Astronomical symbols

Astronomical symbols are symbols used to represent various celestial objects, theoretical constructs and observational events in astronomy. Many of the symbols are shared with astrology. The symbols listed here are commonly used by professional and amateur astronomers, and some are shared with astrology though there are differences depending on what part of the world you are in. (European glyphs differ slightly from American, for example)

 

Miscellaneous symbols

name	symbol	Unicode
comet	☄	U+2604
Sun	☉	U+2609
ascending node	☊	U+260A
descending node	☋	U+260B
conjunction	☌	U+260C
opposition	☍	U+260D

Symbols of planets

name	symbol	Unicode	image	origin
first quarter Moon	☽	U+263D		crescent moon (increscent)
last quarter Moon	☾	U+263E		crescent moon (decrescent)
Mercury	☿	U+263F		Mercury's winged helmet and caduceus
Venus	♀	U+2640		Venus's hand mirror
Earth	⊕	U+2295		globe with equator and a meridian
Mars	♂	U+2642		Mars's shield and spear
Jupiter	♃	U+2643		Jupiter's thunderbolt or eagle
Saturn	♄	U+2644		Saturn's sickle or scythe
Uranus	♅	U+2645		H for William Herschel
Neptune	♆	U+2646		Neptune's trident
Pluto	♇	U+2647		PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell

Zodiacal symbols

name	translation	symbol	Unicode
Aries	ram	♈	U+2648
Taurus	bull	♉	U+2649
Gemini	twins	♊	U+264A
Cancer	crab	♋	U+264B
Leo	lion	♌	U+264C
Virgo	virgin	♍	U+264D
Libra	scale	♎	U+264E
Scorpio	scorpion	♏	U+264F
Sagittarius	archer	♐	U+2650
Capricorn	sea-goat	♑	U+2651
Aquarius	waterbearer	♒	U+2652
Pisces	fish	♓	U+2653