Aquila

Aquila is a Latin term meaning "the eagle" that is used for several subjects in astronomy and biology. The best known uses are as the name of a northern constellation and as the genus of large eagles in the family Accipitridae.

Aquila as a constellation: Located along the Milky Way in the northern sky, Aquila is one of the 88 modern constellations. Its name, from Latin, refers to the eagle. The bright star Altair (Alpha Aquilae) marks the most prominent point, with a mean apparent magnitude around 0.77; other bright stars include Tarazed (Gamma Aquilae) and Alshain (Beta Aquilae). The constellation is best seen in summer evenings from mid-northern latitudes and lies near the Summer Triangle asterism formed by Altair, Vega, and Deneb. Aquila lies along the Milky Way and contains a number of deep-sky objects and dark lanes, including the Aquila Rift, a prominent dark nebula complex. In antiquity, Aquila was listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest and has since been incorporated into modern IAU boundaries.

Aquila as a genus of birds: Aquila is a genus of large raptors within the family Accipitridae. It includes species such as the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), and Verreaux's eagle (Aquila verreauxii); other species include the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) in Australia. These birds are found across Europe, Asia, Africa, and parts of North America. They are diurnal hunters, feeding on small mammals, birds, and carrion; they nest on cliffs or trees and exhibit strong territorial behavior. Conservation status varies by species and region, with some populations declining due to habitat loss and human conflict.