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Description

Ophiuchus is Greek for “Serpent bearer”. The story goes that Asclepius was such a good doctor, the gods were afraid he’d learn the secret of immortality. Zeus struck him dead with a bolt of lightning. To honor his good works, a constellation of a serpent was put in the sky because serpents represented healing. Due to being a constellation that crosses the ecliptic, Ophiuchus is often called the 13th Zodiac sign. This modern doctor with a pet snake is honest like Sagittarius but discreet like Scorpio.

Horologium is Latin from the Greek for “clock” or more literally “Explains the hour”. French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille named the constellation after the pendulum clock used to time his observations. The story goes that the goddesses called The Horae controlled the seasons and the passage of time. To everything there is a time, season and purpose.

Delphinus is Latin from the Greek for “Dolphin”. The story goes the Poseidon the Sea God had a dolphin as a messenger. He wanted the sea nymph Amphitrite to be his bride. The dolphin convinced Amphitrite that Poseidon would be a good husband and brought her to him. The constellation is also known as Job’s Coffin. Amphitrite wears a yellow veil and carries white flowers, suitable to a bride of Ancient Greece.

Coma Berenice is Latin for “Berenice’s Hair”. The story goes that Queen Berenice of Egypt was so worried about her husband, King Ptolemy, going off to war that she vowed to sacrifice her long blonde hair to Aphrodite if he was returned safely. When Ptolemy returned, Berenice kept her promise. She cut off her hair and laid it on an altar in Aphrodite’s temple. Aphrodite was so pleased with the gift she made it a constellation. Diadem is a binary star that represents a gem in Berenice’s crown. Here is Berenice at Aphrodite’s temple, resolved to make the promised sacrifice.

Columba is Latin for “Dove”. The story goes that Noah’s sent a dove from the Ark to see if there was any dry land left after the Great Flood. The bird returned holding an olive branch in its beak, signaling that the flood was receding. Delta Columbae, the star representing the olive branch is a spectroscopic binary star with a yellow giant for a primary component. Noah had a wife and three daughters-in-law, none of which the Bible saw fit to name despite their hard work. I think this one could be called Shamira. It means “Protector” in Hebrew.

Musca is Latin for “Fly”, as in the insect. Musca was one of the 12 constellations introduced by the Dutch navigators Keyser and de Houtman during their expeditions to the East Indies in the late 16th century. The story goes that Myia was a young lady in love with Endymion. Much to Selene’s annoyance, Myia would strike up conversations with the young man, rather than letting Selene put him to sleep. The moon goddess turned the girl into a fly to punish her for thinking she could dare steal a boyfriend from a goddess. And that’s why flies bother people trying to sleep. This one is probably saying “Help me!”

Andromeda is the name of Cassiopeia’s unfortunate daughter. The story goes that to punish her mother for boastfulness, Andromeda was chained to a rock to be eaten by a sea monster. She was rescued by Perseus, who she married and had six children with. The Andromeda Galaxy is the galaxy closest to the Milky Way at 2.5 million lightyears. The Ethiopian princess can’t believe her mother’s big mouth got her into this situation.

Mensa is from the Latin for “Table” and was drawn up in the 18th century by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. Lacaille created it out of dim southern stars to commemorate Table Mountain near Cape Town in South Africa, from where he observed and catalogued southern stars in 1751 and 1752. The table symbolizes connection, communication, social unity and engaging with others.

Next week, the Lynx, the Herdsman, the Toucan and more!

Description

Ophiuchus is Greek for “Serpent bearer”. The story goes that Asclepius was such a good doctor, the gods were afraid he’d learn the secret of immortality. Zeus struck him dead with a bolt of lightning. To honor his good works, a constellation of a serpent was put in the sky because serpents represented healing. Due to being a constellation that crosses the ecliptic, Ophiuchus is often called the 13th Zodiac sign. This modern doctor with a pet snake is honest like Sagittarius but discreet like Scorpio.

Horologium is Latin from the Greek for “clock” or more literally “Explains the hour”. French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille named the constellation after the pendulum clock used to time his observations. The story goes that the goddesses called The Horae controlled the seasons and the passage of time. To everything there is a time, season and purpose.

Delphinus is Latin from the Greek for “Dolphin”. The story goes the Poseidon the Sea God had a dolphin as a messenger. He wanted the sea nymph Amphitrite to be his bride. The dolphin convinced Amphitrite that Poseidon would be a good husband and brought her to him. The constellation is also known as Job’s Coffin. Amphitrite wears a yellow veil and carries white flowers, suitable to a bride of Ancient Greece.

Coma Berenice is Latin for “Berenice’s Hair”. The story goes that Queen Berenice of Egypt was so worried about her husband, King Ptolemy, going off to war that she vowed to sacrifice her long blonde hair to Aphrodite if he was returned safely. When Ptolemy returned, Berenice kept her promise. She cut off her hair and laid it on an altar in Aphrodite’s temple. Aphrodite was so pleased with the gift she made it a constellation. Diadem is a binary star that represents a gem in Berenice’s crown. Here is Berenice at Aphrodite’s temple, resolved to make the promised sacrifice.

Columba is Latin for “Dove”. The story goes that Noah’s sent a dove from the Ark to see if there was any dry land left after the Great Flood. The bird returned holding an olive branch in its beak, signaling that the flood was receding. Delta Columbae, the star representing the olive branch is a spectroscopic binary star with a yellow giant for a primary component. Noah had a wife and three daughters-in-law, none of which the Bible saw fit to name despite their hard work. I think this one could be called Shamira. It means “Protector” in Hebrew.

Musca is Latin for “Fly”, as in the insect. Musca was one of the 12 constellations introduced by the Dutch navigators Keyser and de Houtman during their expeditions to the East Indies in the late 16th century. The story goes that Myia was a young lady in love with Endymion. Much to Selene’s annoyance, Myia would strike up conversations with the young man, rather than letting Selene put him to sleep. The moon goddess turned the girl into a fly to punish her for thinking she could dare steal a boyfriend from a goddess. And that’s why flies bother people trying to sleep. This one is probably saying “Help me!”

Andromeda is the name of Cassiopeia’s unfortunate daughter. The story goes that to punish her mother for boastfulness, Andromeda was chained to a rock to be eaten by a sea monster. She was rescued by Perseus, who she married and had six children with. The Andromeda Galaxy is the galaxy closest to the Milky Way at 2.5 million lightyears. The Ethiopian princess can’t believe her mother’s big mouth got her into this situation.

Mensa is from the Latin for “Table” and was drawn up in the 18th century by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. Lacaille created it out of dim southern stars to commemorate Table Mountain near Cape Town in South Africa, from where he observed and catalogued southern stars in 1751 and 1752. The table symbolizes connection, communication, social unity and engaging with others.

Next week, the Lynx, the Herdsman, the Toucan and more!