Astronomical symbols

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Chinese Celestial symbols on an antique bronze mirror
Chinese Celestial symbols on an antique bronze mirror

Astronomical symbols are symbols used to represent various celestial objects, theoretical constructs and observational events in astronomy. The symbols listed here are commonly used by professional and amateur astronomers. Many of the symbols are shared with western astrology, which uses multiple variant forms.

Planets
Name Symbol Symbol Represents
Mercury Mercury Mercury's winged helmet and caduceus
Venus Venus Venus' hand mirror
Earth Earth Globe with equator and a meridian
Earth globus cruciger
Mars Mars Mars' shield and spear
Jupiter Jupiter Jupiter's thunderbolt or eagle or "4" for the fourth day of the week (Thursday) in some cultures
Saturn Saturn Saturn's sickle or scythe
Uranus Uranus One of the two symbols for platinum or a combination of the symbols for Mars and the Sun
Uranus "H" from the discoverer's last name (Herschel)
Neptune Neptune Neptune's trident
Dwarf Planets
Name Symbol Symbol Represents
Ceres Ceres Handle-down sickle; cf. the handle-up sickle symbol of Saturn
Pluto Pluto PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell
Eris No symbol Unlikely to gain an official symbol (although there have been a number of proposals)
Asteroids
Name Symbol Symbol Represents
2 Pallas Pallas Modified symbol for female/Shield of Athena?
3 Juno Juno Peacock (totem of Juno).
4 Vesta Vesta Hearth or fire-altar.
5 Astraea Anchor (inverted), or possibly scales of justice.
6 Hebe Cup
7 Iris Rainbow with star under it (asteroid means star-like)
8 Flora Stylised flower
9 Metis Eye, with star above it (asteroid means star-like)
10 Hygeia Rod of Asclepius
11 Parthenope
12 Victoria
14 Irene Never drawn Described as "A dove carrying an olive-branch, with a star on its head"
15 Eunomia
28 Bellona
35 Leukothea
37 Fides
Moons
Name Symbol Symbol Represents
Moon (crescent) First quarter moon A crescent moon
Moon (decrescent) Last quarter Moon A decrescent moon
Other Celestial Bodies
Name Symbol Symbol Represents
Sun Sol Solar symbol
Other Symbols
Name Symbol
comet ☄
ascending node ☊
descending node ☋
conjunction ☌
opposition ☍

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_symbols"
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