Gemini constellation: how to find it, when to see it and what is in it
In short
A winter zodiac constellation named after the twins Castor and Pollux — two bright stars side by side, orange Pollux a little brighter than white Castor. From them two chains of stars run towards Orion, the twins’ bodies. From December to March Gemini is high in the south in the evening. The Geminids, the richest meteor shower of the year, radiate from here in December.
Area: 514 square degrees, 30 of 88 · Neighbours: Auriga, Canis Minor, Cancer, Lynx, Monoceros, Orion, Taurus · Updated 10 October 2026
How to find Gemini
- 1
Look south in winter
From December to March in the evening, high in the south and southeast, above and to the left of Orion.
- 2
Find the two brothers
Two bright stars close together: orange Pollux and white Castor. There is no other such pair in the winter sky.
- 3
Reach towards Orion
From Castor and Pollux two chains of stars run down and to the right, towards Orion — the twins' bodies.
When it is visible over London
| Month | Where and when | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| January | in the south, around 23:26 | around midnight |
| February — march | in the south, around 21:14 | in the evening |
| April | in the southwest, around 21:16 | in the evening |
| May | in the west, around 22:24 | low, needs an open horizon |
| June — july | — | not visible, behind the Sun |
| August | in the east, around 04:18 | low, needs an open horizon |
| September | in the east, around 05:13 | before dawn |
| October — november | in the south, around 06:04 | before dawn |
| December | in the south, around 01:29 | around midnight |
Stars of the constellation
| Star | What it is | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Pollux · β Gem | orange giant | 1.1ᵐ |
| Alhena · γ Gem | white subgiant | 1.9ᵐ |
| Castor · α Gem | white main-sequence star | 2.0ᵐ |
| Tejat · μ Gem | red giant | 2.9ᵐ |
| Mebsuta · ε Gem | yellow supergiant | 3.0ᵐ |
| Propus · η Gem | red giant | 3.3ᵐ |
| Alzirr · ξ Gem | yellow-white giant | 3.4ᵐ |
| Wasat · δ Gem | yellow-white subgiant | 3.5ᵐ |
Gemini FAQ
When is the best time to see Gemini?
Where is Gemini in the sky?
What is the brightest star in Gemini?
Neighbouring and other constellations
Related
Constellation lines: Stellarium, CC BY-SA · star names: IAU WGSN, CC BY 4.0