Astronomical symbols

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Categories: Astronomical objects | Symbols

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's winged helmet and caduceus
Venus		Venus' hand mirror
Earth		Globe with equator and a meridian
Earth	Image:Earth symbol alternate.svg	globus cruciger
Mars	Image:Mars symbol.svg	Mars' shield and spear
Jupiter	Image:Jupiter symbol.svg	Jupiter's thunderbolt, eagle or "Z" for Zeus, Jupiter's Greek name.^[1] Or a "4" for the fourth day of the week (Thursday) in some cultures
Saturn	Image:Saturn symbol.svg	Saturn's sickle or scythe
Uranus	Image:Uranus symbol.svg	One of the two symbols for platinum or a combination of the symbols for Mars and the Sun
Uranus	Image:Uranus's astrological symbol.svg	"H" from the discoverer's last name (Herschel)
Neptune	Image:Neptune symbol.svg	Neptune's trident
Dwarf Planets
Name	Symbol	Symbol Represents
Ceres	Image:Ceres symbol.svg	Handle-down sickle; cf. the handle-up sickle symbol of Saturn
Pluto	Image:Pluto symbol.svg	PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell
Eris	No symbol	Unlikely to gain an official symbol (although there have been a number of proposals, such as the Hand of Eris Image:FFHoE.svg)
Asteroids
Name	Symbol	Symbol Represents
2 Pallas	Image:Pallas symbol.svg	Modified symbol for female/Shield of Athena?
3 Juno		Peacock (totem of Juno).
4 Vesta		Hearth or fire-altar.
5 Astraea	Image:5 Astraea Symbol.svg	Anchor (inverted), or possibly scales of justice.
6 Hebe	Image:6 Hebe Astronomical Symbol.svg	Cup
7 Iris	Image:7 Iris Astronomical Symbol.svg	Rainbow with star under it (asteroid means star-like)
8 Flora	Image:8 Flora Astronomical Symbol.svg	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	Image:15 Eunomia symbol.svg
28 Bellona	Image:28 Bellona symbol.svg
35 Leukothea	Image:35 Leukothea symbol.png
37 Fides	Image:37 Fides symbol.svg
Moons
Name	Symbol	Symbol Represents
Moon (crescent)		A crescent moon
Moon (decrescent)	Image:Moon symbol decrescent.svg	A decrescent moon
Other Celestial Bodies
Name	Symbol	Symbol Represents
Sun		Solar symbol
Other Symbols
Name	Symbol
comet	☄
ascending node	☊
descending node	☋
conjunction	☌
opposition	☍