Because the sun appears in front of Pisces the Fishes during the March equinox, it is frequently referred to as the first zodiac constellation. The time between successive March equinoxes is commonly considered one tropical year. In this view, the March equinox signals the start of a new year. That’s why Pisces, which stands in front of the sun on the March equinox, is commonly regarded as the zodiac’s beginning point.
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When can I see the constellation Pisces?
The sun passes in front of the constellation Pisces every year from roughly March 12 to April 19. From April 19 to May 14, the sun will pass in front of the constellation Aries.
Of course, spotting Pisces in March and April is difficult because the constellation is obscured by the sun’s brightness. Instead, observing Pisces in the evening sky during a Northern Hemisphere fall (or Southern Hemisphere spring) say, November is a good idea.
Pisces reaches its nighttime peak at around 10 p.m. local standard time in early November and around 8 p.m. in early December, as observed from around the world.
To observe this pretty dim constellation swimming in what the early stargazers regarded to be a watery section of the lore-laden heavens, you’ll need a dark country sky. Pisces is located to the northeast of the Water Bearer constellation Aquarius and to the northwest of the Sea-monster constellation Cetus.
Fortunately, the signpost known as the Great Square of Pegasus, as seen on the sky chart below, can be used to quickly locate Pisces. To the south of the Square of Pegasus, look for the Circlet of Pisces, also known as the Western Fish’s Head. After you’ve caught the Western Fish, move on to the Eastern Fish, which is leaping upward to the east of the Pegasus Square. The entire constellation resembles the letter V, a very beautiful and lovely V. Al Risha is the constellation’s Alpha star (but not the brightest). By the way, the Eastern Fish looks to be sinking downward when viewed from the northern tropics or the Southern Hemisphere.
Pisces’ lone Messier object
Within Pisces’ limits, there can only be one Messier object a fuzzy object that looks like a comet but is actually a star cluster, nebula, or galaxy. Messier 74 is a face-on spiral galaxy believed to be 35 million light-years away. This Messier object in the constellation Pisces is frequently overlooked during the month of March, when it is technically feasible but difficult to see all of the Messier objects in one night.
Messier 74 is notoriously difficult to catch during the yearly Messier Marathons in March and/or April for two reasons. Messier 74 appears low in the western sky at sunset at that time of year, and then swiftly fades out of view. Furthermore, because this distant galaxy has a very low surface brightness, good seeing conditions are essential for capturing Messier 74. A huge telescope isn’t required as much as a dark, transparent sky.
However, the months around November are ideal for spotting Messier 74, a faint galaxy. On a dark, clear moonless night, try it with your eyes closed.
Pisces in mythology and star lore
The Greek and Roman versions of Pisces’ sky lore appeared to have originated in Syria, where fish were considered sacred. It’s unclear if the ancient Syrians abstained from eating fish completely or only ate fish from the Chalos River (presently called the Queiq or Aleppo River).
Atagartis, the Syrian goddess of love and fertility, is frequently depicted as half lady, half fish.
She is supposed to be the mother of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess, and Venus, the Roman goddess.
According to Greek legend, Aphrodite (the Roman Venus) and her son Eros (the Roman Cupid) were going to be devoured by the fire-breathing monster Typhon, so they transformed into fish and plunged into the Euphrates River to make a great escape. To keep from getting separated in the raging waters, mother and son bound themselves together with a cord.
How long is the Age of Pisces?
We’ll continue to live in the Age of Pisces as long as the sun shines in front of this constellation on the March equinox, according to some definitions. Despite the fact that the sun hasn’t appeared in front of the constellation Aries on the equinox in over 2,000 years, the March equinox point is still known as the First Point in Aries.
If we adopt the International Astronomical Union’s constellation borders, the Age of Pisces began in 68 B.C. and the Age of Aquarius will begin in 2597.
However, there are many other points of view on this, some of which are discussed in this post:
When does the Aquarius Age begin?
When is Pisces visible in the sky?
locating Pisces The constellation Pisces is most visible in October and November, as well as late September evenings. Pisces is best viewed in a dark country sky since its stars are quite dim. Pisces is part of a larger constellation cluster that includes Pegasus, Andromeda, Aries, and Triangulum.
Pisces is the number one constellation.
- In his 2nd century Almagest, the Greco-Roman astronomer Ptolemy included Pisces among the first 48 constellations he catalogued.
- Pisces is the 14th largest constellation in the sky, spanning 889 square degrees, and is one of the 88 modern constellations.
- The constellation Pisces is related with the fable of Aphrodite and her son Eros, who were either saved by two fishes or transformed into fishes to escape the demon Typhon.
- The spiral galaxy Messier 74 is the sole Messier item in the constellation Pisces.
- The Piscids are the only prominent meteor shower connected with Pisces.
- Alpherg, a G-type evolved massive star, is the brightest star in Pisces. The apparent magnitude of this star is +3.611.
- Alpherg has a companion star, a young star of magnitude 7.51, circling it.
- Apart from its brightest star, Van Maanen’s star, Alrescha, Fumalsamakah, Delta Piscium, Epsilon Piscium, Revati, Torcular, Omega Piscium, and Gamma Piscium are all fascinating stars in Pisces.
- Apart from the aforementioned Messier item, the colliding galaxies NGC 520, the spiral galaxy NGC 488, the CL 0024+1654 galaxy cluster, the radio galaxy 3C 31, the Pisces Dwarf Galaxy, or the CGCG 436-030 spiral galaxy are among the many deep-sky objects visible in Pisces.
- November is the greatest month to see stars and deep-sky objects in Pisces.
Pisces is derived from a combination of the Babylonian constellations Sinutu4 the big swallow in current western Pisces and Anunitum the Lady of the Heaven in current northern Pisces.
Pisces is typically associated with the Greek legend of Aphrodite and her son Eros, who either transformed into fishes to avoid the Titans’ monster Typhon or were saved by two fishes.
Venus and Cupid, the Roman equivalents of Aphrodite and Eros, are carried away from danger on the backs of two fishes in the Roman version of the narrative.
If I was born in March, what constellation am I?
March newborns are classified as Pisces if they were born between March 1 and 20, and Aries if they were born between March 21 and the end of the month.
Is Pisces visible in the Northern Hemisphere?
The constellation Pisces is located in the Northern Hemisphere’s first quadrant (NQ1), covering an area of 889 square degrees. The Pisces constellation’s large V-shaped section and dim stars make it difficult to see in the night sky.
What is the Pisces symbol?
The water sign Pisces is the zodiac’s final constellation. Two fish swimming in opposite directions are used to depict Pisces’ continual divide of attention between fantasy and reality. As the last sign, Pisces has absorbed all of the lessons gained by the other signs, including the pleasures and sorrows, hopes and anxieties. This makes these fish the astrological wheel’s most intuitive, empathic, and caring creatures. Pisces can easily be devoured by emotions because to their high sensitivity, therefore they must remember to stay grounded in the material realm (appropriately, Pisces rules the feet).
Is March 20th Aries or Pisces?
Pisces is the zodiac sign for March 20. On this day, the Pisces zodiac sign terminates its reign, hence those born under the sign of Pisces have their birthday on the “cusp” between seasons. On March 21, the Aries season officially begins.
Are you unsure of your zodiac sign, star sign, or sun sign? We offer a detailed birth chart (natal chart) that will tell you everything about your zodiac sign.
The Pisces-Aries Cusp
The Pisces-Aries cusp, which falls on the 20th, is a day when both Pisces and Aries birthdays can be celebrated. This birthday represents the start of the “interval” between seasons, a time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished in the previous season while also anticipating what’s to come in the next. It’s now or never to tie up any loose ends and plan the following steps.
If you were born on March 20, you were born under the sign of the water element. This zodiac sign is characterized by sensitive, empathetic people with exceptional intuition and inventiveness. Dreams, inventiveness, and self-sacrifice are all associated with Pisces.
Pisces are peaceful and kind-hearted people, but if something goes wrong in their lives, they can quickly become overwhelmed by their own emotions. They are compassionate and giving people who go out of their way to help others, even if it means putting themselves in danger. Pisces are wonderful painters, writers, and musicians because of their inventive nature. They are also often the driving force behind any company enterprise they launch.
Because Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, it is physiologically programmed to hold on to feelings longer than other zodiac signs. They are also emotionally mature, making them excellent at keeping secrets and dealing with difficult emotions.
Pisces people, on the other hand, might be quite trusting due to their caring nature. They allow others to take advantage of them, which is a negative trait to have in a leadership position. The sensitivity of Pisces to criticism might make them unhappy and aggressive. Because of their inclination to hold on to things longer than the other zodiac signs, Pisces can take a long time to recuperate from emotional baggage.
Are March babies intelligent?
Smartness is a quality that all parents desire in their children, and your March baby will undoubtedly possess it! March babies are intelligent, and no one will be able to trick them. This month’s babies will be incredibly intuitive, meaning they’ll be able to detect anyone planning against them and be ready to return the favor! They don’t approve of deception, and it will only serve to strengthen them.