Beta Aquarii is a single star in the constellation of Aquarius. It has the official name Sadalsuud and the Bayer designation β Aquarii, abbreviated Beta Aqr or β Aqr. Based upon parallax measurements obtained during the Hipparcos mission, this component is located at a distance of approximately 540 light years (165 parsecs) from the Sun. It is drifting further away with a radial velocity of 6.5 km/s. The star serves as an IAU radial velocity standard.
A Gerardus Mercator chart showing Aquarius overlooking Capricorn and pouring water into the mouth of the southern fish (Pisces). β Aquarii is the star in the left shoulder, just above δ Capricorni
Aquarius is an equatorial constellation of the zodiac, between Capricornus and Pisces. Its name is Latin for "water-carrier" or "cup-carrier", and its old astronomical symbol is (♒︎), a representation of water. Aquarius is one of the oldest of the recognized constellations along the zodiac. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It is found in a region often called the Sea due to its profusion of constellations with watery associations such as Cetus the whale, Pisces the fish, and Eridanus the river.
A representation of Aquarius printed in 1825 as part of Urania's Mirror (including a now-obsolete constellation, Ballon Aerostatique south of it)
The constellation Aquarius as it can be seen by the naked eye
The green bean galaxy J2240 lies in the constellation of Aquarius
