What it looks like
Aries is a small zodiac constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere, drawn as a ram with a curved horn. Its three brightest stars form an easy-to-spot bent line.
Brightest stars
Aries has one second-magnitude star, Hamal, plus two third-magnitude stars that complete the Ram's head.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamal (α Arietis) | +2.00 | 66 ly | The Ram |
| Sheratan (β Arietis) | +2.64 | 60 ly | The Two Signs |
| Mesarthim (γ Arietis) | +3.86 | 164 ly | — |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Aries is the ram with the Golden Fleece that carried Phrixus to safety across the Hellespont.
The Golden Fleece
The ram was sent by Nephele to rescue her son Phrixus and daughter Helle from their stepmother Ino. Helle fell into the sea and drowned, giving her name to the Hellespont. Phrixus reached Colchis, sacrificed the ram to Zeus, and hung its fleece in a sacred grove — the prize Jason and the Argonauts later sought.
How to find it
Look for a short bent line of stars between the Pleiades and the Great Square of Pegasus, easiest on autumn and winter evenings.
- Find Hamal first — it's the brightest star in the region.
- Follow the line east to Sheratan and Mesarthim to trace the Ram's head.
- Use the Great Square of Pegasus as a pointer to the west.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Ari
- Genitive
- Arietis
- Meaning
- The Ram
- Brightest star
- Hamal
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 39th
- Best visible
- December
- Declination
- +20°
- Meteor showers
- May Arietids, Autumn Arietids, Delta Arietids, Epsilon Arietids, Daytime Arietids
- Neighbours
- Perseus, Triangulum, Pisces, Cetus, Taurus
Deep-sky objects
Aries contains few bright deep-sky objects. NGC 772 is a large spiral galaxy, and NGC 1156 is an irregular dwarf galaxy.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Aries look like?
Aries is a zodiac constellation known as the Ram, marked by a short crooked line of three bright stars: Hamal, Sheratan and Mesarthim.
What is the brightest star in Aries?
The brightest star in Aries is Hamal, shining at around magnitude 2.00.
When is Aries best visible?
Aries is best seen from both hemispheres during December.
What is the story behind Aries?
In Greek myth, Aries is the ram with the Golden Fleece that carried Phrixus to safety across the Hellespont.
Which constellations are near Aries?
Aries borders Perseus, Triangulum, Pisces, Cetus and Taurus.
Pisces
Taurus