Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/75

Rh brightest being λ Aquarii. The regent of the asterism was Varuna, the god of the waters.

The Arab lunar station or manzil known as "the felicity of tents" was also located in this region of the heavens, and the early Christians saw in this constellation the figure of St. Jude.

Aquarius, in spite of the importance attached to it by the ancients, is an inconspicuous constellation. It is characterised by a "Y"-shaped figure representing the water-jar, composed of the stars γ, ζ, η, π Aquarii. This figure was called Situla or Urna by the Latins. A rough map of South America and a rude dipper are also to be traced out in the stars of this constellation.

Alpha Aquarii is but one degree south of the celestial equator. It was called "Sadalmelik" by the Arabs, which means "the fortunate star of the king." This star marks the Chinese lunar station or Sieu, which they knew as "Goei."

The star Beta Aquarii was called by the Arabs "Sadal Sud," "the luckiest of the lucky," a title supposed to refer to the good fortune attending the passing of winter. This star and ξ Aquarii constituted the Persian lunar station known as "Bunda." On the Euphrates Beta Aquarii was known as the "star of mighty destiny."

The star Delta Aquarii marks the radiant point of the meteors known as the Delta Aquarids which appear from the 27th to the 29th of July, and in this vicinity Mayer, in 1756, noted as a fixed star the object that was later identified by Sir William Herschel as the planet Uranus.

ξ Aquarii is a double, the two suns revolving in 1624 years. They present a fine sight in a small telescope.