Page:Field Book of Stars.djvu/98

 PISCES (pis'ēz)— THE FISHES. (Face Southeast.)

—This constellation is represented by two fishes each with a ribbon tied to its tail. One, the Northern Fish, lies just below (β) Andromedæ,—the other, represented by the circlet, is just below ../Pegasus/. The ribbons, represented by streams of faint stars, form a "V" with elongated sides, and terminate in the star Al Rischa, The Knot.

Below (ω), and to the east of (λ) the spot marked (*) is the place which the sun occupies at the time of the equinox. It is one of the two crossing places of the equinoctial, or equator of the heavens, and the ecliptic or sun's path.

Below Pisces is ../Cetus/, the Whale.

Pisces is thought to have taken its name from its coincidence with the sun during the rainy season.

Three distinct conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn took place in this constellation in the year 747 of Rome.

Pisces was considered the national constellation of the Jews, as well as a tribal symbol.

In 1881, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus were grouped together in Pisces.

The Circlet is a very striking group forming a pentagon. Binoculars reveals two faint stars in addition, making the figure seven-sided or elliptical in form. 76