Aqulila

Constellations

Aquila

The Eagle

Aquila is a constellation on the celestial equator. Its name is Latin for 'eagle.'

Aquila's brightest star Altair (α Aql) is the twelfth brightest star in the night sky and one of the closest naked-eye stars to Earth at a distance of 17 light-years. Its name comes from the Arabic phrase al-nasr al-tair, meaning "the flying eagle."

Together with Deneb (α Cyg) and Vega (α Lyr), Altair forms the Summer Triangle.

Aquila is one of the 48 original Ptolemaic Constellations. In 132, Roman Emperor Hadrian created a separate constellation Antinous out of the southern stars of Aquila. With the definition of the 88 IAU constellations, Aquila and Antinous were re-merged. Aquila in the Night Sky

This section describes the constellation as it is seen in the night sky.

For myth and star lore about Aquila click here.

For a listing of names of objects within the boundaries of Aquila click here.

Star maps based on map provided by Sea & Sky

The stars of Aquila

Number Desig-
nation Name
Number Desig-
nation Name
1 α Altair
6 λ Al Thalimain
2 γ Tarazed
7 β Alshain
3 ζ Deneb el Okab Australis
8 η Al Mizan II
4 θ Tseen Foo, Al Mizan III
9 ε Deneb el Okab Borealis
5 δ Denebokab, Al Mizan I
10 ι Al Thalimain

The name Al Thalimain (Two Ostriches) is used jointly for λ Aquilae and ι Aquilae.

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