Aquila Constellation Myths and Facts

Aquila: The Eagle

Pronunciation: ACK-will-uh/uh-QUILL-uh Aquila, The Eagle Aquila (here with the now defunct Antinous) as depicted by Johannes Hevelius in his Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia (1687). Source image provided by www.RareMaps.com — Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.
Aquila Constellation Profile
Abbreviation: Aql Genitive: Aquilae
Origin: Ancient Location: Celestial Equator
Best View (North): Summer Best View (South):
Bordering Constellations: Sagitta, Hercules, Ophiuchus, Serpens Cauda, Scutum, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Delphinus

The Myth Behind the Constellation Aquila

In Greek mythology, Aquila was the Aetos Dios, the “Eagle of Zeus”. This magnificent bird was responsible for holding Zeus’s thunderbolts and occasionally running errands. One of these errands was to bring back the beautiful Prince of Troy, Ganymede, to serve as Zeus’s cupbearer.

Aquila Constellation Points of Interest

Interesting stars and objects.

Bright Stars in Aquila

These are the stars in Aquila with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.
Name Bayer Name Magnitude Color Luminosity Distance
Altair Alpha Aquilae 0.76  White 12 suns 16.8 ly
Tarazed Gamma Aquilae 2.72  Yellow 8622 suns 463 ly
Deneb el Okab Zeta Andromedae 2.99  White 43 suns 83 ly