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David

Darling

Gemini

Gemini constellation

Gemini. © 2003 Torsten Bronger


Gemini (abbreviation: Gem)is the constellation of the Twins: Pollux fathered by Zeus and divine,and Castor mortal, both placed in the sky to allow them to be together for all time. It is a prominent constellation of the northern hemisphere and the third (and northernmost) of the zodiac. Gemini lies south and east of Auriga, west of Cancer, and north and east of Orion. See below for details of the constellation's brightest stars and interesting deep sky objects.

 

Stars brighter than magnitude 4.0
star vis mag abs mag spec type distance (ly) RA (h m s) Dec (° ' ")
Beta (Pollux) 1.16 1.08 K0IIIb 34 07 45 19 +28 01 34
Alpha (Castor) 1.58 0.58 A2Vm+A1V 52 07 34 36 +31 53 18
Gamma (Alhena) 1.93 -0.61 A0IV 105 06 37 43 +16 23 57
Mu (Tejat Posterior) 2.87 -1.39 M3IIIab 232 06 22 58 +23 30 49
Epsilon (Mebsuta) 3.06 -4.15 G8Ib 904 06 43 56 +25 07 52
Eta (Tejat Prior) 3.31 -1.84 M3IIIab 349 06 22 58 +22 30 49
Xi (Alzirr) 3.35 2.13 F5IV 57 06 45 17 +12 53 44
Delta (Wasat) 3.50 2.22 F0IV 59 07 20 07 +21 58 56
Kappa 3.57 0.35 G8IIIa 144 07 44 27 +24 23 52
Lambda 3.58 1.27 A3V 94 07 18 06 +16 32 25
Theta 3.60 -0.30 A3III 197 06 52 47 +33 57 40
Zeta (Mekbuta) 4.01v -3.77 F7-G3Ib 1,170 07 04 07 +20 34 13
Iota 3.78 0.84 G9IIIb 126 07 25 44 +27 47 53

 

Other objects of interest
name type of object notes
Zeta Gem star One of the brightest Cepheid variables. Magnitude range 3.7 to 4.1; period 10.15 days
U Gem star The prototype U Geminorum star
M35 (NGC 2168) open cluster An outstanding cluster of about 200 stars, visible as a hazy patch with binoculars or a small telescope. Magnitude 5; diameter 28'; RA 06h 08.9m, Dec +24° 20'
Eskimo Nebula planetary nebula NGC 2392. See separate entry

 

Constellations
Andromeda | Antlia | Apus | Aquarius | Aquila | Ara | Aries | Auriga | Bootes | Caelum | Camelopardalis | Cancer | Canes Venatici | Canis Major | Canis Minor | Capricornus | Carina | Cassiopeia | Centaurus | Cepheus | Cetus | Chamaeleon | Circinus | Columba | Coma Berenices | Corona Austrina | Corona Borealis | Corvus | Crater | Crux | Cygnus | Delphinus | Dorado | Draco | Equuleus | Eridanus | Fornax | Gemini | Grus | Hercules | Horologium | Hydra | Hydrus | Indus | Lacerta | Leo | Leo Minor | Lepus | Libra | Lupus | Lynx | Lyra | Mensa | Microscopium | Monoceros | Musca | Norma | Octans | Ophiuchus | Orion | Pavo | Pegasus | Perseus | Phoenix | Pictor | Pisces | Piscis Austrinus | Puppis | Pyxis | Reticulum | Sagitta | Sagittarius | Scorpius | Sculptor | Scutum | Serpens | Sextans | Taurus | Telescopium | Triangulum | Triangulum Australe | Tucana | Ursa Major | Ursa Minor | Vela | Virgo | Volans | Vulpecula