Flammarion claims that the Chinese astronomers noted the five planets in conjunction in Capricornus, in the year 2449 b.c.
The sign of the Goat was called by the ancient Orientalists "The Southern Gate of the Sun."
ARIES (ā´-ri-ēz)—THE RAM. (Face Southeast.)
Location.—The star α in Aries, known as Hamal, and sometimes as Arietis, a star of the second magnitude, is about 7° south of α Trianguli. A line drawn from the Pole Star to γ Andromedæ, and prolonged about 20°, ends at Hamal.
Aries contains three principal stars, forming a characteristic obtuse-angled triangle.
The star γ Arietis was one of the first double stars discovered. A telescope is required to split it. Hamal lies near the path of the moon, and is one of the stars from which longitude is reckoned.
Below Aries may be seen the characteristic pentagon in the head of Cetus, the Whale.