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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.[citation needed] Many of the symbols are shared with western astrology, which uses multiple variant forms.
[edit] Symbols
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Planets
|
| Name |
Symbol |
Unicode |
Unicode Display |
Symbol Represents |
| Mercury |
 |
#9791; |
☿ |
Mercury's winged helmet and caduceus |
| Venus |
 |
#9792; |
♀ |
Venus' hand mirror |
| Earth |
 |
#8853; |
⊕ |
Globe with equator and a meridian |
 |
#9793; |
♁ |
globus cruciger |
| Mars |
 |
#9794; |
♂ |
Mars' shield and spear |
| Jupiter |
 |
#9795; |
♃ |
Jupiter's thunderbolt, eagle, or "Z" for Zeus, Jupiter's Greek name.[1] |
| Saturn |
 |
#9796; |
♄ |
Saturn's sickle or scythe |
| Uranus |
 |
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One of the two symbols for platinum or a combination of the symbols for Mars and the Sun |
 |
#9797; |
♅ |
"H" from the discoverer's last name (Herschel[citation needed]) |
| Neptune |
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#9798; |
♆ |
Neptune's trident |
Dwarf Planets
|
| Name |
Symbol |
Unicode |
Unicode Display |
Symbol Represents |
| Ceres |
 |
#9907; |
⚳ |
Handle-down sickle; cf. the handle-up sickle symbol of Saturn |
| Pluto |
 |
#9799; |
♇ |
PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell |
| Haumea |
No symbol |
No symbol, no unicode |
No unicode, no display |
No symbol, no description |
| Makemake |
No symbol |
No symbol, no unicode |
No unicode, no display |
No symbol, no description |
| Eris |
No symbol |
No symbol, no unicode |
No unicode, no display |
Unlikely to gain an official symbol (although there have been a number of proposals,[citation needed] such as the Hand of Eris  [original research?]) |
Asteroids
|
| Name |
Symbol |
Unicode |
Unicode Display |
Symbol Represents |
| 2 Pallas |
 |
#9908; |
⚴ |
Modified symbol for female/Shield of Athena?[original research?] |
| 3 Juno |
 |
#9909; |
⚵ |
Peacock (totem of Juno). |
| 4 Vesta |
 |
#9910; |
⚶ |
Hearth or fire-altar. |
| 5 Astraea |
 |
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Anchor (inverted), or possibly scales of justice. |
| 6 Hebe |
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Cup |
| 7 Iris |
 |
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Rainbow with star under it (asteroid means star-like) |
| 8 Flora |
 |
#9880; |
⚘ |
Stylised flower |
| 9 Metis |
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Eye, with star above it (asteroid means star-like) |
| 10 Hygeia |
 |
#9877; |
⚕ |
Rod of Asclepius |
| 11 Parthenope |
 |
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| 12 Victoria |
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| 14 Irene |
Never drawn |
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Described as "A dove carrying an olive-branch, with a star on its head" |
| 15 Eunomia |
 |
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| 28 Bellona |
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| 35 Leukothea |
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| 37 Fides |
 |
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| 2060 Chiron |
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#9911; |
⚷ |
proposed but not adopted |
| asteroid |
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proposed but not adopted |
Moons
|
| Name |
Symbol |
Unicode |
Unicode Display |
Symbol Represents |
| Moon (crescent) |
 |
#9789; |
☽ |
A crescent moon |
| Moon (decrescent) |
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#9790; |
☾ |
A decrescent moon |
Other Celestial Bodies
|
| Name |
Symbol |
Unicode |
Unicode Display |
Symbol Represents |
| Sun |
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#9737; |
☉ |
Solar symbol |
Other Symbols
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| Name |
Symbol |
Unicode |
Unicode Display |
Symbol Represents |
| comet |
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#9732; |
☄ |
|
| ascending node |
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#9738; |
☊ |
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| descending node |
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#9739; |
☋ |
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| conjunction |
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#9740; |
☌ |
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| opposition |
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#9741; |
☍ |
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| quadrature |
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#9633; |
□ |
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
[original research?])
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