Description: Aquarius is comparatively faint constellation of the Zodiac, the part of the sky that intersects with the ecliptic (the plane defined by the Earth's path around the Sun). Hence, from Earth, we can regularly find the Sun and also planets, in the constellation Aquarius. In the case of the Sun this occurs from late February to early March (at that time, of course, we cannot see the constellation's stars). Aquarius is one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union, but goes back much further – it was already one of the 48 constellations named by the 2nd century astronomer Claudius Ptolemy.

Related Terms:

• Constellation
• Ecliptic
• Zodiac

Term and definition status: This term and its definition have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher

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