In 2006, an exoplanet designated as Pollux b, has been confirmed to orbit the giant star. Since 1943, the spectrum of Pollux has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified. Despite its impressive feats, Pollux is actually cooler than our Sun, having temperatures of around 4,586 K. Pollux has around 191% of our Sun’s mass, 906% of its radius, and it is 32.7 times brighter than our Sun. Pollux is an evolved giant star, appearing orange-hued, and it is the closest giant star to our Sun, located at only 33.78 light-years away from our Solar System. Pollux, designated as Beta Geminorum, is the 18 th brightest star in the night sky, and the brightest in Gemini with an apparent magnitude of 1.14. The constellation of Gemini hosts many interesting stars, however, the stars Pollux and Castor dominate the constellation, with Pollux being the brightest member in Gemini. M35 is believed to be around 175 million years old, containing around 1,600 solar masses. The compact cluster NGC 2158 lies directly southwest of Messier 35. ![]() The apparent dimensions of this open cluster have been estimated at around 28 arcminutes. Messier 35 has an apparent magnitude of 5.1, and it can easily be resolved in small telescopes. Messier 35 is located at 3,870 light-years away from Earth, and it was discovered in 1745 by astronomer Phillippe Loys de Chesaux. Messier 35, also designated as NGC 2168, is an elongated open cluster that has a radius of around 11 light-years. Only one Messier object is present in the constellation of Gemini, the famous open cluster, Messier 35. ![]() Gemini is part of the zodiac family of constellations together with Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. The constellation of Gemini is bordered by Auriga, Cancer, Canis Minor, Lynx, Monoceros, Orion, and Taurus. Best viewed: at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during February.The constellation of Gemini is located in the northern hemisphere, lying in the second quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ2), being visible at latitudes between +90 o and -60 o. Gemini spreads out for over 514 square degrees. The zodiacal constellation of Gemini is the 30 th largest constellation in the sky. Gemini is the northernmost of the zodiacal constellations and among the brightest. The two brightest stars in Gemini, Pollux, and Castor are often associated with many tales of brothers. When Castor, the mortal brother, died, Pollux begged his father Zeus to give his brother immortality, and Zeus did so, uniting them in the heavens. Pollux was the son of Zeus, who seduced Leda, while Castor was the son of Tyndareus, the king of Sparta and Leda’s husband. The mythological twins were the children of Leda, a Spartan queen, and they are also associated with the Argonauts. In Greek mythology, the constellation of Gemini was associated with the twin's Castor and Pollux.Įven the name, Gemini, translates to twins, from Latin. The zodiacal constellation of Gemini is among the first constellations listed by the Greco-Roman astronomer, Ptolemy. Several interesting deep-sky objects are present in Gemini, such as the Eskimo Nebula, the Medusa Nebula, the Jellyfish Nebula, or the open cluster NGC 2158, and neutron star Geminga.Other noteworthy stars in Gemini are Alhena, Wasat, Mebsuta, Mekbuda, Propus, Kappa Geminorum, Nu Geminorum, 38 Geminorum, U Geminorum, or Tejat.Two meteor showers are associated with Gemini, the Geminids, and the Rho Geminids.There is only one Messier object in the constellation of Gemini, the open cluster Messier 35. ![]() ![]() Currently, around 8 stars have been confirmed to host planets in Gemini.Castor is the 23 rd brightest star in the night sky, and it is actually a star system comprised out of two A-class main-sequence stars, an Am star, and three other stars.Pollux is also the 18 th brightest star in the night sky. Pollux is the closest giant star to us, situated at only 34 light-years away, and it also has an exoplanet orbiting around it.The brightest star’s in Gemini bear the twin’s name, with Pollux being the brightest star in the constellation with an apparent magnitude of 1.14, while Castor is the second-brightest at 1.93.The constellation is associated with the mythological twin's Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology. The name Gemini comes from Latin, and it translates to twins.The zodiacal constellation of Gemini remains one of the 88 modern constellations, being the 30 th largest in the sky, occupying an area of 514 square degrees.Gemini was among the 48 ancient constellations first listed by astronomer Ptolemy, in his 2 nd century Almagest.
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