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A Complete Guide to the Solar System and the Night Sky
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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 5:39  
clear_day Transit: 12:56  
SunsetSet: 20:14
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Aries (The Ram) Constellation

Altitude: 50.3°   Azimuth: 127.0°   Direction: South-East

Aries (pronounced ˈɛər(i)iːz) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 31 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 Ram" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Ari" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Arie" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Arietis" (pronounced əˈraɪ.ɪtɪs) 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 Arietis (the brightest star of Aries based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Arietis (the 23th star in the constellation of Aries based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Aries is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 50°.
Available Resources for Aries

Sky Chart of Aries Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Aries constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Aries 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 Aries Constellation

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

Today's Aries 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: 68.8°
Max altitude: 59.7°
Azimuth: 291.2°
Aries 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 Aries actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Aries Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Aries constellation. See also the complete list of 83 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Aries. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR617 α Arietis Hamal 2 Variable;
HR553 β Arietis Sheratan 2.64 Variable;
HR838 41 Arietis Bharani 3.63 Variable; Multiple;
HR951 δ Arietis Botein 4.35 Variable;
HR999 4.47
HR824 39 Arietis Lilii Borea 4.51
HR888 ε Arietis 4.63 Variable; Multiple;
HR801 35 Arietis 4.66
HR546 γ2 Arietis Mesarthim 4.75 Variable; Multiple;
HR569 λ Arietis 4.79 Variable; Multiple;
HR545 γ1 Arietis 4.83 Variable; Multiple;
HR972 ζ Arietis 4.89
HR623 14 Arietis 4.98 Multiple;
HR613 κ Arietis 5.03
HR1015 τ2 Arietis 5.09
HR563 ι Arietis 5.1
HR812 38 Arietis 5.18 Variable;
HR836 π Arietis 5.22 Variable; Multiple;
HR646 η Arietis 5.27
HR1005 τ1 Arietis 5.28 Multiple;
...go to the complete list of 83 bright stars in the constellation of Aries

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

Deep Sky Objects in Aries Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Aries constellation. See also the complete list of 151 deep sky objects in the constellation of Aries. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
NGC 772 Galaxy 10.31 (V)
NGC 821 Galaxy 11.31 (V)
NGC 1156 Galaxy 11.74 (V)
NGC 972 Galaxy 12.1 (B)
NGC 877 Galaxy 12.5 (B)
NGC 674 Galaxy 12.7 (B)
NGC 935 Galaxy 12.82 (V)
NGC 976 Galaxy 12.9 (B)
NGC 680 Galaxy 13 (B)
NGC 1012 Galaxy 13.1 (B)
NGC 1029 Galaxy 13.11 (V)
NGC 1134 Galaxy 13.2 (B)
NGC 678 Galaxy 13.3 (B)
NGC 673 Galaxy 13.3 (B)
NGC 776 Galaxy 13.4 (B)
NGC 770 Galaxy 13.49 (V)
NGC 803 Galaxy 13.5 (B)
NGC 992 Galaxy 13.5 (B)
NGC 691 Galaxy 13.5 (B)
NGC 1056 Galaxy 13.5 (B)
...go to the complete list of 151 deep sky objects in the constellation of Aries