Facts about Aquila Constellation

1. 08

   During summer nights in the Northern Hemisphere, observers can locate Aquila Constellation by finding its brightest star Altair positioned between the Summer Triangle asterism's three vertices.

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2. 07

   Aquila Constellation spans 652 square degrees across the celestial sphere, making it the 22nd largest constellation visible from Earth.

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3. 06

   At magnitude 2.99, Lambda Aquilae ranks as the third-brightest star visible in Aquila Constellation and lies approximately 129 light-years from Earth.

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4. 05

   Binary star system Zeta Aquilae, located 83 light-years away, consists of two hot blue stars orbiting each other with a period of 65.38 days.

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5. 04

   Aquila Constellation contains Eta Aquilae, a supergiant yellow star that varies in brightness by 1.2 magnitudes over a 7.18-day cycle due to pulsation.

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6. 03

   In 1918, astronomer E.E. Barnard discovered Barnard's Star in Aquila Constellation, the second-closest star system to Earth at 5.96 light-years distance.

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7. 02

   Ancient astronomers named Aquila Constellation after the eagle that carried Zeus's thunderbolts in Greek mythology, appearing in Ptolemy's catalog of 48 constellations around 150 CE.

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8. 01

   The brightest star Altair in Aquila Constellation is approximately 16.7 light-years away and rotates once every 8.9 hours.

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