Astronomical symbols
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Astronomical symbols are symbols used to represent various celestial objects, theoretical constructs and observational events in astronomy. The symbols listed here are commonly used by professional and amateur astronomers. Many of the symbols are shared with western astrology, which uses multiple variant forms.
| Planets | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Symbol | Represented by Image | ||
| Mercury |  |
Mercury's winged helmet and caduceus | ||
| Venus |  |
Venus's hand mirror | ||
| Earth |  |
Globe with equator and a meridian | ||
| Mars |  |
Mars's shield and spear | ||
| Jupiter |  |
Jupiter's thunderbolt or eagle | ||
| Saturn |  |
Saturn's sickle or scythe | ||
| Uranus |  |
From a symbol for platinum, a combination of the symbols for Mars and the Sun | ||
| Neptune |  |
Neptune's trident | ||
| Dwarf planets | ||||
| Name | Symbol | Represented by Image | ||
| Ceres |  |
Handle-down sickle; cf. the handle-up sickle symbol of Saturn | ||
| Pluto |  |
PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell | ||
| Eris | No symbol | Unlikely to gain an official symbol (although there have been a number of proposals) | ||
| Asteroids | ||||
| Name | Symbol | Represented by Image | ||
| 2 Pallas |  |
Modified symbol for female/Shield of Athena? | ||
| 3 Juno |  |
Peacock (totem of Juno). | ||
| 4 Vesta |  |
Hearth or fire-altar. | ||
| 5 Astraea |  |
Anchor (inverted), or possibly scales of justice. | ||
| 6 Hebe |  |
Cup | ||
| 7 Iris |  |
Rainbow with star under it (asteroid means star-like) | ||
| 8 Flora |  |
Stylised flower | ||
| 9 Metis |  |
Eye, with star above it (asteroid means star-like) | ||
| 10 Hygeia |  |
Rod of Asclepius | ||
| 11 Parthenope |  |
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| 12 Victoria |  |
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| 14 Irene | Never drawn | Described as "A dove carrying an olive-branch, with a star on its head" | ||
| 15 Eunomia |  |
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| 28 Bellona |  |
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| 35 Leukothea |  |
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| 37 Fides |  |
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| Moons | ||||
| Name | Symbol | Represented by Image | ||
| Moon (crescent) |  |
A crescent moon | ||
| Moon (decrescent) |  |
A decrescent moon | ||
| Other Celestial Bodies | ||||
| Name | Symbol | Represented by Image | ||
| Sun |  |
Solar symbol | ||
| Other Symbols | ||||
| Name | Symbol | |||
| comet | ☄ | |||
| ascending node | ☊ | |||
| descending node | ☋ | |||
| conjunction | ☌ | |||
| opposition | ☍ | |||
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- James L. Hilton, When Did the asteroids Become Minor Planets? (contains astronomical symbols for the asteroids)
