Constellation Sagittarius (Archer)
Date:
Southern hemisphere
Summer
Archer
Sagittarius
The Archer (lat. Sagittarius) is the southernmost of the twelve Signs of the Zodiac. With an area of 867 square degrees, it is the fifteenth largest constellation in the sky. In December, the winter solstice takes place here.
How to spot Sagittarius
Sagittarius is best seen in the southern hemisphere in summer, especially in May and June. The many bright stars form a complex figure in the sky. Among others the constellation is located between Capricornus, Corona Australis, Scorpius and Aquila.
Mythology
For the mythological origin of the constellation, there are different versions and representations. Some equated Sagittarius with the Centaurus Cheiron, while others saw him as Krotos, the son of Pan and Eupheme. He was considered the inventor of archery and a great artist. Overall, the interpretations are controversial, but ultimately the image of a centaur with bow and arrow prevailed.
Interesting Facts
Sagittarius belongs to the 48 constellations of antiquity, but the first mention of the constellation already took place in the time of the Sumerians. They saw in it the mythical creature "Girtablulu", which had a human torso, but the abdomen and tail of a scorpion. With the description of the zodiac signs, however, this constellation was later divided into Scorpius (Girtab) and Sagittarius (Pa).