Astronomical symbols
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Astronomical symbols are symbols used to represent various celestial objects, theoretical constructs and observational events in astronomy. The symbols listed here are commonly used by professional and amateur astronomers.[citation needed] Many of the symbols are shared with western astrology, which uses multiple variant forms.
Contents |
[edit] Symbols
Planets |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Symbol | Unicode | Unicode Display | Symbol Represents |
| Mercury |  |
#9791; | ☿ | Mercury's winged helmet and caduceus |
| Venus |  |
#9792; | ♀ | Venus' hand mirror |
| Earth |  |
#8853; | ⊕ | Globe with equator and a meridian |
 |
#9793; | ♁ | globus cruciger | |
| Mars |  |
#9794; | ♂ | Mars' shield and spear |
| Jupiter |  |
#9795; | ♃ | Jupiter's thunderbolt, eagle or "Z" for Zeus, Jupiter's Greek name.[1] |
| Saturn |  |
#9796; | ♄ | Saturn's sickle or scythe |
| Uranus |  |
One of the two symbols for platinum or a combination of the symbols for Mars and the Sun | ||
 |
#9797; | ♅ | "H" from the discoverer's last name (Herschel) | |
| Neptune |  |
#9798; | ♆ | Neptune's trident |
Dwarf Planets |
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| Name | Symbol | Unicode | Unicode Display | Symbol Represents |
| Ceres |  |
#9907; | ⚳ | Handle-down sickle; cf. the handle-up sickle symbol of Saturn |
| Pluto |  |
#9799; | ♇ | PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell |
| Haumea | No symbol | No symbol, no unicode | No unicode, no display | No symbol, no description |
| Makemake | No symbol | No symbol, no unicode | No unicode, no display | No symbol, no description |
| Eris | No symbol | No symbol, no unicode | No unicode, no display | Unlikely to gain an official symbol (although there have been a number of proposals, such as the Hand of Eris  ) |
Asteroids |
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| Name | Symbol | Unicode | Unicode Display | Symbol Represents |
| 2 Pallas |  |
#9908; | ⚴ | Modified symbol for female/Shield of Athena? |
| 3 Juno |  |
#9909; | ⚵ | Peacock (totem of Juno). |
| 4 Vesta |  |
#9910; | ⚶ | Hearth or fire-altar. |
| 5 Astraea |  |
Anchor (inverted), or possibly scales of justice. | ||
| 6 Hebe |  |
Cup | ||
| 7 Iris |  |
Rainbow with star under it (asteroid means star-like) | ||
| 8 Flora |  |
Stylised flower | ||
| 9 Metis |  |
Eye, with star above it (asteroid means star-like) | ||
| 10 Hygeia |  |
Rod of Asclepius | ||
| 11 Parthenope |  |
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| 12 Victoria |  |
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| 14 Irene | Never drawn | Described as "A dove carrying an olive-branch, with a star on its head" | ||
| 15 Eunomia |  |
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| 28 Bellona |  |
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| 35 Leukothea |  |
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| 37 Fides |  |
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Moons |
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| Name | Symbol | Unicode | Unicode Display | Symbol Represents |
| Moon (crescent) |  |
#9789; | ☽ | A crescent moon |
| Moon (decrescent) |  |
#9790; | ☾ | A decrescent moon |
Other Celestial Bodies |
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| Name | Symbol | Unicode | Unicode Display | Symbol Represents |
| Sun |  |
#9737; | ☉ | Solar symbol |
Other Symbols |
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| Name | Symbol | Unicode | Unicode Display | Symbol Represents |
| comet |  |
#9732; | ☄ | |
| ascending node |  |
#9738; | ☊ | |
| descending node |  |
#9739; | ☋ | |
| conjunction |  |
#9740; | ☌ | |
| opposition |  |
#9741; | ☍ | |
| quadrature |  |
#9633; | □ | |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Planet Symbols". NASA. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=167. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
[edit] External links
- James L. Hilton, When Did the asteroids Become Minor Planets? (contains astronomical symbols for the asteroids)
