For the rocket, see Aries (rocket)

Aries (♈) is one of the constellations of the zodiac, and its name is Latin for Ram. It lies between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east.

Notable features

Aries' stars are rather faint except for Hamal (α Arietis) and Sharatan (β). Other important stars are Mesarthim (γ₁) and Botein (δ).

Teegarden's star, in Aries, is one of our sun's closest neighbours.

Notable deep sky objects

The few deep sky objects in Aries are very dim. They include the galaxies NGC 697 (northwest of β), NGC 772 (southeast of (β), NGC 972 (in the constellation's northern corner), and NGC 1156 (northwest of δ). it is very difficult to spot.

Mythology

When including fainter stars, visible to the naked eye, the area resembles the head of a ram, having a general herbivore head shape and a spiral horn.

In Greek mythology, this is believed to represent the ram which carried Athamas's son Phrixus and daughter Helle to Colchis to escape their stepmother Ino. Helle fell off into the sea which later became the Hellespont. On reaching safety, Phrixis (rather ungratefully) sacrificed the ram and hung its fleece in the Grove of Ares, where it turned to gold and later became the quest of Jason and the Argonauts. It appears that Babylonians, Greeks, Persians and Egyptians all agreed on the name of the Ram for this constellation.

The main area of the sky constituting the sign of Aries, containing part of Pisces, the Pleiades, and the constellation of Andromeda, may be the origin of the myth of the girdle of Hippolyte, which forms part of The Twelve Labours of Herakles.

Astrology

The astrological sign Aries (March 21–April 19) is associated with the constellation. In some cosmologies, Aries is associated with the classical element Fire, and thus called a fire sign (with Sagittarius and Leo). It is the domicile of Mars and the exaltation of the Sun. It is also one of the four Cardinal signs (along with Libra, Capricorn, and Cancer). Its polar opposite is Libra. Each astrological sign is assigned a part of the body, viewed as the seat of its power. Aries rules the head. The symbol for Aries is the ram. Aries qualities include an aggressively extroverted nature, childlike curiosity and playfulness, resilient innocence, and a restless and wild spirit, but some negative traits are selfishness, agressiveness, bluntness and feistiness.

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