CAPRICORN

Capricornus, often referred to as the “horned goat,” is among the constellations of the zodiac. Its name originates from Latin and signifies “horned goat” or “goat horn,” describing the creature as having features resembling those of a goat with horns. This celestial constellation is commonly depicted as a sea goat, an imaginary being that combines the traits of a goat and a fish.

Capricornus holds its place among the 88 modern constellations and was also part of the list of 48 constellations documented by the 2nd-century astronomer Claudius Ptolemy. Its former astronomical symbol is ♑︎. Within its contemporary boundaries, it shares borders with Aquila, Sagittarius, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus, and Aquarius. Situated within the region of the sky known as the Sea or the Water, Capricornus finds itself alongside several water-themed constellations, including Aquarius, Pisces, and Eridanus. Remarkably, it stands as the smallest constellation within the zodiac.

Mythology

Despite its dim appearance, the constellation Capricornus boasts one of the most ancient mythological connections. Dating back to the Middle Bronze Age, it has consistently been depicted as a fusion of a goat and a fish. During this period, the Babylonians utilized the symbol “MULSUḪUR.MAŠ” to represent “The Goat-Fish,” associating it with their deity Ea.

In Greek mythology, this constellation is occasionally linked to Amalthea, the nurturing goat that fed the infant Zeus after he was saved by his mother, Rhea, from being devoured by his father, Cronos. The broken horn of Amalthea was said to have transformed into the cornucopia, symbolizing the “horn of plenty.”

Furthermore, Capricornus is sometimes identified with Pan, the deity characterized by goat horns and legs. According to legend, Pan eluded the monster Typhon by giving himself a fish’s tail and plunging into a river.

History

The constellation Capricornus made its first appearance in depictions on a cylinder seal around the 21st century BCE. It was officially documented in Babylonian star catalogues prior to 1000 BCE. During the Early Bronze Age, the winter solstice was situated within this constellation. However, due to the precession of the equinoxes, the December solstice has shifted to occur in the constellation Sagittarius. In the present day, the Sun appears in the constellation Capricorn (distinct from the astrological sign) from late January to mid-February.

Even though the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere no longer aligns with the Sun in the constellation Capricornus, as it did until 130 BCE, the astrological sign Capricorn is still utilized to indicate the position of the solstice. Additionally, the latitude where the Sun reaches its southernmost point is known as the Tropic of Capricorn, a term that also refers to the line on Earth where the Sun is directly overhead at local noon on the day of the December solstice.

The planet Neptune was discovered by German astronomer Johann Galle in the vicinity of Deneb Algedi (δ Capricorni) on September 23, 1846. Capricornus can be best observed from Europe at 4:00 AM in September, although, according to modern constellation boundaries established in the early 20th century CE, Neptune was within the boundaries of Aquarius at the time of its discovery.

Visualizations

The brighter stars of Capricornus align in a triangular pattern defined by α2 Capricorni (Giedi), δ Capricorni (Deneb Algiedi), and ω Capricorni. Ptolemy’s star-connecting method has had a significant influence on depicting Capricornus. Traditionally, Capricornus is represented as a goat with the tail of a fish, but H. A. Rey proposed an alternative visualization that illustrates a goat more explicitly.

In Rey’s alternative depiction, the goat’s head is formed by the stars ι Cap, θ Cap, and ζ Cap, while the goat’s horn extends from stars γ Cap to δ Cap, with δ Cap being a third-magnitude star at the horn’s tip. The goat’s tail includes stars β Cap and α2 Cap, with β Cap being a third-magnitude star. Completing the image, the goat’s hind foot is represented by stars ψ Cap and ω Cap, both of which are fourth-magnitude stars.