Sagitta - The Arrow

Last Updated May 29, 2023 by . First Published in 2012.

Sagitta - The Arrow

Learn about the constellation Sagitta - The Arrow, location, facts, mythology, meteor showers and deep space objects.

Sagitta is the third-smallest of all constellations (only Equuleus and Crux are smaller). Ptolemy included it in his list of 48 constellations. At that time, however, it was even smaller, spanning only about 4 sq. deg. It's also on the list of 88 constellations now acknowledged by the IAU.

Location: Northern Summer 19h RA 18° Dec

Being located not very far to the north of the equator, this constellation can be seen from everywhere except for the southernmost part of the world.

Sagitta
Sagitta

Sagitta Mythology

Although Sagitta doesn't contain any bright stars, many cultures have seen an arrow in it [1], among them the Persians, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans. So various stories are trying to explain the meaning of Sagitta. The two most important ones both take into account the neighbouring constellations Hercules, which had in earlier times been identified as a stag, (to the west) and Aquila (to the east).

Sagitta Deep Space Objects

Messier 71 is a very loose globular cluster mistaken for quite some time for a dense open cluster.

Northern Circumpolar
CamelopardalisCassiopeiaCepheusDracoLacertaUrsa Major
Ursa Minor
Northern Spring
AntliaBoötesCancerComa BerenicesCraterHydra
LeoLeo MinorVirgo
Northern Summer
AquilaCorona BorealisCygnusDelphinusEquuleusHercules
LibraLyraOphiuchusSagittaScutumSerpens
Vulpecula
Northern Autumn
AndromedaAquariusAriesCapricornusPegasusPisces
Triangulum
Northern Winter
AurigaCanes VenaticiCanis MajorCanis MinorCetusEridanus
GeminiLepusLynxMonocerosOrionPerseus
Taurus
Southern Constellations
ApusAraCaelumCarinaCentaurusChamaeleon
CircinusColumbaCorona AustralisCorvusCruxDorado
FornaxGrusHorologiumHydrusIndusLupus
MensaMicroscopiumMuscaNormaOctansPavo
PhoenixPictorPiscis AustrinusPuppisPyxisReticulum
SagittariusScorpiusSculptorSextansTelescopiumTriangulum Australe
TucanaVelaVolans

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