Fact sheet
- Latin name
- Gemini (Gem)
- Brightest star
- Pollux (β Gem)
- Relative brightness
- 1.16 mag
- Hipparcos catalogue
- HIP 37826
- Area
- 514 deg² (rank: 30 out of 88)
- Right ascension
- 6h 00m 30s to 8h 07m 58s
- Declination
- +9° 48' 35'' to +35° 23' 26''
- Neighbouring constellations
- Lynx, Auriga, Taurus, Orion, Monoceros, Canis Minor, Cancer
Visibility
The constellation Gemini
Gemini is a constellation of the northern hemisphere. It lies on the ecliptic and is therefore one of the zodiac constellations. The ecliptic is the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year. During this time, the sun passes through all the zodiac constellations. From 21 June to 20 July, the sun is in the constellation Gemini. During this time, the constellation cannot be observed because it is in the daytime sky.
The brightest stars of the constellation are Pollux (β Geminorum) and Castor (α Geminorum). They mark the heads of the twins. The star Pollux is an orange giant and is one of the 20 brightest stars in the sky. Castor is the second brightest star of the constellation. On closer inspection, however, Castor is a system of six stars that are grouped into three double stars.
Mythology
Castor and Polydeuces (Latin: Pollux) were twins and were known in Greece as the Dioscuri (sons of Zeus). Their mother was Leda, the queen of Sparta. One day Leda gave in to the charm of Zeus, who visited her in the form of a swan. In the same night, however, she also slept with her husband Tyndareus, the king of Sparta. From these unions Leda gave birth to four children: two by Zeus, who were therefore immortal, and two by her husband. Pollux was a son of Zeus, Castor a son of Tyndareus. The two were inseparable and became excellent fighters. Together they had heroic adventures in the legend of the Argonauts, which, together with the Odyssey and the Iliad, is counted among the great legendary cycles of Greek antiquity. However, Castor died in a quarrel with their cousins. Pollux then asked his father Zeus to allow him to share his immortality with his brother. From then on, they spent their days in turn in Hades, the underworld, and on Mount Olympus, the mountain of the gods. Because of their brotherly love, both were placed in the sky, closely embracing each other and inseparable for eternity.
Astrological significance
People born between 22 May and 21 June are born under the zodiac sign Gemini. Because they understand things very quickly, no problem is too difficult for them. Their urge for action does not allow any routine. In no time at all they have already moved on to the next project. In addition, they are extremely sociable and good with words. They find it easy to captivate the people around them. However, if Gemini is not the centre of attention, they can quickly become very moody.
