Dictionary term
Delphinus
Direct answer
Delphinus is a small northern constellation representing a dolphin, recognized by a compact diamond and trailing star.
Delphinus is the Dolphin, a tiny diamond-shaped pattern near Altair.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Also appears in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
Quick reference
- Use when
- Look east of Altair for the four-star diamond sometimes called Job's Coffin, then add Epsilon Delphini as the tail.
- Do not use it for
- Job's Coffin is an asterism within Delphinus, not the official name of the constellation.
- Reference category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related terms
- Crater, Crux Constellation, Dorado, Draco
The story behind Delphinus
Delphinus was one of Ptolemy's ancient constellations and has long retained its dolphin figure.
Delphinus in spiritual tradition
Delphinus condenses a whole imagined creature into one precise and friendly little diamond.
The Great Almanac frames Delphinus with educational restraint. Mystical or symbolic language may be meaningful, but it should not be exaggerated into certainty, panic, or permission to ignore ordinary responsibility.
Delphinus in the Bible
This is a factual sky reference. It can support wonder and orientation without turning a measured position or inherited pattern into a claim of fate or private revelation.
Delphinus in numerology
Delphinus is not a numerology claim. Any numbers attached to it should retain their ordinary scientific, calendrical, navigational, or historical meaning unless a separate symbolic interpretation is clearly labeled.
Why Delphinus matters
Its concentrated shape is easy to learn and offers a satisfying target in a rich summer Milky Way neighborhood.
Example in a reading: Gamma Delphini resolves into a contrasting telescopic double at moderate magnification.
Interpretive caution: Job's Coffin is an asterism within Delphinus, not the official name of the constellation.
How Delphinus is used in a reading
Look east of Altair for the four-star diamond sometimes called Job's Coffin, then add Epsilon Delphini as the tail.
Where interpretation stops
Delphinus is presented as sourced astronomy, calendrical, Earth-science, cultural, or instrument-history reference. Definitions should distinguish measured phenomena from civil convention and historical interpretation, preserve location and time dependencies, and avoid turning factual sky data into a deterministic personal claim.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- International Astronomical Union: The Constellations - Official names, abbreviations, and boundaries for the 88 modern constellations.
- NASA Space Place: What Are Constellations? - NASA introduction to constellation regions, patterns, visibility, and seasonal sky changes.
The page starts with a direct definition, then separates use, example, caution, spiritual meaning, and historical context. For astrology, occult, demonology, curse, and spiritual warfare terms, the editorial rule is to explain the term without making fear-based, fatalistic, medical, legal, financial, or ritual-instruction claims.
Continue learning
Continue into the current celestial field and place this sky reference beside live planetary positions.
Open Worldwide WatchRelated terms
These related entries help place Delphinus inside a wider reference cluster instead of leaving it as a standalone keyword.
