This week we offer a wonderful view of the constellation Aquila, the Eagle. According to Greek mythology, Aquila is the bird that carried Zeus’ thunderbolt (or Jupiter’s, if you prefer Roman mythology).
It is one of the 48 constellations originally recorded by the astronomer Ptolemy in the second century, and now forms one of the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) officially recognized 88 constellations.
The brightest star in the constellation is Altair. It is notable because it is one of the closest stars to Earth that can be seen with the naked eye. Located at a distance of about 17 light-years, there are numerous other stars closer, but they are mostly faint red dwarfs that require telescopes to bring them into view.
Altair forms part of the asterism known as the Summer Triangle, which is completed by the stars Vega in Lyra, the lyre, and Deneb in the constellation Cygnus, the swan.
With Tarazed and Alshain, Altair marks the eagle’s tail feathers and body. The wings extend to both sides and the tail culminates in the star Al Thalimain Prior.
The chart shows the view looking south from London all week. Aquila, which lies over the celestial equator, is easily visible from both the northern and southern hemispheres.
