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The northerly - sky configuration of Gemini is one of the original constellation list by Ptolemy in the second C , as well as one of the 12zodiac constellations .

The tidings " Twins " means Gemini the Twins in Latin ; the configuration is tie in with the Greek mythic twinsCastorandPollux , for whom two of thestarsin the configuration are name , fit in toBritannica . ( Castor is not in reality a unmarried sensation , but a organization of six principal that are so close together , they come along as one . )

graphic illustration of the gemini constellation in the night sky.

The Gemini constellation is anchored by dual stars Castor and Pollux

In other ancient astrological traditions , the twins are symbolize by pairs of butt or Inachis io , or for other famous mythological twins like Remus and Romulus .

Gemini is also recognise for lending its name toNASA ’s Gemini programme , so - name for its two - person ballistic capsule , as well as for its Gemingapulsar , alone for emitting primarilygamma raysinstead of X - rays or visible light , according to NASA .

Beyond Castor and Pollux , there are eight other name star in the Gemini constellation , according to theskywatching website Constellation Guide , and legion deep - sky aim to observe through telescopes . Plus , the beamy point of the winterGeminid meteor showeris in the constellation .

graphic illustration of the gemini constellation with main stars Castor and Pollux labelled.

Gemini is a constellation high in the winter sky and contains a number of interesting observing targets.

Where is the Gemini constellation?

Gemini takes up 514 square degrees of the northern hemisphere ’s 2nd quarter-circle , according to Constellation Guide , induce it the thirtieth magnanimous constellation . It ’s best view in the winter months from the Northern Hemisphere .

you could find Gemini environ by the constellation ofAuriga , Orion , Monoceros , Canis Minor , Cancer , and Lynx . The easy way to spot Gemini is to locateOrion ’s Belt , then follow the parentage fromRigel(Orion ’s correct foot and brightest virtuoso ) , through the rap , and up towardsBetelgeuse(Orion ’s left shoulder ) . go on that production line , and you ’ll eventually spot Castor and Pollux .

Gemini observing targets

Gemini is full of targets for observation , both " near " and far . If you ’re looking to gear up for a stargazing academic term , read our guide to thebest telescopesandbest binoculars .

Related : Nox sky : What you’re able to see tonight [ map ]

Jargon buster

colorful orange clouds of gas a dust sweep across the stellar scene.

Medusa Nebula captured by ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile.

Magnitude : Magnitude is a step of how shining an object appears fromEarth ; the lower an object ’s magnitude , the brighter it is . Magnitude can even be measured in negative numbers , which argue higher level of brightness than overconfident numbers .

Right ascension ( RA):Right rise can be moot the sky ’s version of longitude onEarth . It covers the east - west direction and is appraise in hours , minute and s . It ’s used in conjunction with declination to aid astronomers place celestial objects .

downslope ( Dec):Declination is corresponding to latitude on Earth . It measures an objective ’s locating in the north - Confederate States direction in degrees , minute and arcsecond ( there are 60 arcseconds in an arcmin , 60 arcmins in a degree ) .

meteors streak down through the star studded sky above a lone tree silhouetted against the starry sky.

The Geminid meteor shower can produce over one hundred meteors per hour. In this photograph, the Geminid meteor shower is seen above the Kubuqi Desert of Inner Mongolia, China on Dec. 13, 2020.

Castor

Magnitude : 1.58

Approximate distance from Earth:51 light - years

Location:7h 34 m twenty-five ( right rise ) , +31 ° 53'18"(declination )

an illustration of stars in the night sky

Using a scope , you may zoom in on Castor to distinctly see at least two , sometimes three , of the six lead that make up the organisation , according to theMilwaukee Astronomical Society . imposingly , each of these three stars is actually a double star , though the individual sensation are unmanageable to discern without a very high - powered scope .

Messier 35 (NGC 2168)

order of magnitude : 5.3

rough distance from Earth:2,800 light - age

Location:6h 8 m 54s ( right ascension ) , +24 ° 20'19 " ( downslope )

a starry night sky above a lake, with the silhouette of a mountain range extending from left to right across the background

Messier 35 is anopen clusterof more than 500 principal that are loosely gravitationally bound . The cluster takes up an country of the sky that ’s about the same size as thefull moon , consort to theEuropean Southern Observatory .

Medusa Nebula (Abell 21)

order of magnitude : 15.99

Approximate aloofness from Earth:1,500 light - years

Location:7h 29 G 3s ( right Ascension of Christ ) , +13 ° 14'48 " ( declension )

Night sky map

The faintMedusa Nebulawas strike by astronomer George O. Abell in 1955 , according toAstronomy Trek . The world-wide nebula , which formed when ared whale startransitioned into awhite midget , is approximately four light - years across .

NGC 2392

Magnitude : 9.9

Approximate distance from Earth:5,000 light - years

Location:7h 29 m 11s ( right ascension ) , +20 ° 54'42 " ( fall )

graphic with night sky in large font and silhouettes of people below looking up at the night sky.

NGC 2392 has a fantastic spherical shape . The planetarynebulais known by several byname , the most famous of which is no longer used due to its discriminatory nature ; you may read more about the nickname in aNASA affirmation .

Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443)

Magnitude : 12

Location:6h 17 m 13s ( good ascending ) , +22 ° 31'5 " ( declination )

TheJellyfish Nebulais a 70 - light - year - all-embracing remnant of asupernovathat is estimate to be between 3,000 and 30,000 days old , perAstronomy Trek .

The open star cluster NGC 460 is located within a greater collection of nebulae and star clusters known as N83, within one of the Milky Way’s nearest neighbors: the Small Magellanic Cloud.

Geminid meteor shower

TheGeminid meteor showeris one of the most prolificmeteor showersof the yr , with a charge per unit of 120meteorsper hour during its peak , harmonise to NASA . The shower take place between Nov. 19 and Dec. 24 with a flower around Dec. 14 . Though the shower grow from the debris trail of asteroid3200 Phaethon , its radiant item ( that is , the point from which the meteors seem to emanate ) , is in the configuration Gemini .

Mythology

caster and Polydeuces , or Pollux in Latin , were twin Brother in Greek mythology born to Queen Leda of Sparta and two fathers : King Tyndareus of Sparta and the god Zeus . As such , Castor was deadly and Pollux was immortal , according to the Chandra X - ray Observatory . The inseparable duo was known as the Dioscuri . During a inherited dispute ( or perhaps in battle ) , Castor was killed , but Pollux shared his immortality with his brother so that they could be together forever .

Gemini constellation FAQs answered by an expert

We ask Mike Reed , an uranologist and a distinguished professor in the Department of Physics , Astronomy and Materials at Missouri State University , a few frequently ask question about the Gemini constellation .

Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics , Astronomy and Materials at Missouri State University .

During July , thesunis justly in the eye of Gemini , so it can not be view at nighttime . Being a star sign of the zodiac , Gemini will travel across the sky to the Confederate States of America as the Earth twist , for those of us northerly of the Tropic of Cancer . It is between Cancer and Orion / Taurus , with the horns ofTauruspointing to it and being above Orion ’s head .

An illustration of two glowing stars overlapping.

How can you find the Gemini constellation?

Look for it in the gloam and wintertime . Gemini has two burnished principal , which are named Castor and Pollux , twin of Greek mythology . The lead lay out the center of the Gemini with their foot just dangle in theMilky Way . Pollux ’s good human foot is the whiz Alhena , a bright star right in line of business between the even brighter stars Pollux and red Betelgeuse in Orion .

How many stars are in the Gemini constellation?

Even in shiny locations , if you may see stars , you ’re potential to be able-bodied to see Castor and Pollux . From a reasonably dark-skinned site , you’re able to see about a dozen star , which make the twins appear as stick shape hold handwriting . The two bright stars Castor and Pollux are the eyes of the twin , but interestingly , Castor is actually six star topology so removed they come along as one . It has two bright ones and four very dim I , all gravitationally bound and jaunt together . Being close in the sky to the Milky Way , Gemini has several open adept cluster and nebulae .

Additional resources

take thestory behind the names of the Gemini twinsfrom theChandra X - Ray Observatory . Learn about thetwin stars Castor and Polluxfrom NASA . Watch avideo about the Geminid meteor showerby the Museum of Science , Boston .

Bibliography

bass - Sky Objects in Gemini . Astronomy Trek . recollect July 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.astronomytrek.com/deep-sky-objects-in-gemini/

Geminga . Britannica . find July 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.britannica.com/place/Geminga

Gemini . Britannica . recollect July 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.britannica.com/place/Gemini-constellation-and-astrological-sign

stalks of corn rise from the bottom, stretching halfway up the image, before a vast dark sky of stars.

Gemini Constellation . Constellation Guide . Retrieved July 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/gemini-constellation/

Geminids . NASA . Retrieved July 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/geminids/in-depth/

Messier 35 – A cluster of whizz . European Southern Observatory . retrieve July 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.eso.org/public/italy/images/b10/?lang

the sun shines through a blue cloudy sky over stonehenge surrounded by rolling grassy fields

NASA to review Nicknames for Cosmic Objects . NASA . Retrieved July 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-to-reexamine-nicknames-for-cosmic-objects

Stargazing Gemini the Twins . Milwaukee Astronomical Society . Retrieved July 9 , 2023 , fromhttps://milwaukeeastro.org/Stargazing/gemini.asp

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