Equuleus

Equuleus is the second-smallest of the modern constellations, and perhaps the most insignificant. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy.

It contains no stars brighter than mag 3.9, and no deep sky objects brighter than thirteenth magnitude.

Its name is Latin for ‘little horse’ or foal. So small is the constellation that there is only space to depict the horse’s head. It lies next to the much larger horse Pegasus.

In Greek mythology, one myth associates Equuleus with the foal Celeris (meaning “swiftness” or “speed”), who was the offspring or brother of the winged horse Pegasus. Celeris was given to Castor by Mercury. Other myths say that Equuleus is the horse struck from Poseidon’s trident, during the contest between him and Athena when deciding which would be the superior. Because this section of stars rises before Pegasus, it is often called Equus Primus, or the First Horse. Equuleus is also linked to the story of Philyra and Saturn.

Accounts vary as to horse’s identity in Greek mythology.

In the Indian system this constellation is called ಕಿಶೋರ (Kishora)

Equuleus contains:

• Stars
  • Kitalpha (mag 3.9)
  • δ-Equ (mag 4.5)
  • γ-Equ (mag 4.7)
  • β-Equ (mag 5.1)
  • 3-Equ (mag 5.6)
  • 9-Equ (mag 5.8)
  • ε-Equ (mag 5.9)
  • 4-Equ (mag 6.0)
  • HD 202951 (mag 6.0)
  • HD 199942 (mag 6.0)
  • 6-Equ (mag 6.1)
  • HD 201298 (mag 6.2)
  • HD 203842 (mag 6.3)
  • HD 200661 (mag 6.4)
  • HD 201507 (mag 6.4)
  • λ-Equ (mag 7.4)
• Open Clusters
  • None
• Globular Clusters
  • None
• Galaxy
  • NGC 7015 (mag 13.2)
  • NGC 7046 (mag 14.2)
  • IC 1364 (mag 14.7)
  • IC 1377 (mag 14.8)
  • NGC 7040 (mag 14.9)
  • IC 1375 (mag 15.1)
  • IC 1367 (mag 15.3)
  • IC 1361 (mag 15.4)
  • IC 5083 (mag 15.5)
  • IC 1360 (mag 15.6)
  • IC 1379 (mag 15.7)
  • IC 1365 (mag 17.0)