Gemini
For other uses, see Gemini (disambiguation) Constellation|name = Gemini |abbreviation = Gem |genitive = Geminorum |symbology = the
Twins |RA = 7 |dec= 20 |areatotal = 514 |arearank = 30th |numberstars = 4 |starname =
Pollux (β Gem) |starmagnitude = 1.1 |meteorshowers =
*
Geminids*
Rho Geminids |bordering =
*
Lynx*
Auriga*
Taurus*
Orion*
Monoceros*
Canis Minor*
Cancer |latmax = 90 |latmin = 60 |month = February |notes=}}
Gemini (
Latin for
twins, symbol
,
Unicode ♊) is one of the
constellations of the
zodiac. It is part of the winter sky, lying between
Taurus to the west and the dim
Cancer to the east, with
Auriga and the near-invisible
Lynx to the north and
Monoceros and
Canis Minor to the south. The
Gemini program is named for it.
The brightest deep sky object of Gemini is
M35, an open cluster of 5th magnitude, 2800 light-years from earth. It is northwest of η Geminorum, near the western edge of the constellation.
Since this constellation is easily viewable as two parallel stick figures [
1], considering faint stars visible to the naked eye, it was associated with the myth of
Castor and Polydeuces (also known as the
Dioscuri). A myth of these twins heavily concerns
cattle theft, and may be connected to early views of the
Milky Way, as a herd of
dairy cows or cattle, by which they are situated.
The orientation of the constellation can vary (since they readily form stick figures whether leaning right or left), though the twins are usually viewed as left leaning. However, when right leaning, one of the twins resides 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. In this situation, together with the area of the sky that is deserted (now considered as the new and extremely faint constellations
Camelopardalis and
Lynx), and 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
Herakles.
Astrology
The Western
astrological sign of
Gemini forms part of the
tropical zodiac (
May 21 -
June 20) and of the
sidereal zodiac (
June 15 -
July 16). Note that according to the
IAU, the sun enters the constellation at
June 21 and leaves it at
July 21, however, these dates are based on the currently defined borders of Gemini which were purely drawn for navigational purposes without consideration for use by astrology.
In tropical astrology it is associated with the decorated floral profusion of late spring and early summer. In sidereal astrology it is associated with the constellation Gemini and the
Greek myth of
Castor (or Kastor) and Pollux.
Gemini is associated with the
classical element Air, and thus called an Air Sign (with
Libra and
Aquarius). It is also one of the four
mutable signs (along with
Virgo,
Sagittarius, and
Pisces). Its polar opposite is
Sagittarius. It is the
domicile of
Mercury. Each astrological sign is assigned a part of the body, viewed as the seat of its power. Gemini rules the nervous system, the lungs, the hands and arms. The symbol for Gemini is the
twins. Gemini are communicators of the
Zodiac. They are also the nonconformists of the
Zodiac.
|
Diagram of an alternate way to connect the stars of the Gemini constellation. A pair of twins are shown holding hands. |
The stars of the constellation Gemini can be connected in an alternative way, which graphically shows a pair of twins holding hands.
The twin to the right is Castor, whose brightest star is
alpha Geminorum (more commonly called Castor), is of the second magnitude, and represents Castor's head. The twin to the left is Pollux, whose brightest star is
beta Geminorum (more commonly called Pollux), is of the first magnitude, and represents Pollux's head.
Pollux's torso is represented by star
upsilon Geminorum, Pollux's right hand by
iota Geminorum, Pollux's left hand by
kappa Geminorum: all three of these stars are of the fourth magnitude.
Pollux's pelvis is represented by star
delta Geminorum, Pollux's right knee by
zeta Geminorum, Pollux's right foot by
gamma Geminorum, Pollux's left knee by
lambda Geminorum, and Pollux's left foot by
xi 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
tau Geminorum, Castor's left hand by
iota Geminorum (which he shares with Pollux), Castor's right hand by
theta Geminorum: all three of these stars are of the fourth magnitude.
Castor's pelvis is represented by the star
epsilon Geminorum, Castor's left foot by
nu Geminorum, and Castor's right foot by
mu Geminorum and
eta Geminorum: epsilon, mu, and eta Geminorum are of the third magnitude.
Reference
* H. A. Rey,
The Stars — A New Way To See Them. Enlarged World-Wide Edition. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1997. ISBN 0-395-24830-2.
:Stars with proper names::*
Castor (66/α Gem) – sextuple 1.98, 2.88
Castor or
Al-Ras al-Taum al-Muqadim:*: < The head of the foremost twin
*
Pollux (78/β Gem) 1.16
Pollux or
Al-Ras al-Taum al-Mu'ahar:*: < The head of the second twin
* (
24/γ Gem) 1.93
Alhena or
Almeisan:*: < ?
al-han'ah The brand (on the neck of a camel):*: < ?
al-maisan The shining one
* (
55/δ Gem) 3.50
Wasat [
Wesat]:*: < وسط السما
wasaţ as-samā Middle of the sky
* (
27/ε Gem) 3.06
Mebsuta [
Melucta, Meboula]:*: < المبسوطة
al-mabsūţa[h] The outstretched (paw of Leo)
* (
43/ζ Gem) 4.01
Mekbuda:*: < المقبوضة
al-maqbūđ̧a[h] The pulled in (paw)
* (
7/η Gem) 3.31
Propus [
Praepes] or
Tejat Prior:*: < πρόπους The fore foot
* (
60/ι Gem) (or
Propus, see
η Gem) 3.78:* (
13/μ Gem) 2.87
Tejat Posterior or
Nuhatai or
Calx or
Pish Pai* (
31/ξ Gem) 3.35
Alzirr:*: < الزر
az-zarr/az-zir*
1 Gem (or
Propus, see
η Gem) 4.16
Stars with Bayer designations:::
34/θ Gem 3.60;
77/κ Gem 3.57;
54/λ Gem 3.58;
18/ν Gem 4.13;
71/ο Gem 4.89;
80/π Gem 5.14;
62/ρ Gem 4.16;
75/σ Gem 4.23;
46/τ Gem 4.41;
69/υ Gem 4.06;
χ Gem 4.94;
83/φ Gem 4.97;
42/ω Gem 5.20;
65/b Gem 5.01;
76/c Gem 5.30;
36/d Gem 5.28;
38/e Gem 4.73;
74/f Gem 5.04;
81/g Gem 4.89;
57/A Gem 5.04:Stars with Flamsteed designations:::
2 Gem 6.67;
3 Gem 5.75;
4 Gem 6.88;
5 Gem 5.83;
6/BU Gem 6.51;
8 Gem 6.09;
9 Gem 6.24;
10 Gem 6.58;
11 Gem 6.91;
12 Gem 6.95;
15 Gem 6.54;
15 Gem 9.21;
16 Gem 6.22;
19 Gem 6.38;
20 Gem 6.26;
23 Gem 6.73;
25 Gem 6.45;
26 Gem 5.20;
28 Gem 5.42;
30 Gem 4.49;
32 Gem 6.47;
33 Gem 5.87;
35 Gem 5.68;
37 Gem 5.74 – nearby;
39 Gem 6.20;
40 Gem 6.40;
41 Gem 5.73;
44 Gem 6.00;
45 Gem 5.47;
47 Gem 5.75;
48 Gem 5.85;
49 Gem 7.06;
51 Gem 5.07;
52 Gem 5.84;
53 Gem 5.75;
56 Gem 5.09;
58 Gem 6.17;
59 Gem 5.77;
61 Gem 5.94;
63 Gem 5.20;
64 Gem 5.07;
68 Gem 5.27;
70 Gem 5.58;
79 Gem 6.53;
82 Gem 6.18;
85 Gem 5.38
*
The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Gemini*
The clickable Gemini
