Capricornus

Capricornus is a constellation in the southern sky and one of the twelve zodiacal constellations along the path of the Sun. Its name is Latin for “the horned goat” or “sea-goat,” and it is traditionally depicted as a mythical creature with the forepart of a goat and the tail of a fish. The Sun traverses Capricornus as part of the zodiac, placing it in the same band of the sky as other zodiacal signs.

Location and notable stars: Capricornus lies along the ecliptic between the neighboring constellations Aquarius and Sagittarius. It is a relatively faint group of stars, with no very bright naked-eye star. The brightest star in the constellation is Delta Capricorni, commonly known as Deneb Algedi. Other named stars include Beta Capricorni (Dabih) and Gamma Capricorni (Nashira). The constellation also contains numerous fainter stars and a few deep-sky objects identified by observers and surveys.

Astronomy and nomenclature: In modern astronomy, Capricornus is one of the 88 officially recognized constellations. It does not contain prominent asterisms but is part of the zodiac that marks the Sun’s annual journey across the sky. The name Capricorni and related star names reflect traditional Arabic and Greek traditions of naming celestial features.

Mythology and symbolism: In classical mythology, Capricornus is associated with Pan, who was said to have transformed into a sea-goat to escape the monster Typhon. In astrology, the sign of Capricorn corresponds to a period of late December to late January, and is characterized in popular culture by associations with ambition, practicality, and discipline.