Astronomical symbols are symbols used to represent various celestial objects, theoretical constructs and observational events in astronomy. The symbols listed here are commonly used[weasel words] by professional and amateur astronomers.[citation needed] Many of the symbols are shared with western astrology, which uses multiple variant forms.
| Planets | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Symbol | Symbol Represents | ||
| Mercury |  |
Mercury's winged helmet and caduceus | ||
| Venus |  |
Venus' hand mirror | ||
| Earth |  |
Globe with equator and a meridian | ||
 |
globus cruciger | |||
| Mars |  |
Mars' shield and spear | ||
| Jupiter |  |
Jupiter's thunderbolt, eagle or "Z" for Zeus, Jupiter's Greek name.[1] | ||
| Saturn |  |
Saturn's sickle or scythe | ||
| Uranus |  |
One of the two symbols for platinum or a combination of the symbols for Mars and the Sun | ||
 |
"H" from the discoverer's last name (Herschel) | |||
| Neptune |  |
Neptune's trident | ||
| Dwarf Planets | ||||
| Name | Symbol | Symbol Represents | ||
| Ceres |  |
Handle-down sickle; cf. the handle-up sickle symbol of Saturn | ||
| Pluto |  |
PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell | ||
| Haumea | No symbol | |||
| Makemake | No symbol | |||
| Eris | No symbol | Unlikely to gain an official symbol (although there have been a number of proposals, such as the Hand of Eris  ) |
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| Asteroids | ||||
| Name | Symbol | Symbol Represents | ||
| 2 Pallas |  |
Modified symbol for female/Shield of Athena? | ||
| 3 Juno |  |
Peacock (totem of Juno). | ||
| 4 Vesta |  |
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 |  |
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| 12 Victoria |  |
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| 14 Irene | Never drawn | Described as "A dove carrying an olive-branch, with a star on its head" | ||
| 15 Eunomia |  |
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| 28 Bellona |  |
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| 35 Leukothea |  |
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| 37 Fides |  |
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| Moons | ||||
| Name | Symbol | Symbol Represents | ||
| Moon (crescent) |  |
A crescent moon | ||
| Moon (decrescent) |  |
A decrescent moon | ||
| Other Celestial Bodies | ||||
| Name | Symbol | Symbol Represents | ||
| Sun |  |
Solar symbol | ||
| Other Symbols | ||||
| Name | Symbol | |||
| comet | ☄ | |||
| ascending node | ☊ | |||
| descending node | ☋ | |||
| conjunction | ☌ | |||
| opposition | ☍ | |||