What it looks like
Capricornus is a relatively faint zodiac constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere, drawn as a creature with the front half of a goat and the tail of a fish. Its brightest stars form a wide triangle or arrowhead shape.
Brightest stars
Capricornus has no first-magnitude stars; its brightest, Deneb Algedi, sits just under magnitude 3.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deneb Algedi (δ Capricorni) | +2.85 | 39 ly | Tail of the Goat |
| Algedi (α Capricorni) | +3.57 | 106 ly | The Kid |
| Dabih (β Capricorni) | +3.05 | 328 ly | The Slaughterer |
| Nashira (γ Capricorni) | +3.69 | 139 ly | Bringer of Good News |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Capricornus represents Pan, the goat-legged god who leapt into the Nile to escape the monster Typhon, turning his lower half into a fish.
Pan and Typhon
When the monster Typhon stormed Olympus, the gods fled in disguise. Pan jumped into the Nile, and the part of him above water became a goat while the submerged half became a fish. Zeus placed this hybrid figure among the stars. Some traditions instead identify Capricornus with Amalthea, the goat who nursed the infant Zeus.
Babylonian roots
Babylonian astronomers recorded a goat-fish figure in this region as early as 2000 BC, associated with the god Ea, who brought civilisation and wisdom from the sea.
How to find it
Look for a wide triangle of faint stars low in the southern sky on late summer and autumn evenings, between Aquarius and Sagittarius.
- Find the triangle formed by Algedi, Dabih and Deneb Algedi.
- Look beneath Aquarius and east of Sagittarius.
- Best on late summer evenings from the southern hemisphere and low northern latitudes.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Cap
- Genitive
- Capricorni
- Meaning
- The Sea Goat
- Brightest star
- Deneb Algedi
- Main stars
- 9
- Area rank
- 40th
- Best visible
- September
- Declination
- -20°
- Meteor showers
- Alpha Capricornids, Chi Capricornids
- Neighbours
- Aquarius, Aquila, Sagittarius, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus
Deep-sky objects
Capricornus contains M30, a compact globular cluster about 28,000 light-years away. The constellation lies away from the Milky Way's plane, so it is rich in distant galaxies rather than nebulae.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Capricornus look like?
Capricornus is a zodiac constellation known as the Sea Goat, a faint triangular pattern of stars in the southern celestial hemisphere.
What is the brightest star in Capricornus?
The brightest star in Capricornus is Deneb Algedi, shining at around magnitude 2.85.
When is Capricornus best visible?
Capricornus is best seen from southern hemisphere during September.
What is the story behind Capricornus?
In Greek myth, Capricornus represents Pan, the goat-legged god who leapt into the Nile to escape the monster Typhon, turning his lower half into a fish.
Which constellations are near Capricornus?
Capricornus borders Aquarius, Aquila, Sagittarius, Microscopium and Piscis Austrinus.
Sagittarius
Aquarius