While the stars Altair and Tarazed can be seen during the fall months, late in the evening to the southwest, they are only recognized as Aagjuuk by Inuit following their fist morning appearance on the north-eastern horizon, usually around mid-December. Throughout January, February, and March they are seen during the pre-dawn hours but thereafter are rapidly taken over by sunlight as the days lengthen."

"By all accounts, Aagjuuk was for Inuit everywhere one of the most important constellations. It seems to have been known by this name, or a variant of it, across the entire Arctic."

"The linking of Aagjuuk's stars with dawn and solstice were the characteristic feature of this constellation recognized as well by other Arctic peoples, in particular the Chukchis: 'The stars Altair and Tarazed of the constellation Aquila are singled out by the Chukchis as a special constellation, Peggittyn. This constellation is considered to bring the light of the new year, since it appears on the horizon, just at the time of winter solstice."

"The meaning of the term Aagjuuk is not clear. Etymologically, Fortescue has postulated a link between the aayģuk and the Yup´ik term for arrow, 'as if the dual of aayģu, arrow..."

"An emphatic and, in our context, attractive explanation of the constellation's name is found in a legend from Noatak, Alaska. Here agruks (Aagjuuk) are said to be 'the two sunbeams of light cast by the sun when it first reappears above the horizon in late December' ... The legend ... then goes on to recount how these two sunbeams were transformed into stars and so confirms, from the Inuit point of view, the various and widespread connections between the Aagjuuk stars, winter solstice, daylight, and the return of the Sun."

"Most published descriptions of Aagjuuk tend to leave the impression that it suddenly appears on cue as if out of nowhere... This definition is somewhat misleading because throughout the autumn and winter months at latitudes above the Arctic Circle Aagjuuk's principal star, Altair, is one of the brightest and most visible stars in the south and western sectors of the sky. But so completely is Aagjuuk identified with mid-December and the winter solstice that one Igloolik elder, invited to point to the constellation in early November, firmly replied that we would not see it until around Christmas, and this in spite of the fact that Altair was at the time in full view to the southwest." (Arctic Sky)