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Aquarius constellation

Aquarius is a zodiac constellation near the celestial equator. Its brightest star is Sadalsuud. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Autumnbest seen
  • Sadalsuudbrightest star, magnitude 2.9
  • AqrAquarius
Show on the sky map
The constellation Aquarius in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Deneb Algedi, Capricornus — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapSadalsuud, Aquarius — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapSadalsuudSadalmelik, Aquarius — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapSadalmelikSkat, Aquarius — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky mapSkatSadaltager, Aquarius — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapc² Aquarii — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapHydor, Aquarius — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapAlbali, Aquarius — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapSadachbia, Aquarius — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapb¹ Aquarii — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapη Aquarii — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapτ² Aquarii — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapAncha, Aquarius — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapφ Aquarii — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapψ¹ Aquarii — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapι Aquarii — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapb² Aquarii — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapψ² Aquarii — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapk Aquarii — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapc¹ Aquarii — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapω² Aquarii — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapAlbulaan, Aquarius — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Aquarius

Use its brightest star as a guide: Sadalsuud (magnitude 2.9). In September around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 31°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgrises and sets, fully visible

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Sadalsuudβ Aquarii 2.9yellow—
Sadalmelikα Aquarii 3.0orange—
Skatδ Aquarii 3.3bluish white—
Sadaltagerζ¹ Aquarii 3.6white—
c² Aquarii 3.7orange—
Hydorλ Aquarii 3.7red—
Albaliε Aquarii 3.8bluish white—
Sadachbiaγ Aquarii 3.9bluish white—
b¹ Aquarii 4.0orange—
η Aquarii 4.0bluish white—
τ² Aquarii 4.0orange—
Anchaθ Aquarii 4.2orange—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Aquarius in the sky?

Use its brightest star as a guide: Sadalsuud (magnitude 2.9). In September around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 31°.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Aquarius?

In autumn: in September around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Aquarius?

Sadalsuud: magnitude 2.9, yellow.

How many stars are there in the constellation Aquarius?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 99 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Autumn constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Aquarius is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map