Aquila Constellation Guide: Meaning, Stars & How to Find It
Aquila is one of those constellations you may have already spotted without knowing its name. Its brightest star, Altair, forms one corner of the famous Summer Triangle, together with Vega and Deneb. In this guide, you’ll learn when Aquila is visible, where to look for it, and which stars and deep-sky objects it hosts. For the fastest way to locate the constellation, open Star Walk 2, search for “Aquila” or “Altair,” and follow the app’s sky map to this majestic bird!
Contents
- Aquila Constellation Facts
- Aquila Constellation Location
- When Is Aquila Visible?
- How to Find the Constellation Aquila?
- Bright Stars in the Constellation Aquila
- Deep-Sky Objects in the Constellation Aquila
- Aquila Constellation Meaning & Myth
Aquila Constellation FAQ
- What is Aquila?
- What is special about the constellation Aquila?
- How many stars are in the constellation Aquila?
- What is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila?
- Is Aquila part of the zodiac?
- When is the constellation Aquila visible?
- Can you see the constellation Aquila with the naked eye?
- Where is the constellation Aquila in the sky right now?
- Constellation Aquila: Key Facts
Aquila Constellation Facts
- Name: Aquila (the Eagle)
- Abbreviation: Aql
- Visible between: 78°N and 71°S
- Best visibility: July to September
- Size: about 652 sq. deg. (22nd largest constellation)
- Right ascension: 18h 41m to 20h 38m
- Declination: +18° to −12°
- Brightest star: Altair (Alpha Aquilae)
- Main stars: 11
- Messier DSO: 0
- Meteor showers: June Aquilids, Epsilon Aquilids
- Bordering constellations: Delphinus, Sagitta, Hercules, Ophiuchus, Serpens Cauda, Scutum, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius
Aquila is a seasonal constellation, visible when the Sun doesn’t pass close to it. Its brightest stars are easy to see with the naked eye, especially in dark areas. Under city skies, Altair, the brightest star in the constellation, remains obvious, while the fainter stars that form the Eagle’s wings may be harder to trace. Check out our guide to the Bortle scale to learn how light pollution affects visibility.
Aquila Constellation Location
Aquila lies on the celestial equator, along the Milky Way. It occupies 652 square degrees of the sky, making it the 22nd largest of the 88 officially recognized constellations.
Aquila is bordered by nine constellations: Aquarius, Capricornus, Sagittarius, Scutum, Serpens Cauda, Ophiuchus, Hercules, Sagitta, and Delphinus. Three of them — Aquarius, Capricornus, and Sagittarius — are zodiac constellations and lie below one of the Eagle’s wings. Sagitta lies just above the Eagle’s head, while Scutum, Serpens Cauda, Ophiuchus, and Hercules are located near the other wing.
Where Is the Constellation Aquila in the Sky?
Aquila is visible from most inhabited parts of Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere, look for it in the southern sky on summer and early autumn evenings. In the Southern Hemisphere, Aquila appears in the northern sky, with its height above the horizon depending on your latitude.
When Is Aquila Visible?
The best time to see Aquila is from July to September, when the constellation rises higher in the evening sky. In the other months, the constellation mostly remains in the daytime sky.
In the Northern Hemisphere, Aquila is a classic summer constellation. From mid-northern latitudes, it rises in the east in late spring, shines high in the southern sky on summer nights, and remains visible into early autumn.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Aquila is also visible, but it appears lower in the northern sky in winter months.
How to Find the Constellation Aquila?
The Easiest Way to Find Aquila
The easiest way to find Aquila is to use stargazing apps. This way, you will not be mistaken and will identify all the stars correctly. We’ll explain how to find the constellation using Star Walk 2 and Sky Tonight.
- Launch the app and tap the magnifier icon in the lower-left corner of the screen;
- Type “Aquila” in the search bar;
- Tap the corresponding search result;
- You’ll see the constellation’s current position in the sky;
- Point your device at the sky and follow the white arrow to find the constellation.
For a visual representation, watch the video tutorial and follow the steps given there.
- Launch the app and tap the magnifier icon at the lower part of the screen;
- Type “Aquila” in the search bar;
- Tap the target icon opposite the corresponding search result;
- You’ll see the constellation’s current position in the sky;
- Point your device at the sky and follow the white arrow to find the constellation.
Find Aquila From Altair
Altair is a bright white star that stands out even in light-polluted skies. It is usually easy to identify because it has two fainter stars on either side: Tarazed and Alshain. Together, these three stars form a short, almost straight line — the Eagle's head and beak.
Here is a step-by-step guide to finding Aquila using Altair:
- Find a bright white star high in the southern sky in the Northern Hemisphere (or lower in the northern sky in the Southern Hemisphere) — this is likely Altair.
- Look for two dimmer stars flanking it: Tarazed on one side and Alshain on the other.
- Imagine these three stars as the Eagle’s head, with Alshain being the beak.
- Under a dark sky, you can trace the fainter stars extending from the head as the body and the wings of Aquila.
Find Aquila From the Summer Triangle
Aquila is also easy to find using the Summer Triangle, one of the most famous asterisms in the sky. The Summer Triangle is made of three bright stars:
- Vega in Lyra
- Deneb in Cygnus
- Altair in Aquila
For Northern Hemisphere observers, Altair is the lowest and southernmost of the three stars, while Vega appears higher in the sky. Deneb is to the north of Altair and marks the tail of Cygnus. For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, the triangle appears lower in the northern sky, and its orientation may be upside down.
The Summer Triangle is especially helpful because it remains recognizable even when light pollution hides many fainter stars. If you can see Vega, Deneb, and Altair, you can orient yourself in the sky and quickly locate Aquila from either hemisphere.
Read more: The Summer Triangle Asterism
Bonus: Use Delphinus as a Double Check
If you spot what looks like Altair but are not sure you’ve found the right star — and can’t check with a stargazing app — use the small constellation Delphinus as a double check.
Delphinus has a distinctive shape: a tiny diamond that represents the Dolphin’s body, with a short line of stars forming its tail. Try scanning the area near your suspected Altair with binoculars. If you find Delphinus nearby, that bright star is certainly Altair, which means you’ve correctly located Aquila.
Bright Stars in the Constellation Aquila
Below are the key stars of Aquila, from its brilliant landmark Altair to the fainter stars that help shape the Eagle’s outline.
Altair
- Other names: α Aquilae, 53 Aquilae, HD 187642, HIP 97649, HR 7557
- Type: A-type main-sequence star
- Magnitude: 0.76
- Name’s origin: “the flying eagle” (Arabic)
Altair is the brightest star in Aquila; it marks the Eagle’s eye. It is a part of the Summer Triangle asterism. Altair is one of the closest naked-eye stars to the Earth (it lies 17 light-years from our planet).
Altair is also famous for its rapid rotation. It spins so quickly that the star is slightly flattened at the poles and wider around its equator. For casual observers, though, its main importance is simpler: Altair is the star that makes Aquila easy to find.
Tarazed
- Other names: γ Aquilae, Reda, 50 Aquilae, HD 186791, HIP 97278, HR 7525
- Type: bright giant
- Magnitude: 2.72
- Name’s origin: “the scale-beam” (Persian)
Tarazed is the second-brightest star in Aquila. Along with Altair and the fainter star Alshain (mag 3.87), it forms an asterism known as the Family of Aquila or the Shaft of Aquila.
Tarazed appears close to Altair in the sky, but the two stars are not physically related. Tarazed is a large orange giant, much farther away and much more luminous than Altair. Its warm color can be noticeable to careful observers, especially when compared with Altair’s white light.
Alshain
- Other names: β Aquilae, Beta Aql, 60 Aquilae, HD 188512, HIP 98036, HR 7602
- Type: subgiant star in a multiple star system
- Magnitude: 3.87
- Name’s origin: “the peregrine falcon” (Perso-Arabic)
Together with Altair and Tarazed, Alshain belongs to the asterism known as the Family of Aquila or the Shaft of Aquila. Of the three, Alshain is the faintest. It is a multiple-star system located about 44 light-years from Earth. Its main star is a yellowish subgiant, while one of its known companions is a faint red dwarf. To the naked eye, Alshain looks like a single star on the opposite side of Altair from Tarazed.
Okab
- Other names: ζ Aquilae, 17 Aquilae, HD 177724, HIP 93747, HR 7235
- Type: binary star system
- Magnitude: 2.99
- Name’s origin: “the tail of the eagle” (Arabic)
Okab is the third-brightest star in Aquila. Modern stargazers perceive it as the Eagle’s right wing, but in traditional depictions of the constellation, Okab marks the bird's tail.
Other Notable Stars in Aquila
Aquila contains several other stars that are useful for tracing the constellation.
Delta Aquilae is a white-yellow subgiant system of about magnitude 3.4, located roughly 51 light-years away.
Eta Aquilae is also part of the constellation’s figure. This star is especially notable because it is a Cepheid variable star — a type of pulsating star that changes brightness in a regular pattern. Cepheids are important in astronomy because they help scientists measure distances across the Universe.
Deep-Sky Objects in the Constellation Aquila
Though the constellation Aquila has no Messier objects, it hosts a large number of other deep-sky objects, as it lies along the path of the Milky Way. Most of them are faint (mag 9 or dimmer), but still worth seeking out with a telescope.
Dark Nebulae Barnard 142 and Barnard 143
Near Altair, you can find a famous pair of dark nebulae: Barnard 142 and Barnard 143. They are often known together as Barnard’s E Nebula because their shape resembles the letter “E” in wide-field images.
Dark nebulae are clouds of dust that block the light of stars behind them. Instead of glowing, they appear as dark patches against the bright Milky Way background. Barnard’s E is best seen in binoculars or wide-field photos under dark skies.
Astronomers often name nebulae after the shapes they seem to form — though with some nebulae, it takes a lot of imagination to see the resemblance. Look through the images of the other stunning deep-sky objects and try to guess their names based on the shape!
The Glowing Eye Nebula
NGC 6751, also known as the Glowing Eye Nebula or Dandelion Puffball Nebula, is a planetary nebula located at the tip of the Eagle’s tail, near the star 12 Aquilae. It is estimated to be about 6,500 light-years away from us and has a magnitude of 11.8.
NGC 6751 is a beautiful object in astrophotos, with its ring-like structure clearly visible. Visually, it is much more challenging. You’ll need a telescope and good observing conditions to spot it clearly.
Open Cluster NGC 6709
NGC 6709 is one of the more accessible open clusters in Aquila. It has an apparent magnitude of about 6.7, so it is not a typical naked-eye target, but it can be seen with binoculars under clear dark skies.
Through binoculars or a small telescope, NGC 6709 appears as a loose group of stars. It is a pleasant target for beginners because it does not require a large telescope, and it sits in a rich Milky Way region.
Clusters like NGC 6709 are good first targets for astrophotography using a smart telescope. Traditional astrophotography setups usually require telescopes, cameras, tracking mounts, power supplies, cables, and image-stacking software, as well as the skill to align everything correctly. The Seestar S30 Pro smart telescope combines these tools in one compact device. Select NGC 6709 in the app, and the telescope will automatically find and track it. Watch the cluster reveal itself on your screen as short exposures are stacked over time. Get the Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope now, and enjoy astrophotography with ease: US users, global users.
Planetary Nebula NGC 6781
NGC 6781 is another planetary nebula in Aquila. It is larger and fainter than many compact planetary nebulae, so it benefits from dark skies and a telescope with moderate aperture. In small instruments, it may appear as a dim, round glow.
This is not a beginner showpiece like the Ring Nebula in Lyra, but it is a rewarding target for experienced observers who enjoy hunting subtle deep-sky objects.
Phantom Streak Nebula
The Phantom Streak Nebula (NGC 6741) is a planetary nebula that can be found around the tail of the Eagle. It is approximately 7,000 light-years away from the Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 11.6.
Despite being fairly bright for a planetary nebula, NGC 6741 is a difficult visual target because it appears extremely small through a typical telescope. Its bright main body spans only a few arcseconds, so at low magnification it can look almost stellar rather than like a nebula. For the best chance of spotting it, use a telescope, high magnification, and a detailed star chart or a stargazing app.
Aquila Constellation Meaning & Myth
The constellation Aquila has been imagined as a flying bird by many cultures throughout history. Its name means “eagle” in Latin, and different myths connect it with different specific eagles.
Greek Myths about the Constellation Aquila
In Greek mythology, Aquila was believed to represent Aetos Dios – the eagle that carried Zeus’ thunderbolts. That’s why it is often depicted as an eagle holding a thunderbolt in its beak. Once, Zeus also sent a bird to abduct the boy Ganymede (represented by the nearby constellation Aquarius), whom he wanted as a cupbearer for the Olympian gods.
According to another myth, Zeus fell in love with the goddess Nemesis, but she rejected his advances. So he transformed into a swan and got the goddess Aphrodite to turn into an eagle and mock-chase him so that Nemesis would pity him and offer a refuge in her arms. Zeus later placed the birds among the stars, as the constellations Aquila and Cygnus, to commemorate the event.
Constellation Aquila in Other Cultures
In Hinduism, the constellation Aquila is associated with Garuda, the half-eagle, half-human deity. In ancient Egypt, Aquila possibly represented the falcon of Horus.
There is also a myth spread across China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and many other Asian countries. The story has many different variations and involves Altair, the brightest star in Aquila, and Vega, the brightest star in Lyra. According to the legend, they are a couple in love separated by the heavenly river – the Milky Way – and can only meet once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, when a flock of magpies forms a bridge across the river. By the way, those magpies could be the Perseids’ meteors, which travel parallel to the Milky Way at about this time.
Aquila Constellation FAQ
What is Aquila?
Aquila is a constellation whose name means “eagle.” It is one of the seasonal constellations and is best known for its bright star Altair, one of the three stars of the Summer Triangle asterism.
What is special about the constellation Aquila?
Aquila is located on the celestial equator, which means it is visible from most northern and southern latitudes. Perhaps that's why it's found in myths all over the world. It features the bright star Altair and a number of notable deep-sky objects.
How many stars are in the constellation Aquila?
The constellation Aquila is outlined by 11 stars. The Hipparcos satellite scanned and cataloged over 1,500 stars within the constellation’s borders.
What is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila?
Altair is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila. It is also the 12th-brightest star in the night sky and a part of the Summer Triangle asterism.
Is Aquila part of the zodiac?
No, Aquila is not part of the zodiac. The zodiac constellations lie along the apparent path of the Sun across the sky, while Aquila is located nearby but outside the zodiac group.
When is the constellation Aquila visible?
The constellation Aquila is well-seen in the night sky from July to September. Depending on your latitude, it can remain visible up to around November. The best month to observe Aquila is August, because that's when it rises the highest at night.
Can you see the constellation Aquila with the naked eye?
Yes, Aquila is visible to the naked eye. Altair is very easy to see, and several of the constellation’s other main stars are visible under reasonably dark skies. In cities, the full outline may be difficult to trace.
Where is the constellation Aquila in the sky right now?
Constellations move across the sky throughout the night and change position with the seasons. To see exactly where Aquila is from your location, use the free Star Walk 2 app: search for “Aquila,” and the app will guide you to the constellation in the real sky above you.
Constellation Aquila: Key Facts
Aquila is the equatorial constellation visible in both hemispheres from July to September. Known as the Eagle, it plays a significant role in the cultures of many countries.
Aquila is special because it gives you one of the easiest routes into the summer Milky Way. Its brightest star, Altair, stands out even in light-polluted skies. From Altair, you can trace the pattern of the constellation, then move into nearby Milky Way star fields and explore the deep-sky targets such as NGC 6709, NGC 6751, NGC 6781, and Barnard’s E Nebula.
Want to find Aquila tonight? Open the Star Walk 2 app, search for “Aquila” or “Altair,” and let the app guide you to the Eagle in your sky.
Happy stargazing!
