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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Aquila (The Eagle) Constellation

Altitude: 41.8°   Azimuth: 183.4°   Direction: South

Aquila (pronounced ˈækwɪlə) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 34 degrees across the sky) situated close to the celestial equator. As such, it is at least partly visible from both hemispheres in certain times of the year.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The Eagle" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Aql" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Aqil" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Aquilae" (pronounced ˈækwɪliː) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Aquilae (the brightest star of Aquila based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Aquilae (the 23th star in the constellation of Aquila based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Aquila is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 42°.
Available Resources for Aquila

Sky Chart of Aquila Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Aquila constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Aquila in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Aquila Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's Aquila rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 86.6°
Max altitude: 41.9°
Azimuth: 273.4°
Aquila is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations (like Aquila actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Aquila Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Aquila constellation. See also the complete list of 131 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Aquila. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR7557 α Aquilae Altair 0.77 Multiple;
HR7525 γ Aquilae Tarazed 2.72 Double;
HR7235 ζ Aquilae Okab 2.99 Variable; Multiple;
HR7710 θ Aquilae 3.23 Double;
HR7377 δ Aquilae 3.36 Variable; Multiple;
HR7236 λ Aquilae 3.44
HR7602 β Aquilae Alshain 3.71 Variable; Multiple;
HR7570 η Aquilae 3.9 Variable;
HR7193 12 Aquilae 4.02 Variable;
HR7176 ε Aquilae 4.02 Multiple;
HR7884 71 Aquilae 4.32 Variable; Double;
HR7447 ι Aquilae 4.36 Variable; Double;
HR7429 μ Aquilae 4.45 Variable; Multiple;
HR7387 ν Aquilae 4.66 Variable; Double;
HR7595 ξ Aquilae Libertas 4.71
HR7873 70 Aquilae 4.89
HR7831 69 Aquilae 4.91
HR7446 κ Aquilae 4.95 Variable;
HR7724 ρ Aquilae 4.95
HR7333 26 Aquilae 5.01 Double;
...go to the complete list of 131 bright stars in the constellation of Aquila

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Aquila Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Aquila constellation. See also the complete list of 44 deep sky objects in the constellation of Aquila. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 6709 Open Cluster 6.7 (V)
NGC 6755 Open Cluster 7.5 (V)
NGC 6738 Association of Stars 8.3 (V)
NGC 6760 Globular Cluster 9.78 (V)
NGC 6790 Planetary Nebula 10.5 (V)
NGC 6756 Open Cluster 10.6 (V)
NGC 6803 Planetary Nebula 11.4 (V)
NGC 6781 Planetary Nebula 11.4 (V)
NGC 6741 (Phantom Streak Nebula) Planetary Nebula 11.5 (V)
IC 4846 Planetary Nebula 11.9 (V)
NGC 6751 Planetary Nebula 11.9 (V)
NGC 6804 Planetary Nebula 12 (V)
NGC 6807 Planetary Nebula 12 (V)
NGC 6778 Planetary Nebula 12.3 (V)
NGC 6749 Globular Cluster 12.4 (V)
NGC 6852 Planetary Nebula 12.6 (V)
NGC 6772 Planetary Nebula 12.7 (V)
NGC 6941 Galaxy 13.3 (B)
NGC 6915 Galaxy 13.77 (B)
NGC 6926 Galaxy 13.87 (V)
...go to the complete list of 44 deep sky objects in the constellation of Aquila