More than two thousand years ago Aries was the leading constellation of the zodiac, and now stands first in the list of zodiacal signs.
The Arabians knew this constellation as Al Hamal, the sheep.
β and γ are one instance out of many where stars of more than ordinary brightness are seen together in pairs, the brightest star being generally on the east.
CETUS (sē´-tus)—THE WHALE. (Face Southeast.)
Location.—A line drawn from Polaris, to δ Cassiopeiæ, and prolonged two and one third times its original length, reaches the centre of this constellation.
It lies just below Aries and the Triangle, and resembles the figure of the prehistoric icthyosaurus, while some see in the outline an easy chair. The head of the beast is characterized by a clearly traced pentagon, about 20° southeast of Aries. The brightest star in the constellation is α of the second magnitude. It is at one apex of the pentagon, about 15° east of Al Rischa in Pisces, and 37° directly south of Algol.
The noted variable Mira also known as ο Ceti is the chief object of interest in this constellation.