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'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 'Pl'uto 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	50x25px	Anchor (inverted), or possibly scales of justice.
6 Hebe	50x25px	Cup
7 Iris	50x25px	Rainbow with star under it (asteroid means star-like)
8 Flora	50x25px	Stylised flower
9 Metis		Eye, with star above it (asteroid means star-like)
10 Hygeia	50x25px	Rod of Asclepius
11 Parthenope	50x25px
12 Victoria	50x25px
14 Irene	''Never drawn''	Described as "A dove carrying an olive-branch, with a star on its head"
15 Eunomia	50x25px
28 Bellona	50x25px
35 Leukothea	50x25px
37 Fides	50x25px
'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

Contents

See also

References

External links

See also

★ Astrological symbols

★ Solar symbol

★ Zodiac

References

External links

★ James L. Hilton, When Did the asteroids Become Minor Planets? (contains astronomical symbols for the asteroids)