Aquila

Description

Aquila is easy to identify thanks to Altair and its two flanking stars (Tarazed and Alshain), which form a distinctive line. Altair is one of the nearest stars visible to the naked eye and rotates very rapidly.

Mythology and History

Aquila is Zeus's eagle that carried his thunderbolts and abducted Ganymede to take him to Olympus. It is also said to be the eagle that tormented Prometheus by eating his liver each day.

How to Observe

Visible from June to November. Altair completes the Summer Triangle. The eagle appears to fly south through the Milky Way.

Main Stars