, and savage, and Zeus, despairing for humankind, sent a great flood upon the earth. The only two people who survived were Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha, who Zeus considered the last godly people on earth. After the flood, Zeus helped Deucalion and Pyrrha create a new and wiser race of men. Deucalion is known as the Water Bearer because he brought life to a new generation.
In one version of another Aquarian myth, Zeus, in the form of an eagle brought Ganymede, who he thought too beautiful to remain a mortal, into the heavens and presented him to the gods to be their cupbearer. In a later version, Ganymede's kidnapper had a homosexual passion for him. There are many different tellings of this myth; however, in each Ganymede is a beautiful and kind young man.
The Astrological Sign of Aquarius
Aquarius is a human sign; it represents the common man and woman. It merges the intellect with the intuition and connects everything and everyone. It's the Water Bearer's understanding of oneness that allows Aquarians to use their intellect, intuition, and communicative abilities to pour out this message of oneness to mankind.
Aquarius is the sign of:
- The Universal Mind
- Awakening, revelation, and enlightenment
- Liberation, emancipation, and breakthrough
- Change, progress and reform
- Perspective, overview, and radical objectivity
The Constellational, Tropical, and Sidereal Zodiacs
From an earthly perspective, the Earth's sun appears in to be in the Constellation Zodiac's Aquarius from approximately February 16th to March 11th. In Tropical Zodiac, the Sun is in the sign of Aquarius from approximately January 20th to February 19th, and in Sidereal Zodiac from approximately February 15th to March 14th.
