Observation Symbols of Planets and Zodiacal Constellations

Some planetarium softwares or even some printed data are using symbols to represent planets. Planets symbols are thought to originate in the Middle Ages, if not earlier. Recentest planets, that is Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto which were discovered in modern times, got their symbol at the time of their discovery or later. Planets' symbols are used too in astrology. The symbols of the twelve zodiacal constellations on the other hand, as far as they are concerned, are mostly used, nowadays, in astrology

click to a view of symbols of planets

Symbols of the planets are figurative, that is they symbolize some aspect or attributes of the planet in question. Mercury is shown under the form of its winged helmet and caduceus. Venus is symbolised by a hand mirror. The Earth's symbol features the equator and a meridian. Mars is represented by the god of war's shield and spear. Jupiter is illustrated either by the hieroglyphic symbol of an eagle, the god's bird, the abbreviated "Zeus" initial letter, or the schematisation of a thunderbolt. Saturn's symbol is a sickle (also said "scythe"). The symbol itself is varying for Uranus. It's either the "H" of Herschell who discovered the planet or a combination of the symbol of Sun and the spear of Mars (as Uranus was the personification of heaven, and heaven was considered dominated by the light of the Sun and the power of Mars). The second symbol only is found on the picture above. The symbol for Neptune came more surely back to the Greek mythology, as Neptune's symbol is the god of sea's trident. At last, the symbol for Pluto innovated as it is a monogram made of the "P" and "L" found in Pluto (both letters may stand too for the initials of Percival Lowell, the astronomer who had initiated the planet's discovery). As far as the Moon and the Sun are concerned, they are represented by a crescent and a shield with a central circle respectively. The Moon may be further detailed by a first or a last quarter Moon to figure whether it's waxing or waning) as the central circle at Sun's symbol might be a the representation of a sunspot. picture NASA/Lunar and Planetary Institute

click to a view of symbols of zodiacal constellations

The symbols for the twelve constellations seem to be schematised figurations of the constellations which they represent and they might originate into such figures as represented by the ancient Egyptians, a people which developed astrology into the form which is mostly still in use today. Some think that the signs of the zodiac do not originate earlier than the late Middle Ages (as they are found in Greek manuscripts of this era). The division of the zodiac in 12, equal parts -one for each month of the year- dates back to the 5th century B.C. as it is unknown whether they gave to each part the name of the constellation which lied there, or the reverse. It might well be it is that second solution to be true because the figures and limits of the constellations were very variable. Contemporary astrology still refers itself to that old zodiac with 12 parts of 30 degree each. But, due to the precession of the equinoxes, current astronomical positions of the Sun, planets and Moon do not match with it anymore. Astrological signs and astronomical constellations will match by some 24,000 years from now only. Four signs, Taurus, the Bull, Leo, the Lion, Scorpius, the Scorpion, and Aquarius, the Water Bearer are linked to a ancient tradition which has them to match with four seasons (spring, summer, fall and winter, respectively). Such that tradition is also found back with the '4 royal stars' of ancient Persia which constituted four neat landmarks along the ecliptic, which are Aldebaran, Regulus, Antares, and Fomalhaut, and too with the correspondance made with the four Evangelists, Luke, Mark, John, and Mathiew, with Scorpius transformed into a eagle and Aquarius a angel. Symbols of the zodiacal constellations, nowadays, mostly are used for astrological purposes. picture site 'Amateur Astronomy' with symbols found on the page 'Zodiac' of Wikipédia (check at their site for their use license for illustrations)