Constellation | |
Abbreviation | Equ |
---|---|
Genitive | Equulei |
Pronunciation | /ɪˈkwuːliəs/ Equúleus, genitive /ɪˈkwuːliaɪ/ |
Symbolism | the pony |
Right ascension | 20h 56m 10.9212s–21h 26m 20.0331s[1] |
Declination | 13.0390635°–2.4773185°[1] |
Quadrant | NQ4 |
Area | 72 sq. deg. (87th) |
Main stars | 3 |
Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 10 |
Stars with planets | 2 |
Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 0 |
Brightest star | α Equ (Kitalpha) (3.92m) |
Messier objects | 0 |
Meteor showers | 0 |
Bordering constellations | Aquarius Delphinus Pegasus |
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −80°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of September. |
Equuleus is a faint constellation located just north of the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for "little horse", a foal. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It is the second smallest of the modern constellations (after Crux), spanning only 72 square degrees. It is also very faint, having no stars brighter than the fourth magnitude.