How to Identify the February Zodiac Constellation Aquarius

The constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer represents the eleventh sign of the Zodiac. It is one of the oldest constellations recognized by the ancients. It takes a sharp eye to find Aquarius, and an even sharper one to make out its shape in the heavens. Here is how to find Aquarius and identify it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Wait for a dark autumn evening. Aquarius is comprised of very dim stars and is hard to find on even the darkest of nights. If the moon is out or you go outside at dusk, you have little chance of identifying Aquarius.

2. Find the Great Square of Pegasus first. The Great Square is a staple of the autumn night sky. It rises in the east in northern latitudes and can be plainly seen. It comes up like a giant kite or baseball diamond and is, of course, in the shape of a huge square. Aquarius is to the east, or the right, of this shape.

3. Look at the area to the right of what would be first base if the Great Square were a baseball diamond. If you have a keen eye and a clear view of this space, you will see what looks like a small triangle with a star not quite in the center. This is the head and arms of Aquarius, which is supposed to be a man pouring water from a great jar. Other constellations that border Aquarius include Capricornus and Aquila the Eagle. Aquila contains the bright star Altair. If the Great Square is one corner of a triangle, with Altair as another, then Aquarius is in the vicinity of what would complete the triangle.

4. Glance downwards from this triangle and try to make out the "legs" of Aquarius. The Water Bearer is bowlegged for sure. The legs branch out underneath him like a pair of parenthesis. The stars that make them up are not bright by any means, but if you have the right conditions you will see them and be able to discern their shape.

5. 
   Modern Interpretation of Aquarius

   The brightest star in Aquarius is just to the right of the triangle that forms his head and arms. It is estimated to be almost 100 times larger than our own sun. There are now more modern and alternative connections of the stars in Aquarius. In the modern version of the February Zodiac constellation, that particular star is located in the neck of the Water Bearer. The newer way astromomers connect the stars in this region does look like a man with a water jug, but the stars they connect are so faint it is difficult to jump to that conclusion.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the planets to find Aquarius. On occasions when one of the planets is "in" Aquarius, you will have a much better chance of finding it. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn all travel though the Zodiac constellations and eventually wind up in Aquarius. When they do, it will be much easier to find the heavenly Water Bearer.