What it looks like
Equuleus is a tiny northern constellation, drawn as the head of a foal. It lies immediately west of the Great Square of Pegasus, and although its stars are faint, its position next to bright Pegasus makes it easy to locate. It has been recognised as a separate constellation since the time of Ptolemy.
Brightest stars
Equuleus has no bright stars; its brightest, Kitalpha, sits near magnitude 4.1.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitalpha (α Equulei) | +4.14 | 186 ly | — |
| Delta Equulei | +4.47 | 60 ly | — |
| Gamma Equulei | +4.70 | 115 ly | — |
| Beta Equulei | +5.16 | 360 ly | — |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Equuleus is usually identified with Celeris, the foal given to Castor by Hermes, or with Cyllarus, one of the horses of the Dioscuri.
The little horse
Equuleus is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, and its name means 'little horse' or 'foal' in Latin — the diminutive of equus. Greek tradition identified it with Celeris, the foal given by Hermes to Castor, one of the Dioscuri, or with Cyllarus, the horse of Pollux. It was told that the foal was placed in the sky as a reward for its speed. Because it is so small, Equuleus is sometimes described as the foal that ran away from Pegasus, its larger neighbour.
How to find it
Look just west of the Great Square of Pegasus on autumn evenings — the foal sits between Pegasus and Delphinus.
- Find the Great Square of Pegasus, then look slightly west.
- Kitalpha is the brightest star in the region.
- Best on autumn evenings from both hemispheres.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Equ
- Genitive
- Equulei
- Meaning
- The Little Horse
- Brightest star
- Kitalpha
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 87th
- Best visible
- September
- Declination
- +10°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Pegasus, Delphinus, Aquarius
Deep-sky objects
Equuleus contains few notable deep-sky objects because of its small size and distance from the Milky Way. Its main interest is the bright variable star Gamma Equulei, a well-studied binary system with a chemical peculiarity.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Equuleus look like?
Equuleus is the second-smallest constellation in the sky, known as the Little Horse, sitting just beside the head of Pegasus.
What is the brightest star in Equuleus?
The brightest star in Equuleus is Kitalpha, shining at around magnitude 4.14.
When is Equuleus best visible?
Equuleus is best seen from both hemispheres during September.
What is the story behind Equuleus?
In Greek myth, Equuleus is usually identified with Celeris, the foal given to Castor by Hermes, or with Cyllarus, one of the horses of the Dioscuri.
Which constellations are near Equuleus?
Equuleus borders Pegasus, Delphinus and Aquarius.
Pegasus
Delphinus