Although Aquarius is one of the oldest constellations known, it isn't terribly evident, with mainly 4th- and 5th-magnitude stars. This late summer-early autumn constellation is just south of Pegasus and Pisces. The most notable asterism is of the water jar itself, out of which The Water Carrier is pouring the water. This water jar is a Y-shape laying on its side, just to the east of alpha Aquarii.
Alpha Aquarii is Sadalmelik ("Lucky One of the King's"). This yellow supergiant is found by starting in Pegasus, to the north. From the Great Square of Pegasus locate the brightest star in Pegasus -- epsilon (Enif), which is southwest of the Square. Now move to the southeast two binocular fields. Just to the east of alpha is the Water Jug, tipped with water pouring out of it.
Beta Aquarii is Sadalsuud ("Luckiest of the Lucky"), southwest of alpha a little over one binocular field. Beta makes a curving line with two other stars--one of which is 46 Capricorni, showing how near to the south is this constellation. M2, a pleasant globular cluster for binoculars, is north of beta one viewing field.
Zeta Aquarii is the central star of the Water Jug, tipped on its side. The asterism is just to the east of alpha Aquarii. Zeta is also a close binary of two similar stars (4.6, 4.4) with an orbit of 760 years. Eta, to the east of zeta, is the region of the meteor showers of May fifth, which produce about 40 meteors per hour.
