:''For other uses see [[Aquarius (disambiguation)]]''
{{Infobox Constellation
| name = Aquarius
| abbreviation = Aqr
| genitive = Aquarii
| symbology = the Water-bearer
| RA = 23
| dec= −15
| areatotal = 980
| arearank = 10th
| numbermainstars = 10, 22
| numberbfstars = 90
| numberstarsplanets = 5
| numberbrightstars = 2
| numbernearbystars = 4
| brighteststarname = [[Beta Aquarii|β Aqr]] (Sadalsuud)
| starmagnitude = 2.9
| neareststarname = [[EZ Aquarii|EZ Aqr]]
| stardistance = 11.3
| numbermessierobjects = 3
| meteorshowers = [[March Aquarids]]<br />[[Eta Aquarids]]<br />[[Delta Aquarids]]<br />[[Iota Aquarids]]
| bordering = [[Pisces (constellation)|Pisces]]<br />[[Pegasus (constellation)|Pegasus]]<br />[[Equuleus]]<br />[[Delphinus]]<br />[[Aquila (constellation)|Aquila]]<br />[[Capricornus]]<br />[[Piscis Austrinus]]<br />[[Sculptor (constellation)|Sculptor]]<br />[[Cetus]]
| latmax = 65
| latmin = 90
| month = October
| notes=
}}
'''Aquarius''' ({{pronEng|əˈkwɛəriəs}}, {{lang-la|[[water]]-bearer ''or'' cup-bearer}}) is the eleventh sign of the [[zodiac]], situated between [[Capricornus]] and [[Pisces]]. Its symbol is ([[Image:Aquarius.svg|20px]]), {{Unicode|Unicode ♒}}, representing part of a stream of water.
Aquarius is one of the oldest recognized constellations along the [[zodiac]], the sun's apparent path. It is found in a region often called the [[Sea (astronomy)|Sea]] due to its profusion of watery constellations such as [[Cetus]], [[Pisces (constellation)|Pisces]], [[Eridanus (constellation)|Eridanus]], etc. Sometimes, the river Eridanus is depicted spilling from Aquarius' watering pot.
==Notable planetary systems==
* [[Gliese 876]] is the first [[planetary system]] found around the [[red dwarf]] star. The planetary system has three planets, including one [[terrestrial planet]] 6-8 times the mass of Earth.
* [[91 Aquarii b]] is a planet found around the [[orange giant]] star. The mass is 2.9 times [[Jupiter]] and the semimajor axis of 0.3 AU.
* [[Gliese 849|Gliese 849 b]] is the first long-period Jupiter-like planet found around the red dwarf star. The semimajor axis is 2.35 AU and has mass of 0.82 Jupiter.
==Notable deep sky objects==
There are three [[deep sky object]]s that are on the [[Messier object|Messier catalog]]: the globular clusters [[Messier 2]], [[Messier 72]], and the open cluster [[Messier 73]].
Two well-known [[planetary nebula]]e are located in Aquarius: the [[Saturn Nebula]] (NGC 7009), to the southwest of [[Eta Aquarii|η Aquarii]]; and the famous [[Helix Nebula]] (NGC 7293), southwest of [[δ Aquarii]].
==Mythology==
The best-known myth identifies Aquarius with [[Ganymede (mythology)|Ganymede]], a beautiful youth with whom [[Zeus]] fell in love, and whom he (in the disguise of an eagle, represented as the constellation [[Aquila (constellation)|Aquila]]) carried off to [[Mount Olympus (Mountain)|Olympus]] to be cup bearer to the gods. [[Crater (constellation)|Crater]] is sometimes identified as his cup.
Aquarius generally resembles the figure of a man, and when considering fainter humanly visible stars, it takes on the image of a man with a bucket from which is pouring a stream. Aquarius was also identified as the pourer of the waters which flooded the earth in the [[Deluge (mythology)|Great Flood]], in the [[Greek mythology|ancient Greek version]] of the myth. As such, the constellation [[Eridanus (constellation)|Eridanus]] was sometimes identified as being a river poured out by Aquarius.
It may also, together with the constellation [[Pegasus (constellation)|Pegasus]], be part of the origin of the myth of the [[Mares of Diomedes]], which forms one of [[The Twelve Labours]] of [[Heracles]]. Its association with pouring out rivers, and the nearby constellation of [[Capricornus]], may be the source of the myth of the [[Augean stable]], which forms another of the labours.
===Astrology===
{{main|Aquarius (astrology)}}
The Western [[astrological sign]] Aquarius of the [[tropical zodiac]] ([[January 20]]/[[January 21|21]]–[[February 18]]/[[February 19|19]])<ref>Depending on the source, the dates are either from January 21 to February 19, or from January 20 to February 18</ref> differs from the astronomical constellation and the Hindu astrological sign of the [[Sidereal astrology|sidereal zodiac]] ([[February 16]]–[[March 11]]).
Individuals born under the Aquarius sign are, by western astrologers, thought to have a creative, progressive (sometimes rebellious), and independent character.
<!-- Fa'n trot, som man säger på svenska! -->
According to astrology-inspired [[New Age]] mythology, and according to the gospel of The 5th Dimension, we're now living in the Age of Aquarius. Each Age is 2000 years long, approximately, with the Precession of the Equinoxes marking the beginning and end of each Age.
==Alternative visualization==
[[Image:Aquarius constellation map visualization.PNG|thumb|300px|right|Diagram of an alternate way to connect the stars of the Aquarius constellation. The water bearer is shown running while holding a vessel and spilling some water out of that vessel.]]
The stars of the constellation Aquarius can be connected in an alternative way, which graphically shows the water bearer running while holding a vessel from which water is spilling.
The water bearer's head is formed by the [[quadrilateral|quadrangle]] of barney [[Alpha Aquarii|α Aqr]], [[Gamma Aquarii|γ Aqr]], [[Eta Aquarii|η Aqr]], and [[Pi Aquarii|π Aqr]]: α Aqr being of the third magnitude. Star [[Zeta Aquarii|ζ Aqr]], lodged within the quadrangle, represents an eye.
The water bearer's torso is formed by the stars α Aqr and [[Beta Aquarii|β Aqr]], with β Aqr being of the third magnitude.
The water bearer's left leg is formed by the stars β Aqr and [[Iota Aquarii|ι Aqr]], whereas his right leg is formed by the stars β Aqr, [[Nu Aquarii|ν Aqr]], [[Mu Aquarii|μ Aqr]], and [[Epsilon Aquarii|ε Aqr]], with these last two stars representing a foot.
The water bearer's arm is formed by the stars α Aqr, [[Theta Aquarii|θ Aqr]], and [[Lambda Aquarii|λ Aqr]], with λ Aqr being the hand.
The water bearer is holding a vessel, perhaps a jar, which is formed by the stars [[Psi1 Aquarii|ψ¹ Aqr]], [[Phi Aquarii|φ Aqr]], λ Aqr, [[Tau Aquarii|τ Aqr]], and [[Delta Aquarii|δ Aqr]]. The open top of the vessel consists of the triangle of stars ψ¹ Aqr, φ Aqr, and λ Aqr.
Water is being poured from the vessel in a pair of streamlines. The streamline on the left is formed by the stars ψ¹ Aqr, [[98 Aquarii|98 Aqr]], [[99 Aquarii|99 Aqr]], and [[101 Aquarii|101 Aqr]]. The streamline on the right is formed by the stars ψ¹ Aqr, [[88 Aquarii|88 Aqr]], [[89 Aquarii|89 Aqr]], and [[86 Aquarii|86 Aqr]].
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==See also==
*[[List of stars in Aquarius]]
==Notes==
<references />
==References==
* {{1911}}
* Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). ''Stars and Planets Guide'', Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
* H. A. Rey, ''The Stars — A New Way To See Them''. Enlarged World-Wide Edition. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1997. ISBN 0-395-24830-2.
==External links==
{{Commons|Aquarius}}
* [http://www.allthesky.com/constellations/aquarius/ The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Aquarius]
* [http://www.nightskyinfo.com/constellations/aquarius/ NightSkyInfo.com: Constellation Aquarius]
* [http://www.wikisky.org/?object=Aquarius&zoom=2 '''WIKISKY.ORG''': Aquarius constellation]
* [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/aquarius.htm Star Tales – Aquarius]
{{Zodiac}}
{{navconstel}}
[[Category:Aquarius constellation| ]]
[[Category:Constellations]]
[[Category:Western astrology]]
[[be:Сузор'е Вадаліў]]
[[bg:Водолей (съзвездие)]]
[[ca:Aquari (constel·lació)]]
[[cs:Vodnář (souhvězdí)]]
[[da:Vandmanden (stjernebillede)]]
[[de:Wassermann (Sternbild)]]
[[el:Υδροχόος (αστερισμός)]]
[[es:Acuario (constelación)]]
[[eo:Akvisto]]
[[fr:Verseau]]
[[ga:An tUisceadóir]]
[[ko:물병자리]]
[[hr:Vodenjak (zviježđe)]]
[[id:Aquarius]]
[[it:Aquario (costellazione)]]
[[he:מזל דלי]]
[[ka:მერწყული (თანავარსკვლავედი)]]
[[la:Aquarius (sidus)]]
[[lb:Aquarius (Stärebild)]]
[[lt:Vandenis]]
[[nl:Waterman]]
[[ja:みずがめ座]]
[[nn:Vassmannen]]
[[pl:Wodnik (gwiazdozbiór)]]
[[pt:Aquarius]]
[[ro:Vărsătorul (constelaţie)]]
[[qu:Mikikiray]]
[[ru:Водолей (созвездие)]]
[[sk:Súhvezdie Vodnár]]
[[sv:Vattumannen]]
[[th:กลุ่มดาวคนแบกหม้อน้ำ]]
[[vi:Bảo Bình (chòm sao)]]
[[tr:Aquarius (takımyıldız)]]
[[uk:Водолій (сузір'я)]]
[[zh:寶瓶座]]