You can track down one of the zodiac’s fainter constellations this week. Aries, the ram, lies between Taurus to the east and Pisces to the west. In the northern hemisphere, it is situated at its best during the deep winter months.
Aries is an ancient constellation. It was originally designated by the early Babylonians as a hired hand who tended fields, but became recognised as a ram and has remained so in most sky cultures. To the Egyptians, it was Amun-Ra, the ram-headed god of creativity and fertility. In Greek myth, Aries is associated with the golden fleece that Jason and the Argonauts sought.
The constellation contains only two brighter stars, Hamal and Sheratan. They are situated close to one another and so most people’s first recognition of the ram begins with these two stars. Even so, they are dimmer than the most obvious stars in the night sky, and so often some help is needed. This week, the moon provides that assistance.
The chart shows the view looking south from London at 8pm GMT on 29 December. On this night, our natural satellite will be a handy signpost with 72% of its visible surface illuminated. From the southern hemisphere, look towards the north-west as the sun sets.
