Equuleus facts for kids
| Constellation | |
List of stars in Equuleus
|
|
| Abbreviation | Equ |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Equulei |
| Pronunciation | Equúleus, genitive |
| Symbolism | the pony |
| Right ascension | 21 |
| Declination | +10 |
| Quadrant | NQ4 |
| Area | 72 sq. deg. (87th) |
| Main stars | 3 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
10 |
| Stars with planets | 2 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | None |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | None |
| Brightest star | α Equ (Kitalpha) (3.92m) |
| Messier objects | None |
| Meteor showers | None |
| Bordering constellations |
Aquarius Delphinus Pegasus |
| Visible at latitudes between +90° and −80°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of September. |
|
Equuleus is a small constellation found in the northern sky. Its name comes from Latin and means "little horse" or "pony." It is one of the smallest constellations you can see.
Contents
What is Equuleus?
Equuleus is the second smallest constellation in the night sky. Only Crux, the Southern Cross, is smaller. Equuleus covers an area of 72 square degrees. This makes it the 87th largest constellation overall.
It is located in the northern part of the sky. You can find it near other famous constellations. These include Aquarius, Delphinus, and Pegasus.
Stars of Equuleus
Equuleus does not have many bright stars. Its brightest star is called Alpha Equulei. It is also known by its traditional name, Kitalpha. Kitalpha means "the section of the horse" in Arabic.
This star has a brightness of 3.92 magnitude. This means it is not one of the brightest stars you can easily spot. The constellation has only three main stars that form its shape. There are about ten stars that are visible to the naked eye under good conditions.
Finding Equuleus
The best time to look for Equuleus is during September. It is located close to the much larger and brighter constellation Pegasus. You can often find Equuleus by first locating the "Great Square of Pegasus."
Once you find Pegasus, look to its west. Equuleus will appear as a small group of faint stars. It might look like a small triangle or a bent line. You will need a dark sky away from city lights to see it well.
History of Equuleus
Equuleus is one of the 48 constellations listed by the ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy. He wrote about it in his book Almagest in the 2nd century AD. This shows that people have known about this little horse in the sky for a very long time.
In mythology, Equuleus is sometimes linked to Celeris. Celeris was the winged foal of the famous horse Pegasus. Other stories connect it to Hippe, a daughter of the centaur Chiron. She turned into a horse to hide from her father.
Images for kids
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The constellation Equuleus, color and contrast enhanced.
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Seen in Urania's Mirror (1825)
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See also
In Spanish: Equuleus para niños
