Atlas Trail
The Zodiac Constellations and the Thirteenth Sign
This path walks the band of sky the Sun crosses, from Aries to Pisces, in the order of the astrological year. Each stop gives the constellation's traditional figure, its brightest star and its neighbours as the atlas records them, and Ophiuchus sits where the ecliptic really passes through it, between Scorpius and Sagittarius, so the difference between star patterns and astrological signs is visible along the way.
Stop 1 of 13.
Constellations
Aries is traditionally shown as the Ram and its brightest star is Hamal at magnitude 2.00. It borders Pisces and Taurus, the two constellations that come before and after it on this path, and ranks 39th in size among the 88.
Stop 2 of 13.
Constellations
Taurus is the Bull, and Aldebaran, its brightest star at magnitude 0.85, is a good deal brighter than anything in Aries. At about 797 square degrees it ranks 17th in size and touches seven neighbours, including Orion and Gemini.
Stop 3 of 13.
Constellations
Gemini is the Twins, Castor and Pollux, and its brightest star is Pollux at magnitude 1.15. It lies between Taurus and Cancer and ranks 30th in size.
Stop 4 of 13.
Constellations
Cancer is the Crab and has no bright star to mark it: its brightest, Tarf, shines only at magnitude 3.53. It covers about 506 square degrees, ranking 31st.
Stop 5 of 13.
Constellations
Leo is the Lion, marked by Regulus at magnitude 1.35. At about 947 square degrees it ranks 12th in size and borders Cancer on one side and Virgo on the other.
Stop 6 of 13.
Constellations
Virgo is the Maiden, brightest at Spica, magnitude 0.98. At about 1294 square degrees it is the second largest of all 88 constellations, the widest stretch of sky on this path.
Stop 7 of 13.
Constellations
Libra is traditionally shown as the balance, and its brightest star is beta Librae at magnitude 2.61. It borders Virgo, Scorpius and Ophiuchus.
Stop 8 of 13.
Constellations
Scorpius is the Scorpion, set off by Antares at magnitude 0.96. Its list of neighbours includes Ophiuchus, which is why the path turns to that constellation next.
Stop 9 of 13.
Constellations
Ophiuchus, the Serpent-Bearer, is the thirteenth stop. The atlas records that the ecliptic crosses it between Scorpius and Sagittarius, and that under the boundaries adopted in 1930 the Sun spends longer in Ophiuchus than in Scorpius. It also records the key distinction: that is a fact about constellations, while signs are equal divisions of the seasonal year and have never been claimed to match the star patterns.
Stop 10 of 13.
Constellations
Sagittarius is the Archer, with Kaus Australis as its brightest star at magnitude 1.79. At about 867 square degrees it ranks 15th and borders Scorpius and Ophiuchus.
Stop 11 of 13.
Constellations
Capricornus is the Sea-Goat, brightest at Deneb Algedi, magnitude 2.85. It covers about 414 square degrees, ranking 40th.
Stop 12 of 13.
Constellations
Aquarius is the Water-Bearer, with Sadalsuud as its brightest star at magnitude 2.87. It covers about 980 square degrees, ranking 10th, and borders Capricornus and Pisces.
Stop 13 of 13.
Constellations
Pisces is the Fishes and closes the path, brightest at eta Piscium (Alpherg), magnitude 3.62. It covers about 889 square degrees, ranking 14th, and borders Aries, where the circuit of the zodiac begins again.
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