Gemini: The Twins

By: Brittany Rydalch

Physics 1040 section 009
Constellation Paper

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Brittany Rydalch
Professor Harrison
Phys 1040-009
October 26, 2014
Mythology:
Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac. The symbol used to represent Gemini
is . Common mythology states that Gemini consists of two brothers, Castor and Pollux also
referred to as the Dioscuri. Their mother Leda who was the Queen of Sparta gave birth to two
sons. Polluxs father was the king of Greek Gods Zeus, and Castors father Tyndareous, King of
Sparta.
The most popular story version is that Zeus transformed himself into a swan and seduced
the twins mother Leda. From this encounter Leda miraculously gave birth to two eggs. The eggs
produced four children: Clytemnestra, Helen, Castor and Pollux. It is unclear the details but the
most well-known version is; that one egg produced Castor and Cynndareous mortal sons of her
husband, King Tyndareous, and the other, Pollux and Helen, son and daughter of Zeus [1-7].
The twins grew to be boisterous young men. Castor became a great horseman, while
Pollux was a legendary boxer. As young men they participated in the hunting of the Caledonian
Boar, and they joined Jason and the Argonauts on the voyage in the search of The Golden
Fleece. During the voyage, Pollux defeated King Amycus in a boxing match. During a storm at
sea, two stars appeared over the heads of the twins and the storm phenomenally ended. This is
the moment where the twins started being considered the patron saints of sailors. During a

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storm at sea, these lights are still seen twinkling at the top of ships masts and other tall spires.
They are caused by the discharge of electricity: The legend is that if two lights are seen the storm
will cease; if only one appears the storm will grow worse.[7]Years later they joined the armies
against Troy in hopes of returning their sister, Helen back to her fianc.
The twins death has many different versions the most known was that Castor and Pollux
became infatuated with their cousins Phoebe and Hilaria and desired to marry them, but they
were already set to marry the Argonaut twins, Idas and Lynceus. Castor and Pollux kidnapped
the women and brought them to Sparta. After that they headed to the woods to attack the
Argonaut brothers, Lynceus had the ability to see in the dark and spotted one of the twins
keeping watch instantly knowing what was about to happen the Argonauts ambushed the twins.
Castor was killed by Idas. Pollux, was close to sharing his brothers fate when Zeus sent down a
lightning bolt killing Lynceus instead. While in mourning over his beloved brother, Pollux went
to Zeus and tried to give up his immortality to Castor. Instead Zeus, showing pity for his sons
suffering arranged it so one would remain in Erebus and the other in Olympus everyday
switching locations so that one was not stuck living in Erebus. [7] Another ending suggests
that Castor remained in Erebus, but Pollux was allowed to visit his brother every other day. Zeus
honored the brothers love and loyalty to another by forming the constellation Gemini.
Other Twin Myths:
Over three thousand years ago the ancient Egyptians described twins as two plants
sprouting from the Earth. Also saw them as two goats. [4] Years later the Arabs saw two
peacocks. The Hindus saw two warrior gods on horseback they referred to as Asvins.
Wandering hunters in South Africa claimed they saw two wives of an antelope god. Chinese
saw the twins as the balanced principles of yin and yang. [1] Ancient Greeks have always seen

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them as patron of sailors and Romans portrayed them as Romulus and Remus [5] the twin
brothers that founded Rome.
Constellation:
The constellation Gemini is shaped like a crooked rectangle but resembles a stick figure
version of the twins with the noticeable stars making up both the bodies. The two brightest stars
are Castor and Pollux, they mark the top corners of the rectangle. The other stars in the
constellation make up the bodies of the twins. The feet of the twins are submerged in the Milky
Way and contain several interesting deep sky objects. The constellation is centered at about RA
07h 04.24m, DEC +2236.01, and covers 514 sq. deg. Gemini is located
between Taurus, and Cancer and its bordered by the constellations, Lynx, Auriga, Orion,
Monoceros, and Canis Minor. Gemini [5], by mid-August Gemini will appear along the eastern
horizon in the morning sky prior to sunrise. The best time to observe Gemini is during winter and
spring in the northern hemisphere, and in the southern hemisphere, it is visible in the summer. It
can be seen at latitude +90-60 The easiest way to locate Gemini in the sky is to find its two
brightest stars Castor and Pollux eastward from the familiar V shaped asterism of Taurus and
the three stars of Orions belt. [8] The 20 most prominent starts are listed in the chart below.
Figure 1: Gemini [6]

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Twenty Brightest Stars in Gemini: [9]

Name

Pollux
78
Castor A
66
Gem
24
Gem
13
Castor B
66
Gem
27
Gem
7
Gem
31
Gem
55
Gem
77
Gem
54
Gem
34
Gem
60
Gem
43
Gem
69
Gem A
18
1 Gem
1
Gem
62
Gem
75
Gem
46
30 Gem
30
Objects of interest:

Var

HD
62509
60179
47105
44478
60178
48329
42995
48737
56986
62345
56537
50019
58207
52973
60522
45542
41116
58946
62044
54719
48433

HIP

RA

37826 07h 45m 19.36s

36850 07h 34m 36.00s
31681 06h 37m 42.70s
30343 06h 22m 57.59s
07h 34m 36.00s
32246 06h 43m 55.93s
29655 06h 14m 52.70s
32362 06h 45m 17.43s
35550 07h 20m 07.39s
37740 07h 44m 26.87s
35350 07h 18m 05.61s
33018 06h 52m 47.34s
36046 07h 25m 43.68s
34088 07h 04m 06.54s
36962 07h 35m 55.37s
30883 06h 28m 57.79s
28734 06h 04m 07.22s
36366 07h 29m 06.61s
37629 07h 43m 18.69s
34693 07h 11m 08.39s
32249 06h 43m 59.29s

Dec
+28 01 34.7
+31 53 19.1
+16 23 57.9
+22 30 49.9
+31 53 19.0
+25 07 52.2
+22 30 24.6
+12 53 45.8
+21 58 56.4
+24 23 53.3
+16 32 25.7
+33 57 40.9
+27 47 53.8
+20 34 13.1
+26 53 45.6
+20 12 43.8
+23 15 49.1
+31 47 02.7
+28 53 02.7
+30 14 43.0
+13 13 41.3

visual absolute Dist.(ly) Sp. class

mag.
mag.
1.16
1.09
34 K0IIIvar
1.9
1.05
52 A2Vm
1.93 0.60
105 A0IV
2.87 1.39
232 M3IIIvar
2.88
3.06 4.15
903 G8Ib
3.31 1.84
349 M3III
3.35
2.13
57 F5IV
3.5
2.22
59 F0IV...
3.57
0.35
143 G8III
3.58
1.27
94 A3V...
3.6 0.30
197 A3III
3.78
0.85
126 G9III+...
4.01 3.76
1168 G3Ibv SB
4.06 0.28
240 K5III
4.13 1.81
502 B6III
4.16
0.84
151 G7III
4.16
2.82
60 F0V...
4.23
1.36
122 K1III SB
4.41 0.42
302 K2III
4.49 0.15
276 K1III

Gemini has many objects of interest that have been discovered over the years. The two
main stars, Castor and Pollux are one example. Castor also known as, Alpha Geminorum, is the
second brightest star in the constellation located about fifty-two light-years away from Earth.
Castor is centered at about RA 7h 34m, DEC +3153 with a visual magnitude of 1.58. Each of
the components of Castor is itself a spectroscopic binary, making Castor a quadruple star
system. [3] Pollux also known as, Beta Geminorum, is the brightest star in the constellation.
Once an A-type main sequence star, it has exhausted hydrogen at the core and has evolved into a

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huge star and has a stellar classification of KO III [3] It is located about thirty-four light-years
away from the Earth and is centered at about RA 7h 45m, DEC 2802 with a visual magnitude
of 1.14.
The Eskimo Nebula (NGC-2392) is a planetary nebula, also referred to as, Clown-face
Nebula. The nebula is at about RA 07h29m, DEC +20 54 and a magnitude of 10.11 and is
approximately five thousand light-years away from the Sun. It consists of a complex structure,
with an inner nebula with an outer halo. Astronomers think that a ring of dense material around
the stars equator, ejected during its red-giant phase helped create the nebulas face.[3] Over the
years observers have stated that the centers form resembles a face ringed with a parka hood. It
was discovered by William Herschel on January 17, 1787. Since its discovery it has become a
much loved sight to see by amateur astronomers.
Another phenomenal sight in Gemini is open star cluster M35, it can be seen by the
naked eye on a clear night, otherwise it can observed through a telescope. It is located at the feet
of the twins. When observed it appears as an elongated, elliptical patch of starlight spinning the
same apparent width as a full moon.[1-3]When viewed through a telescope its individual stars
seem to form curved lines. It is at about RA 6h 9m, DEC +24 21, and is approximately 2800
light-years away from Earth. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chseaux in 1745.
The meteor shower in Gemini is called, Geminid. It radiates from a point near Castor.
The shower ranges from Dec 6-18th and it reaches its peak at December 14, when it reaches its
peak you can see about one-hundred meteors every hour at medium speed. [2-3] In December of
this year, this amazing event may be blocked from observers by the bright third quarter moon.

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Works Cited
1. Sparrow, Giles. Constellations: A Field Guide to the Night Sky. New York, 2013.Print.
2. Smithsonian Nature Guide. Guide to the Stars and Planets. New York: DK Publishing, 2012.
Print
3. N.P. Universe: The Definite Visual Guide. New York: DK Publishing, 2008. Print
4. Peters, Stephanie. The Library of Constellations: Gemini. New York: Rosen Publishing Inc.
2003.Print
5. Vamplew, Anton. Stargazing Secrets. London: Collins CO. Print
6. N.P Gemini Constellation. Www.enwikipedia.com. 23 Oct. 2014. Web 9 Nov. 2014
7. Woolfolk, Joanna Marine. The Only Astrology Book Youll Ever Need. Maryland.
TTP.1982.Print
8. N.P. 88 Modern Constellations by Area.www.enwikipedia.com. 24 Sept.2014. Web.10 Nov.
2014
9 N.P. List of Stars in Gemini.www.enwikipedia.com. 29 Oct. 2014.Web.10Nov.2014