Gemini is a member of the Zodiac. To find the Twins, look for the bright stars Castor and Pollux. Click on image for full size (53K JPG ) Windows Original

Gemini is one of the more famous constellations. The Twins are best seen during the winter and early spring in the Northern Hemisphere. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, look for Gemini in the summer. Gemini is a part of the Zodiac, which is a group of stars which the Sun travels through each year.

Gemini is very easy to find, just look for the two bright stars called Castor and Pollux. They represent the heads of the twins, while fainter stars sketch out two bodies. Gemini is right between Cancer and Taurus. Gemini is one of the few constellations that actually looks like the figure it represents.

Many different civilizations saw this pair in the sky. Ancient Greeks saw the twins Castor and Pollux, sons of Leda and Zeus. The Romans saw the brothers Romulus and Remus, two heroes that founded Rome. Both the Greeks and the Romans believed the twins were raised by the centaur, Chiron. Chiron sent them to help Jason find the Golden Fleece. The twins saved Jason's ship from a violent storm, and were honored with a place in the sky with the gods.

There are a few interesting objects to look at around Gemini. M35 is a bright open cluster, located near the "feet" of the twin on the right. There is also a planetary nebula called NGC 2392 near the "arm" of the twin on the left. Several other clusters and nebulae surround Gemini, but most are too faint to see without a strong telescope.