Gemini Constellation | Constellations In The Northern Hemisphere
GEMINI CONSTELLATION – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about the constellation Gemini, the Twins.
It is a constellation in the northern sky. It is the Latin term for “the Twins” and represents by the Dioscuri or the twins Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology.
Dioscuri means “sons of Zeus”. Their mother, the Spartan Queen Leda, was visited by Zeus in the form of a swan. The queen gave birth to Pollux and Helen of Troy, as well as Castor and Clytemnestra.
The twins were also associated with St. Elmo’s fire, which is an electrical phenomenon that occurs during thunderstorms
The two bright stars in the constellation is named after the said twins. It also houses the neutron star Geminga, the open cluster Messier 35, the Eskimo Nebula, the Jellyfish Nebula, and the Medusa Nebula.
The constellation is the 30th largest constellation in size which occupies an area of 514 square degrees. It can be found in NQ2, the second quadrant in the northern hemisphere.
Gemini belongs to the Zodiac family, along with Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius and Pisces.
Stars
Among the stars include:
- Alhena
- Alzirr
- Castor
- Jishui
- Mebsuta
- Mekbuda
- Pollux
- Propus
- Tejat Posterior
- Tejat Prior
- Wasat
- Kappa Geminorum
- Lambda Geminorum
- Tau Geminorum
- U Geminorum
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