Capricornus
Capricorn (Capricorni)
Capricornus, the Sea-Goat, is one of the oldest recognized constellations, dating back to Babylonian times. It depicts a mythological creature with the head and forelegs of a goat and the tail of a fish. The constellation marks an important celestial point: the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S latitude) was named because the Sun was in this constellation at the December solstice 2,000 years ago.
📜 Mythology
Capricornus is most commonly associated with Pan, the Greek god of the wild, shepherds, and flocks. According to myth, during a feast of the gods, the monster Typhon suddenly attacked. The terrified gods transformed themselves into various animals to escape. Pan, leaping into the Nile to flee, transformed his lower half into a fish while his upper half remained a goat - becoming a sea-goat. Zeus found this transformation so amusing that he commemorated it in the stars.
💡 Facts
- ✦The Tropic of Capricorn was named when the Sun appeared in this constellation at the December solstice
- ✦Alpha Capricorni (Algedi) is a naked-eye double star, easily split without optical aid
- ✦The globular cluster M30 underwent core collapse and contains some of the oldest known stars