Aquarius

Water Jar

Aquarius water jar

common observer pattern · high confidence

A small Y-shaped jar near the celestial equator marks the water-bearer's stream. It is subtle but satisfying once the bright summer stars have moved west.

Central RA: 22^h 26^m 07.9^s
Central Dec: −01° 19′ 30″
Brightest member: V 3.84
Best months from 50°N: September–December evenings
Suggested instrument: naked-eye
Approx. span: 9.4°

Finder context

Use the nearby bright stars to locate the gold box, then move to the larger chart for the pattern itself.

Framing: Approximate member-star span: 9.4°; use at least 13.2° field for context.

Observing and imaging

Naked eye

Start with the unaided eye. Suburban skies usually show the main stars.

Binoculars

Binoculars are optional: use them to check colours, nearby doubles, or richer Milky Way background.

Small scope

A telescope is usually too narrow for the whole shape; use it after the pattern has guided you to a target.

Imaging

Frame a 13° field around Aquarius to include the pattern and its nearby stars.

Tonight from your latitude

Set your location and date to see a useful window, peak altitude, sky visibility, and Moon conditions. Use Month to compare the season ahead.

Latitude 50°NLongitude -114°Date Month Sky darkness Bortle 4 · limit V 6.1

Naked-eye visibility by sky class

Bortle class rates night-sky brightness. The atlas counts a pattern as recognisable when at least 70% of its defining stars are visible.

Bortle 3: 6/6 stars — fully visibleBortle 5: 6/6 stars — fully visibleBortle 7: 5/6 stars — partial

Moon impact

For 50°N in the best month, green dates mark at least two hours with the pattern above 20° and the Moon below the horizon.

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Member stars

Name	Bayer / Flamsteed	HR	RA J2000	Dec J2000	V mag
48Gam Aqr	48Gam Aqr	HR 8518	22^h 21^m 39.4^s	−01° 23′ 14″	3.84
Eta Aquarii	62Eta Aqr	HR 8597	22^h 35^m 21.4^s	−00° 07′ 03″	4.02
43The Aqr	43The Aqr	HR 8499	22^h 16^m 50.0^s	−07° 46′ 60″	4.16
Zeta² Aquarii	55Zet2Aqr	HR 8559	22^h 28^m 50.1^s	−00° 01′ 12″	4.42
Zeta¹ Aquarii	55Zet1Aqr	HR 8558	22^h 28^m 49.7^s	−00° 01′ 13″	4.59
52Pi Aqr	52Pi Aqr	HR 8539	22^h 25^m 16.6^s	+01° 22′ 39″	4.66

Source and confidence

common observer pattern; high confidence. A commonly used constellation-part or seasonal guide pattern.

Citations

Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed.: Hoffleit, D. & Warren, W.H. Jr. (1991). Positions, V magnitudes, Bayer/Flamsteed identifiers. source
Star Tales: Ridpath, I. Constellation and asterism notes used to cross-check common sky-pattern names. source
The Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues: ESA SP-1200 (1997). Used as the modern astrometric reference named by the atlas; the MVP pages expose BSC5 J2000 fields for the plotted bright-star members.