What Your Zodiac Constellation Looks Like and What You Should Know About It

Aries – Latin: Aries – is found in the northern hemisphere’s first quadrant and is most clearly visible in November. It has three main stars: Mesarthim, Sheratan, and Hamal. Hamal is the brightest, meaning "sheep" in Arabic, but it’s also sometimes called Elnath, meaning "the one who strikes with its horn". It’s considered the first zodiac constellation because 2,500 years ago, the spring equinox fell here.

Taurus – Latin: Taurus – is a defining winter constellation. It’s so ancient that it was likely known in prehistoric times: scientist Michael Rappenglück suggests a painting in the Lascaux cave, dated around 15,000 BCE, depicts Taurus. This stunning constellation is best seen in winter, with Aldebaran as its brightest star.

In the northern hemisphere’s second quadrant, you’ll find Gemini, named after the twins Castor and Pollux. Pollux is orbited by a planet, while Castor is actually six stars. In Greek mythology, Pollux became immortal, while Castor went to the underworld. Pollux tried to visit his twin in the realm of the dead, so the gods placed them both in the sky.

Cancer – Latin: Cancer – is one of the faintest constellations, making it tricky to spot. Greek mythology says Hera placed the crab in the sky after it was crushed during Heracles’ battle with the Hydra. The Egyptians depicted it as a scarab, symbolizing immortality.

Leo – Latin: Leo – is one of the brightest constellations, made up of many shining stars. Its most notable star is Alpha Leonis, also called Regulus, marking one of the lion’s front paws. This constellation also contains several galaxies and a massive hydrogen-helium cloud known as the Leo Ring.

Virgo – Latin: Virgo – is the second largest constellation, best seen between March and July. Its brightest star is Alpha Virginis, or Spica, the 15th brightest star in the sky. Virgo is a true galaxy cluster, believed to contain up to two thousand galaxies, including our own Milky Way.

Libra – Latin: Libra – is visible in the northern hemisphere from April to July. It’s the only constellation representing an object, not an animal or person: the Babylonians saw it as the scales of judgment over the dead. Though faint and hard to spot, it contains Methuselah, the oldest known star, and its brightest point is Zubenelgenubi.

Scorpio – Latin: Scorpius – is a distinctive summer constellation made up of several bright stars, including Antares, known as the “rival of Mars” for its reddish glow. Mythology tells that Artemis sent the scorpion to kill Orion, which it did, but in the sky, they never meet: Scorpio rises in the east only after Orion has set in the west.

Sagittarius – Latin: Sagittarius, the Centaur – is depicted as half horse, half human, holding a drawn bow. It’s visible in the northern hemisphere from August to October. It consists of seven bright stars, with Kaus Australis as the brightest. This constellation is also famous for hosting the closest supermassive black hole to our solar system.

Capricorn – Latin: Capricornus – is the smallest and one of the oldest constellations, meaning “goat with horns.” Its brightest star is Deneb Algedi. Often shown with a fish tail, this comes from the Greek myth where Pan transformed and grew a fish tail to escape. In Chinese mythology, it’s known as the “Black Tortoise of the North.”

Aquarius – Latin: Aquarius – is a prominent and large constellation, though it doesn’t have very bright stars (the brightest is Sadalsuud, meaning “luckiest of the lucky”). Babylonians saw it as the god Ea, depicted pouring water from an overflowing vase, and in Hindu mythology, it’s called “Kumbha,” meaning water bearer.

Pisces – Latin: Pisces – consists of two fish tied by their tails, which are hard to spot due to faint stars, and is quite large with twenty stars. Christians associate it with Christ, Greek mythology with Aphrodite and Eros, and Romans with Venus and her son Cupid.