Are you generous, sensitive and creative? Maybe you were born under Pisces, the twelfth sign of the Zodiac. From its intricate place in the galaxy to its fascinating mythological history, the Two Fishes continue to charm and captivate us.

Pisces, The Constellation

Pisces lies in the equatorial region of the sky, directly north of Cetus and Aquarius. It covers 889 square degrees, with boundaries reaching from DECL=-5 degrees to DECL=+34 degrees and RA=22h 50m to RA=2h 10m. It consists of 21 main stars with 78 Bayer/Flamsteed stars. A faint constellation, none of Pisces’ stars are particularly bright and the constellation is often hard to see. The brightest, ? Psc, has a visible magnitude of 3.62, followed by ? Psc at 3.70 and ? Psc A at 3.82. The latter, ? Psc A, is Pisces’ most famous star. Actually a binary, a close double of two A stars, ? Psc A serves as the meeting point of the two fish depicted in mythology and astrology. This point represents the rope binding the fish, and is also known as Alrisha or Al Rescha, meaning “the cord.” Recently, Pisces has gained astronomical significance due to its inclusion of the Vernal Equinox. Previously present in Aries, the Equinox has moved westward according to the procession of the equinoxes and currently crosses Pisces near its western end.

Astronomical Neighbors

Pisces contains one of Messier’s objects, the galaxy M74. Like the stars within the constellation, M74 is faint and difficult to see. Its two clearly defined spiral arms, however, make it an archetypal example of a grand design spiral galaxy, and its large size and face-on orientation provide professional astronomers with an ideal object for study. M74 contains two supernovae, and is abundant in H II Regions, which indicates a high rate of star formation. In addition to M74, the Piscid meteors and Gamma Piscid meteors visit the Pisces constellation. Both of these meteor showers are weak and diffuse, and can generally be seen from the end of August to mid-October.

Where to Find Pisces

The majority of the stars in Pisces are hard to see without magnification, but its most prominent members can be seen in the autumn sky. As the sun passes through Pisces from mid-March to late April, it is best viewed in October and November, with its highest point in mid-November from the mainland and Hawaii. It is visible at latitudes between +90? and -65?. Between 9 and 11 pm, Pisces can be seen low in the sky, close to the horizon at a maximum 34? angle.

Pisces’ Mythology

Pisces enjoys a long and varied mythology. The form of two connected verticals with rounded objects at either end has taken several meanings throughout history. Some accounts attribute the shapes to two men bound together, or while others see two intertwined lovers. The Chinese knew it at various times as the “Dark Warrior,” “Northern Emperor,” and “The Pig.” Most popularly, though, Pisces’ figures represent two fish bound by a cord. This image began with the ancient Syrians, for whom the fish were holy and not to be eaten. Their various subsects all worshipped the constellation, and knew it by different names all meaning “fish”: to the Babylonians, it was “Nunu”, “Mahik” to the Persians, and “Balik” to the Turks. The Egyptians adapted this myth to their own beliefs, and thought that the fish were swimming away from Set, the evil brother of Osiris. Even ancient Christians used the form of the fish, potentially as a means to secretly identify themselves during times of persecution, and the symbol can still be seen today on tee shirts and car bumpers.

The most popular myth regarding Pisces’ fish, however, comes from the Greeks. Their mythology tells of a powerful and menacing god, Typhon, who aimed to overthrow Zeus as king of the gods. Typhon managed to banish all of Zeus’ community of gods to Egypt, where they lived in exile. One day, Aphrodite and her son Eros were strolling along the riverbank when they sensed Typhon pursuing them. They quickly jumped into the Nile and transformed into fishes to escape, binding themselves together by a cord to ensure that they did not become lost. Zeus eventually overcame Typhon’s threat, but Aphrodite and Eros continue to flee as fish in the night sky. The Greeks and their Roman predecessors also associated Pisces with Poseidon/Neptune, Tyche/Fortuna, Morpheus and Thor, and the constellation is said to have historical links to Helen of Troy and the Trojan War.

Pisces in Astrology

In addition to ancient mythology, Pisces play a prominent role in modern astrology. It is traditionally the twelfth and final sign of the Zodiac calendar. With the movement of the Vernal Equinox into Pisces from Aries, however, it now technically begins the Zodiac year and thus has increased astrological importance. The sign runs from February 19, when the sun enters the constellation, to March 20. It is associated with the water element and the planet Jupiter, although astrologers have recently attributed some of Pisces’ characteristics to the growing influence of Neptune. Pisces’ birthstone is aquamarine; its gemstones diamond, turquoise, amethyst, jade, tourmaline and bloodstone; and its metal, silver. Thursday is the most fortunate day for Pisceans, their numbers are eight and five, and pale green and ocean blue form their best colors.

The Truth on Pisceans

The sign of Pisces is primarily centered on human emotions. As such, Pisceans are deeply connected to their feelings and thoughts. They are often dreamy, creative, imaginative and unworldly, with a penchant for art and music. Pisceans tell wonderful stories and create luxurious landscapes, and use artistic endeavors to supercede the mortal world. With their strong sense of spirituality, they often feel as if reality is not enough and may be let down by life. They address this positively through art, but may also struggle with drugs and alcohol in their attempts to escape reality. In addition, the romanticism that makes Pisceans wonderfully artistic may also come off as unrealistic and impractical. They can be hypersensitive or even paranoid, and their preference for solitude and mystery may be socially off-putting. In general, Pisceans endure the benefits and problems that come with an increased sense of mysticism and awareness.

Pisces’ heightened emotions also make its members excellent friends and listeners. While sometimes shy or aloof, they show extreme trustworthiness, honesty and generosity. Pisceans are always ready to listen, and their extreme sensitivity precludes judgment or harshness. Suffering causes Pisceans more pain than most, and they will go out of their way to help and succor their fellow man, stranger or friend. As true lovers of beauty, Pisceans look for the good in everything and try to bring positivity and light into the world.

Physically, Pisces is said to rule the feet, liver and lymphatic system. Those born under its sign may have small, dainty feet for dancing and performing; emotional, liquid eyes; and a short, broad stature. The fish are also associated with certain places, including Egypt, Portugal, Spain and Scandinavia. Some famous Pisceans demonstrating their penchant for art and humanity include Michelangelo, Dr. Seuss, Handel and Elizabeth Taylor, while Albert Einstein showed Pisces’ tendency for creative, “out-of-the-box” thinking.

Last Word

With so much history and legend, it’s no wonder that the constellation Pisces continues to play a significant role in modern astronomy and astrology. Its sparkling stars, worldwide fame and innumerable positive influences make it a true gem in the earthly world and beyond.