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Hellenistic stars
By Joseph Crane ©
2001 - All
Rights Reserved
Table of Fixed Stars in Hellenistic Astrology
This list provides 33 fixed stars that are given specific astrological interpretations within the Hellenistic tradition. To help one prioritize them and assess their astrological influence, this list provides information about location, brightness (magnitude), and what planets may correspond to them. All star positions are given for January 1, 2010
Name/Description
Often we do not have specific names for specific fixed stars but merely a description, e.g.“The bright star at the base of the right horn (of the Ram)” and later tradition will pick up the star name from Arabic. That name (usually the official name) will appear outside the quotes in brackets, e.g. [Hamal]. If a star retains its ancient name, the name will appear within quotations but also in bold.
Constellation
Official name for the constellation will appear, as will the depiction of the star’s magnitude (brightness) among the other stars of that constellation. The brightest star is the “alpha” star – then, descending order, we have beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon.
Magnitude
This allows us to quantify a star’s brightness. Magnitude numbers go in descending order: any star of 3+ would be rather faint in an urban sky, between 1 and 0 would be considered “first magnitude” stars and the closer we get to zero the brighter the star is. You will find that the star Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, has a magnitude of -1.46 – that’s very bright.
Longitude
This is otherwise known as “ecliptical” or “celestial” longitude and is divided into the familiar twelve signs of the zodiac and their divisions into thirty degrees for each sign. What is a star’s closest zodiacal degree on the ecliptic? For the stars in the constellations of the zodiac, these positions will be given first.
Latitude
This is often called “celestial latitude” and measures up and down, north and south, from the ecliptic. If this degree of latitude is great, that star may be physically far away from the circle of the ecliptic. Most planets are only a few degrees north or south of the ecliptic.
Declination
This is also up and down, north and south, not of the ecliptic but the “celestial equator”, an extension of our earthly equator into the sky. A star’s declination will tell us at what latitude on the earth that star will culminate. Stars in constellations not on the ecliptic are listed in descending order from furthest north (+) to furthest south (-). The closer the location is to 00, the closer it is to the equator. (The ecliptic’s declination will range from +23° 26 (at the Tropic of Cancer) to -23°26 (the Tropic of Capricorn).
Right Ascension
This measures a star’s position across the celestial equator. Right ascension begins at the vernal point is give either in degrees hours or in degrees: following our measurement of time and location on earth, 15° of Right Ascension is equal to one hour of time; a position at the place of the autumn equinox will be 180° or 12 hours. This list gives degree and hour measurements.
Listing for the stars in the zodiac begin with ecliptical positions; for stars outside the zodiac, we begin with equatorial measurements of declination and right ascension.
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N)
These values will be given for all stars but are traditionally used for star positions outside the zodiacal constellations. What degree of the zodiac rises when the star rises? Because the rising degree is sensitive to latitude, I use two locations here. Some of the results may be striking, because a star to the north and a distant star to the south can rise at the same time along the eastern horizon.
Co-culminate (anywhere)
Fortunately the degree of the zodiac that culminates with a particular star does not change with location. This is also useful for star positions outside the zodiacal constellations.
Planetary Nature
This seems to have been the most important interpretative consideration and they give us a way to assess a star’s influence upon an astrological chart. Texts from Anonymous of 397 and Rhetorius are very similar, but that of Ptolemy contains significant differences. I note by (Pt) where Ptolemy’s listing is different from either or both of the other two sources.
Stars in Constellations of the Zodiac
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Aries 2.00
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
07w49 09N58 + 23° 31 31°56//2:07:46
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 04w12
17q 28q
Planetary Nature: Mars, Saturn (Pt)
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Taurus (alpha) 0.85
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
09e56 05S28 +16° 32 69°08//4:36:32
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 10e43
16e 12e
Planetary Nature: Mars (Pt) or Mars and Venus
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Gemini (beta) 1.14
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
23r22 06N41 +28° 00 116°29//7:45:58
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 24r34
18r 21r
Planetary nature: Mars
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Gemini (alpha) 1.98
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
20r23 10N06 +31° 52 113°49//07:35:17
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 22r03
11r 17r
Planetary Nature: Mercury (Pt) or Jupiter and Mercury
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Leo (alpha) 1.35
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
29t59 00N28 +11° 55 152°14//10:08:56
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 00y09
29t 29t
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Mars
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Leo (delta) 2.56
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
11y28 14N20 +20° 28 168°39//11:14:40
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 17y41
05y 11y
Planetary Nature: Saturn and Venus
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Leo (beta) 2.14
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
21y46 12N16 +14° 31 177°23//11:49:36
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 27y10
17y 22y
Planetary Nature: Saturn, Venus
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Virgo (epsilon) 2.84
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
10u05 16N12 +10°54 13:02:41//195.33
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 17u00
04u 10u
Planetary Nature: Saturn, Mercury (Pt)
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Virgo (alpha) .98
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
23u59 02S03 -11° 13 201°25//13:25:44
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 23u10
24u 23u
Planetary Nature: Venus, Mercury; Venus, Mars (Pt)
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Libra (alpha) 2.75
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
15i13 00N20 -16° 05 222°51//14:51:26
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 15i19
14i 15i
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Mercury (Pt)
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Libra (beta) 2.61
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
19i31 08N30 -09° 25 229°23//15:17:33
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 21i48
15i 18i
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Mercury
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Scorpio (alpha) . 96
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
09o54 04S34 -26° 27 247°30//16:30:01
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 09o12
13o 10o
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Mars
Name/Description
Constellation Magnitude
Sagittarius (alpha). 3.97
Longitude Latitude Declination Right Ascension
13p46 18S23 -40° 36 291°08//19:24:36
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 19p32
23p 29p
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Saturn
Stars in Constellations outside the Zodiac
Name/Description
14 "The star on the left shoulder, called Capella [Little She-Goat]”
Constellation Magnitude
Auriga/”The Charioteer” (alpha) 0.08
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+46° 01 79°22//05:17:29 22e00 22N52
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 20e14
23q 07e
Planetary Nature: Mars, Mercury (Pt), Jupiter, Saturn
Name/Description
15 “The bright star in the tail (of the Swan)” [Deneb Adige]
Constellation Magnitude
Cygnus (alpha) 1.25
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+45° 19 301°26//20:41:45 05]28 59N55
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 08[01
24i 10p
Planetary Nature: Venus, Mercury
Name/Description
16 “The star in the right shoulder of the charioteer” [Menkalinam]
Constellation Magnitude
Auriga/”The Charioteer” (beta) 1.90
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+44° 57 90°04//06:00:19 00r24 21N31
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 00r04
18w 18e
Planetary Nature: Mars, Mercury (Pt), Jupiter, Saturn
Name/Description
17. “The bright star in the Gorgon’s head.” [Algol]
Constellation Magnitude
Perseus (beta) 2.12
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+41° 00 47°12//03:08:52 26w19 22N26
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 19w40
26] 06w
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Saturn
Name/Description
18. “The bright star in the shell, called The Lyre” [Vega]
Constellation Magnitude
Lyra (alpha) 0.03
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+38° 48 279°18//18:37:15 15p27 61N44
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 08p33
13i 15o
Planetary Nature: Venus, Mercury
Name/Description
19. “The star common to the Horse’s (Pegasus) navel and the head of Andromeda” [Alpheratz]
Constellation Magnitude
Andromeda (alpha) 2.06
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+29° 09 002°13//08:55 14q27 25N40
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 02q26
17[ 18]
Planetary Nature: Venus (Pt); Mars, Mercury
Name/Description
20. “The bright star in the crown” [Alphecca]
Constellation Magnitude
Corona Borealis (alpha)2.23
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+26° 41 233°46//15:35:07 12i26 44N19
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 26i06
22u 10i
Planetary Nature: Venus, Mercury
Name/Description
21. “The bright and reddish-brown star called Arcturus”
Constellation Magnitude
Boötes (alpha) -0.04
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+19° 08 214°01//14:16:07 24u23 30N44
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 06i21
13u 25u
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Mars
Name/Description
22. “The bright star in the back of the Eagle – Altair”
Constellation Magnitude
Aquila (alpha) .77
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+8° 54 19:51:16//297°48 01[55 29N18
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 25i50
28o 14p
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Mars
Name/Description
23. “The bright star in the hind parts of the little dog called Procyon”
Constellation Magnitude
Canis Minor (alpha).38
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+5° 12 07:39:52//114°57 25r56 16S01
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 23r08
05t 28r
Planetary Nature: Mars, Mercury
Name/Description
24. “The star in the left/leading shoulder [of Orion] – Bellatrix”
Constellation Magnitude
Orion (gamma)1.64
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
+6° 22 05:25:43//081°25 21e06 16S49
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 22e08
06r 29e
Planetary Nature: Mars, Mercury
Name/Description
25. “The bright red star in the right shoulder [of Orion] – Betelgeuse”
Constellation Magnitude
Orion (alpha).50
Declination Right Ascension Latitude Longitude
+7° 25 05:55:45//088°56 16S02 28e54
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 29e02
12r 04r
Planetary Nature: Mars, Mercury
Name/Description
26. “The middle star in the belt” [Alnilam]
Constellation Magnitude
Orion (epsilon)1.70
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
-01°12 05:36:46//84°11 23e37 24S30
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 24e40
14r 02r
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Saturn
Name/Description
27. “The star at the left foot of Orion” [Rigel]
Constellation Magnitude
Orion (beta).12
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
-8° 11 05:15:03//78°45 16e59 13S07
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 19e40
15r 00r
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Saturn
Name/Description
28. “The bright star in the two in the south” [Alphard]
Constellation Magnitude
Hydra (alpha)1.98
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
-8° 42 09:28:07//142°01 27t26 22S23
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 19t37
5y 27t
Planetary Nature: Saturn, Venus
Name/Description
29. “The star in the mouth, the brightest, which is called “the Dog” and is reddish”;
“the bright and red star in the face called Sirius.
Constellation Magnitude
Canis Major (alpha)-1.46
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
-16° 43 06:45:38//101°24 14r14 39S36
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 10r29
9t 23r
Planetary Nature: Jupiter, Mars (Pt), Mars
Name/Description
30. “The star at the end of the water and at the mouth of Piscus Austrinus.” [Fomalhaut]
Constellation Magnitude
Pisces Australis (alpha)1.16
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
-29° 34 22:58:13//344°33 04]00 21S08
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 13]14
23q 24]
Planetary Nature: Venus, Mercury
Name/Description
31. “The bright star in the oar (of Argo) called Canopus”
Constellation Magnitude
Carina or Argo (alpha)0.72
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
-52° 42 06:24:13//96°03 15r08 75S49
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 05r34
Does not rise06t
Planetary Nature: Saturn, Jupiter
Name/Description
32. “The last star of the river, the bright one” [Archernar]
Constellation Magnitude
Eradinus (alpha)0.46
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
-57° 11 1:38:07//24°31 15]27 59S23
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N) Co-culminating: 26q27
Does not rise06e
Planetary Nature: Jupiter (Pt); Jupiter and Venus
Name/Description
33. “The star at the tip of the right foot (of the Centaur)” [Toliman]
Constellation Magnitude
Centaur (alpha)0.01
Declination Right Ascension Longitude Latitude
-60° 52 14:40:19//220°04 29i37 42S36
Co-rising (NYC, 40N) (Mexico City, 19N)
Does not rise 12r Co-culminating: 12i32
Planetary Nature: Venus and Mercury (Pt); Jupiter and Venus
Planetary Natures
Venus and Mercury: Spica, Vega, Deneb Adige, Alphecca
Jupiter, Saturn: Rigel, Alnilam, Capella, Rukbat, Algol
Jupiter, Mars: Regulus, Arcturus, Aquila, Antares
Mars, Venus: Aldeberan
Mars: Sirius, Pollux
Jupiter, Mercury: North Scale, Castor
Mars, Mercury: Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Procyon
Jupiter, Venus: Toliman, Achernar
Saturn, Venus: Denebola, Alphard, Zosma
Sources
Books
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos (Schmidt translation)
Ptolemy, Almagest (Toomer translation)
Anonymous of 397, (Schmidt translation)
Rhetorius of Egypt (Holden translation)
Software
Starlight
Solar Fire
Starry Night Pro
| Joseph Crane is a noted astrologer and psychotherapist who has spoken and written about astrology on the national level. A long-standing Buddhist practitioner with a graduate degree in Gestalt and Integrated Psychotherapy, he brings a classical approach to astrological technique, blending traditional and contemporary methods. As a humanistically-oriented astrologer, he emphasizes the personal interaction between astrologer and client. He is the author of "A Practical Guide to Traditional Astrology." |