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Astronomical symbols

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.

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[edit] Symbols

Planets

Name Symbol Unicode Unicode Display Symbol Represents
Mercury Mercury #9791; Mercury's winged helmet and caduceus
Venus Venus #9792; Venus' hand mirror
Earth Earth #8853; Globe with equator and a meridian
Earth #9793; globus cruciger
Mars Mars #9794; Mars' shield and spear
Jupiter Jupiter #9795; Jupiter's thunderbolt, eagle or "Z" for Zeus, Jupiter's Greek name.[1]
Saturn Saturn #9796; 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 #9797; "H" from the discoverer's last name (Herschel)
Neptune Neptune #9798; Neptune's trident

Dwarf Planets

Name Symbol Unicode Unicode Display Symbol Represents
Ceres Ceres #9907; Handle-down sickle; cf. the handle-up sickle symbol of Saturn
Pluto 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, such as the Hand of Eris Eris)

Asteroids

Name Symbol Unicode Unicode Display Symbol Represents
2 Pallas Pallas #9908; Modified symbol for female/Shield of Athena?
3 Juno Juno #9909; Peacock (totem of Juno).
4 Vesta Vesta #9910; Hearth or fire-altar.
5 Astraea

Anchor (inverted), or possibly scales of justice.
6 Hebe

Cup
7 Iris

Rainbow with star under it (asteroid means star-like)
8 Flora

Stylised flower
9 Metis

Eye, with star above it (asteroid means star-like)
10 Hygeia

Rod of Asclepius
11 Parthenope


12 Victoria


14 Irene Never drawn

Described as "A dove carrying an olive-branch, with a star on its head"
15 Eunomia


28 Bellona

35 Leukothea


37 Fides


Moons

Name Symbol Unicode Unicode Display Symbol Represents
Moon (crescent) First quarter moon #9789; A crescent moon
Moon (decrescent) Last quarter Moon #9790; A decrescent moon

Other Celestial Bodies

Name Symbol Unicode Unicode Display Symbol Represents
Sun Sol #9737; Solar symbol

Other Symbols

Name Symbol Unicode Unicode Display Symbol Represents
comet #9732;
ascending node Image:Northnode-symbol.png #9738;
descending node Image:Southnode-symbol.png #9739;
conjunction #9740;
opposition #9741;