The Capricorn Zodiac Sign
Capricornus The Seagoat

The Capricorn zodiac sign the seagoat, came about when the god Pan
of Greek mythology was fleeing from an attack on the Gods.
As the Gods transformed themselves into various animals to escape,
Pan couldn't decide what animal to become.
When Pan jumped into the river Nile he changed. The lower half
which was under the water took the form of a fish, his upper
half remained above the water and stayed goat-like.
Although known as the seagoat the name Capricornus is actually
Latin for "horn of the goat."
The Tropic Of Capricorn
Right Ascension: 21 hours
Declination: -20 degrees
Visible between latitudes 60 and -90 degrees
Best seen in September (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars:
Prima Giedi (Alpha 1 Cap)
Secunda Giedi (Alpha 2 Cap)
Dabih (Beta Cap)
Nashira (Gamma Cap)
Deneb Algedi (Delta Cap)
Alshat (Nu Cap)
Capricorn is one of the dimmest constellations and has only
globular cluster M30.
Through small telescopes you can see that Alpha1 and Alpha2
are both actually double stars themselves.
Beta Cap can be seen with binoculars or smaller telescopes also.
The capricorn constellation used to contain the winter solstice.
In the southern hemisphere where capricorn is located, this was
actually the summer solstice. Its opposite in the north would be
the Tropic of Cancer.
Due to precession the solstice actually occurs while the sun is
in
the constellation Sagittarius.
The constellation Capricornus is flanked by
Microscopium and Piscis Austrinus to the south, the
constellation Aquarius
to the east and north and the
Aquila constellation
on the northwest border.
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