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Encyclopedia Definition of: Gemini Gemini For information on the US space program named Gemini see Gemini program. Gemini Gemini constellation. Abbreviation Gem Genitive Geminorum Meaning in English the Twins Right ascension 7 h Declination 20� Visible to latitude Between 90� and -60� Best visible Feburary Area - Total Ranked 30th 514 sq. deg. Number of stars with apparent magnitude < 3 4 Brightest star - Apparent magnitude Pollux (? Gem) 1.1 Meteor showers * Geminids * Rho Geminids Bordering constellations * Lynx * Auriga * Taurus * Orion * Monoceros * Canis Minor * Cancer Gemini (the twins) 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. Contents [showhide] 1 Notable features 2 Notable deep sky objects 3 Mythology 4 Astrology Notable features Gemini includes two bright stars, named after the two twins, who correspond to the Dioscuri in Greek mythology - Castor (?), a pretty telescopic binary (actually sextuple), and Pollux (?), which is brighter and more southwesterly. The other stars are relatively dim - only one, Alhena (?) is ever seen from a large city - and trace out a rectangle to the southeast. The planet Pluto was discovered in this constellation in 1930, near the star Wasat (? Geminorum). Notable deep sky objects The brightest deep sky object of Gemini is M35, an open cluster of 5th magnitude, 2 800 light-years from earth. It is northwest of ? Geminorum, near the western edge of the constellation. Mythology Main articles: Castor and Polydeuces This constellation is identified with the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux (or Polydeuces), for whom its brightest stars are also named. These twin brothers were the brothers of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, by Leda. Astrology The astrological sign Gemini (May 21 - June 20) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, 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. Each astrological sign is assigned a part of the body, viewed as the seat of its power. Gemini rules the hands. The symbol for Gemini is the twins. Gemini qualities include a quick mind, silver-tongued eloquence, facility using the hands, and an ability to see many facets of a given issue. Astronomy | Astrology | Constellations of the zodiac Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpius (Ophiuchus) Sagittarius Capricornus Aquarius Pisces Canis Major Canis Major Canis Major constellation. Abbreviation CMa Genitive Canis Majoris Meaning in English the Greater Dog Right ascension 7 h Declination -20� Visible to latitude Between 60� and -90� Best visible February Area - Total Ranked 43th 380 sq. deg. Number of stars with apparent magnitude < 3 5 Brightest star - Apparent magnitude Sirius (? Canis Majoris) -1.46 Meteor showers None Bordering constellations * Monoceros * Lepus * Columba * Puppis Canis Major (the big dog) is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also in Ptolemy's list of 48 constellations. It is said to represent one of the dogs following Orion the hunter (see also the constellations of Orion, Canis Minor, and Canes Venatici.) Canis Major contains Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, and that star is part of the Winter Triangle. Canis Major is also a recently-discovered dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. Notable features Canis Major's alpha star Sirius is the brightest star besides the Sun as seen from Earth. It is also one of the nearest. The star is referred to as the Dog Star; its name Sirius means scorching. Other named stars in Canis Major: * Murzim (? Canis Majoris) * Muliphen (? Canis Majoris) * Wezen (? Canis Majoris) * Adara (? Canis Majoris) * Furud (? Canis Majoris) * Aludra (? Canis Majoris) Notable deep sky objects There aren't many bright deep sky objects in this region of sky. The only Messier object in Canis Major is M41 (NGC 2287), an open cluster of visual magnitude 4.6. It is located about 4 degrees directly south of Sirius. Mythology In early classical days, this constellation represented Laelaps, Acteon's hound; or sometimes the hound of Procris, Diana's nymph; or the one given by Aurora to Cephalus, so famed for its speed that Zeus elevated it to the sky. Most commonly, Canis Major (or perhaps just the star Sirius) is Orion's hunting dog, pursuing Lepus the hare or helping Orion fight Taurus the bull, and is referred to in this way by Aratos, Homer and Hesiod. The ancient Greeks refer only to one dog, but by Roman times, Canis Minor appears as Orion's second dog. Roman myth also refers to Canis Major as Custos Europae, the dog guarding Europa but failing to prevent her abduction by Jupiter in the form of a bull; and as Janitor Lethaeus, the watchdog of Hell. de:Gro�er Hund fi:Iso koira la:Canis Major nl:Canis Major ja:????? Categories: Constellations From WordNet 2.0 : Canis Major : (noun) 1: a constellation southeast of Orion; contains Sirius [syn: Canis Major, Great Dog] From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary Canis \Ca"nis\ (k[a^]"n[i^]s), n.; pl. Canes (-n[=e]z). [L., a dog.] (Zo["o]l.) A genus of carnivorous mammals, of the family Canid[ae], including the dogs and wolves. Canis major [L., larger dog], a constellation to the southeast of Orion, containing Sirius or the Dog Star. Canis minor [L., smaller dog], a constellation to the east of Orion, containing Procyon, a star of the first |
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