Gemini

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The constellation Gemini, the twins, is visible in the northern hemisphere from November through April. It can be seen at latitudes between 90 degrees and -60 degrees. It is a medium-sized constellation that fills an area of 514 square degrees. It ranks 30th in size among the 88 constellations in the night sky. It is bordered by Taurus to the west and Cancer to the east, with Auriga and Lynx to the north and Monoceros and Canis Minor to the south. It is one of the thirteen constellations of the zodiac. This means it lies along the path the Sun travels in the sky during the year.

Gemini is one of the 48 constellations first cataloged by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. Its name means “the twins” in Latin. It represents the twins Castor and Pollux, two Greek heroes who were among the men Jason led on his voyages on the Argo. According to myth, they were actually half-brothers and not really twins. They shared the same mother, Leda, but had different fathers. Castor's father was a king of Sparta called Tyndareus, while the father of Pollux was Zeus himself. In Babylonian times, the stars Castor and Pollux were known as the Great twins. They were named Meshlamtaea and Lugalirra, which meant “The One who has arisen from the Underworld” and the “Mighty King”.