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(The broken red line <font color=#D40000>{- - - -}</font> in the constellation map is a graphic representation of the ecliptic.) |
(The broken red line <font color=#D40000>{- - - -}</font> in the constellation map is a graphic representation of the ecliptic.) |
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mrs mangens puebs were left on gemini mission |
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==Notable features== |
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===Stars=== |
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The brightest stars in Gemini are [[Castor (star)|Castor]] and [[Pollux (star)|Pollux]]. Although Castor has the [[Bayer designation]] Alpha, it is actually the second brightest in the constellation after Pollux. Castor is a sextuple [[star system]]; Pollux has an [[extrasolar planet]] revolving around it, as do two other stars, [[HD 50554]], and [[HD 59686]]. Another noteworthy star is [[Zeta Geminorum|Mekbuda]] (ζ Gem), a [[supergiant]] with a radius that is 60 times solar, making it approximately is 220,000 times the size of the [[Sun]]. |
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===Deep sky objects=== |
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Given that Gemini is pointing away from the [[Milky Way]], there are comparatively few deep sky objects of note — the [[Eskimo Nebula]] and [[Medusa Nebula]], [[Messier object]] [[Messier 35|M35]] and [[Geminga]] being the ones that attract the most attention. The Eskimo and Medusa nebulae are both [[planetary nebula]]e, the one approximately 2,870 [[light years]] away and the other 1,500 light years distant. M35 is an open [[star cluster]] which was discovered in the year [[1745]] by Swiss astronomer [[Philippe Loys de Chéseaux]]. And Geminga is a [[neutron star]] approximately 550 light years from [[Earth]]. Other objects of note are [[NGC 2129]], [[NGC 2158]], [[NGC 2266]], [[NGC 2331]], [[NGC 2355]], and [[NGC 2395]]. |
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==Visualizations== |
==Visualizations== |
Revision as of 16:43, 7 October 2011
Constellation | |
Abbreviation | Gem |
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Genitive | Geminorum |
Pronunciation | /ˈdʒɛmɨnaɪ/, genitive /ˌdʒɛmɨˈnɒrəm/ |
Symbolism | the Twins, Castor & Pollux |
Right ascension | 7 |
Declination | +20 |
Quadrant | NQ2 |
Area | 514 sq. deg. (30th) |
Main stars | 8, 17 |
Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 80 |
Stars with planets | 7 |
Stars brighter than 3.00m | 4 |
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 4 |
Brightest star | Pollux (β Gem) (1.15m) |
Messier objects | 1 |
Meteor showers | Geminids Rho Geminids |
Bordering constellations | Lynx Auriga Taurus Orion Monoceros Canis Minor Cancer |
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −60°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of February. |
Gemini is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for "twins", and it is associated with the twins Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology. Its symbol is (Unicode ♊). It lies between Taurus to the west and Cancer to the east, with Auriga and Lynx to the north and Monoceros and Canis Minor to the south.
Location
In October and November Gemini will appear along the eastern horizon in the morning sky prior to sunrise. The best time to observe Gemini at night is overhead during the months of January and February. By April and May, the constellation will be visible soon after sunset in the west.
The easiest way to locate the constellation is to find its two brightest stars Castor and Pollux eastward from the familiar “V” shaped asterism of Taurus and the three stars of Orion’s belt. Another way is to mentally draw a line from the Pleiades star cluster located in Taurus and the brightest star in Leo, Regulus. In doing so, you are drawing an imaginary line that is relatively close to the ecliptic, a line which intersects Gemini roughly at the midpoint of the constellation, just below Castor and Pollux. (The broken red line {- - - -} in the constellation map is a graphic representation of the ecliptic.)
mrs mangens puebs were left on gemini mission
Visualizations
Gemini is dominated by Castor and Pollux, two bright stars that appear relatively close together, encouraging the mythological link between the constellation and twinship. The twin to the right is Castor, whose brightest star is α Geminorum (more commonly called Castor); it is a second magnitude star and represents Castor's head. The twin to the left is Pollux, whose brightest star is β Geminorum (more commonly called Pollux); it is of the first magnitude and represents Pollux's head. Furthermore, the other stars can be visualized as two parallel lines descending from the two main stars, making it look like two figures.
H.A. Rey has suggested an alternative to the traditional visualization that connected the stars of Gemini to show a pair of twins holding hands. Pollux's torso is represented by star υ Geminorum, Pollux's right hand by ι Geminorum, Pollux's left hand by κ Geminorum: all three of these stars are of the fourth magnitude. Pollux's pelvis is represented by star δ Geminorum, Pollux's right knee by ζ Geminorum, Pollux's right foot by γ Geminorum, Pollux's left knee by λ Geminorum, and Pollux's left foot by ξ Geminorum. Gamma Geminorum is of the second magnitude, while Delta and Xi Geminorum are of the third magnitude. Castor's torso is represented by the star τ Geminorum, Castor's left hand by ι Geminorum (which he shares with Pollux), Castor's right hand by θ Geminorum: all three of these stars are of the fourth magnitude. Castor's pelvis is represented by the star ε Geminorum, Castor's left foot by ν Geminorum, and Castor's right foot by μ Geminorum and η Geminorum: ε, μ, and η Geminorum are of the third magnitude. The brightest star in this constelation is Pollux.
Mythology
Gemini was associated with the myth of Castor and Pollux, collectively known as the Dioscuri. One myth of these twins concerns cattle theft, and may be connected to earlier myths that described the Milky Way as a herd of dairy cows.[citation needed] On star maps, the twins are usually viewed as leaning away from the Milky Way, but are sometimes depicted with one of the twins residing in the Milky Way, and the other outside it, a situation making it appear that one of the twins is stealing the cattle, and the other is observing.[citation needed] Along with the other features of the area in the Zodiac sign of Gemini (i.e. Orion, Auriga, and Canis Major), this may be the origin of the myth of the cattle of Geryon, which forms one of The Twelve Labours of Heracles.[original research?] When Castor died because he was mortal, Pollux begged his father Zeus to give Castor immortality and he did, by uniting them together in the heavens.
In Babylonian astronomy these stars are known as the Great Twins (MUL.MASH.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL). The Babylonian Twins were regarded as minor gods and were called Meshlamtaea and Lugalirra, meaning respectively 'The One who has arisen from the Underworld' and the 'Mighty King'. Both names can be understood as titles of Nergal, the major Babylonian god of plague and pestilence who was king of the Underworld.[1]
In Chinese astronomy, constellation Gemini were divided in two areas. The areas are:
- The White Tiger of the West (西方白虎, Xī Fāng Bái Hǔ)
- The Vermillion Bird of the South (南方朱雀, Nán Fāng Zhū Què)
Astrology
As of 2008, the Sun appears in the constellation Gemini from June 20 to July 20. In tropical astrology, the Sun is considered to be in the sign Gemini from May 21 to June 20, and in sidereal astrology, from June 16 to July 15.
Gemini as the name
USS Gemini (AP-75) and USS Gemini (PHM-6), both of United States navy ships.
See also
- Geminga, Gemini gamma-ray source
- Gemini (Chinese astronomy)
- IC 444, reflection nebula
- Messier 35 open cluster
References
- ^ Babylonian Star-lore by Gavin White, Solaria Pubs, 2008, page 125
- H. A. Rey, The Stars — A New Way To See Them. Enlarged World-Wide Edition. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1997. ISBN 0-395-24830-2.
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
External links
- The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Gemini
- Astrojan Astronomical Picture Collection: The clickable Gemini
- WikiSky: Gemini constellation
- Ian Ridpath's Star Tales: Gemini
- APOD Pictures of Gemini and Deep Sky Objects:
- A Spring Sky Over Hirsau Abbey
- The Eskimo Nebula from Hubble
- The Medusa Nebula
- Open Star Clusters M35 and NGC 2158
- NGC 2266: Old Cluster in the NGC