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constellation of Gemini, “The Twins,” lies along the winter Milky
Way and It is part of the winter sky, lying between Taurus to the
west and the dim Cancer to the east, with Auriga and the near-invisible
Lynx to the north and Monoceros and Canis Minor to the south. |
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Gemini includes two bright stars, Castor and Pollux which is the
brightest star in Gemini; close to Castor (ß), which is brighter
and more southwesterly. The other stars in Gemini are relatively
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History
Gemini is a northern constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent
path through the heavens) between Taurus and Cancer, N of Canis Minor.
Traditionally Gemini is depicted as twin men (the two brightest stars
in Gemini, Castor and Pollux) which are just north of the bright star
Procyon in Canis Minor. These 'twins' are two of the brightest stars in
the sky and were identified by the Greeks with two children, in most accounts
the twin sons of Zeus and Leda. The Egyptians identified the two stars
with a pair of young goats.
An annual meteor shower known as the Geminids appears to radiate from this constellation during the second week in December. Owing to the precession of the equinoxes, the summer solstice now lies in Gemini, rather than in Cancer as it did 2,000 years ago. Gemini reaches its highest point in the evening sky in February.
Mythology
This zodiacal constellation represents the twins Castor and Pollux.
These were born from an egg after their mother, Leda, Queen of Sparta,
had been seduced by Zeus, disguised as a swan. Although only half brothers,
Castor, the mortal son of Leda's husband, King Tyndareus, and Pollux,
immortal son of Zeus, were extremely close and together took part in
many adventures, on one of those adventures Castor was killed.
Pollux avenged Castor's murder, but was so overcome with grief that
he begged to be allowed to be with his brother in the underworld. Zeus,
knowing the strength of their feelings, and for once showing some compassion,
granted this request. He placed the twins side by side in the heavens
so that they could alternate their time together between Hades and the
home of the gods.
Astrology
The Western astrological sign Gemini of the tropical zodiac (May
21 - June 20) differs from the astronomical constellation and the
Hindu astrological sign of the sidereal zodiac (June 20 - July 20). |
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In some cosmologies, Gemini is associated with the classical element Air, and thus called an Air Sign (with Libra and Aquarius). It is also one of the four mutable signs (along with Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces). Its polar opposite is Sagittarius. It is the domicile of Mercury. Each astrological sign is assigned a part of the body, viewed as the seat of its power. Gemini rules the hands and arms. The symbol for Gemini is the twins.
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