Discover the Mysteries of Constellation Capricornus
The constellation Capricornus, also known as the Sea Goat, is a captivating sight in the night sky. It is one of the 88 recognized constellations and is positioned in the southern hemisphere, visible from latitudes ranging from +60° to -90°. Capricornus is one of the zodiac constellations, and its symbol is ♑.
Capricornus is steeped in ancient Greek myths of Pan, the god of shepherds and flocks, and Amalthea, the nymph who nursed Zeus as an infant. According to one popular myth, Pan was scared away by the monster Typhon and jumped into the river, turning his lower body into a fish and his upper body into a goat. This transformation created the hybrid creature known as Capricornus.
With its distinct shape, the Capricornus constellation is fairly easy to find. It is located between the constellations Sagittarius and Aquarius. Look for a group of stars resembling a goat with a fish’s tail. The brightest star in Capricornus is δ Capricorni, a yellow giant star located around 39 light-years away from Earth.
Capricornus is home to several notable deep sky objects, including Messier 30 (M30), a globular cluster discovered by the French astronomer Charles Messier in 1764. M30 is located approximately 28,000 light-years away from Earth and consists of tens of thousands of stars held together by gravity. Observing M30 through a telescope can reveal its stunning ball-like structure.
“Capricornus, with its fascinating mythological background and distinct form, has captured the imagination of countless stargazers throughout history.”