Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac, located between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east. Its name is Latin for ram, and its symbol is (Unicode ♈), representing a ram's horns. One of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, Aries remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. A mid-sized constellation, it is ranked 39th overall with an area of 441 square degrees (1.1% of the celestial sphere). Though it specifically came to represent the ram whose fleece became the Golden Fleece in Ancient Greece, it had represented a ram since late Babylonian times. Before that, the stars of Aries formed a farmhand. Because Aries is zodiacal, its stars were incorporated into different constellations in different cultures, including twin inspectors in China and a porpoise in the Marshall Islands. Aries is a relatively dim constellation, possessing only three bright stars: Hamal (Alpha Arietis, second magnitude), Sheratan (Beta Arietis, third magnitude), and Mesartim (Gamma Arietis, fourth magnitude). The few deep-sky objects are quite faint and include several pairs of interacting galaxies. Several meteor showers radiate from Aries, including the Daytime Arietids and the Epsilon Arietids.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aries_(constellation)

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

762:

Al-Mansur, the Caliph of Islam, founded the city of Baghdad to be the capital of the Islamic empire under the Abbasids. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Baghdad

1619:

The first representative assembly in the Americas, Virginia's House of Burgesses, convened for the first time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Burgesses

1811:

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, an early leader of the Mexican War of Independence, was executed by Spanish authorities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Hidalgo_y_Costilla

1912:

Japan's Emperor Meiji died and was succeeded by his son Yoshihito, who is now known as the Emperor Taishō (pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Taish%C5%8D

1975:

American labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa mysteriously disappeared after last being seen outside a restaurant near Detroit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Hoffa

2006:

Lebanon War: The Israeli Air Force attacked a three-story building near the South Lebanese village of Qana, killing at least 28 civilians, including 16 children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qana_airstrike

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

chiropterologist: Someone who studies bats (the flying mammal). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chiropterologist

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Nobody knows about my man. They think he's lost on some horizon. And suddenly I find myself Listening to a man I've never known before, Telling me about the sea, All his love, 'til Eternity. Ooh, he's here again, The man with the child in his eyes. --Kate Bush https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kate_Bush