Pronunciation:

(try-ANG-gu-lum)

Abbreviation:

Tri

  Genitive:

Trianguli 

Right Ascension:

2 hours

  Declination:

30 degrees

Area in Square Degrees:

132

Crosses Meridian:

9 PM, December 5

Visible Between Latitudes:

90 and -50 degrees

The constellation Triangulum, the triangle, is completely visible at latitudes north of -53 degrees from March through May. It is a small constellation, occupying only 132 square degrees. This constellation ranks 78th in size among the 88 constellations in the night sky. It is bordered by Andromeda to the north and west, Pisces to the west and south, Aries to the south, and Perseus to the east.

Traingulum is one of the original 48 constellations first drawn by second century Greek astronomer Ptolemy. The name Triangulum is Latin for “triangle.” There is no mythology associated with this constellation. All of its historic names have been derived from its shape. In ancient times, its distinctive shape of three stars was called Deltoton because it resembled the Greek letter delta. To the ancient Egyptians, it represented the delta of the river Nile. The ancient Romans called it Sicilia because it reminded them of the island of Sicily.