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Note: The first name of the constellation is the Latin name. The second is the nickname (English name).

1. Andromeda – the Chained Lady

Interesting Facts

Andromeda is the 19th largest constellation. There are seven stars with known planets

found in Andromeda The Andromeda Galaxy, 2.2 million light

years from Earth, is the farthest object that can be seen without a telescope.

The Andromeda Galaxy will “collide” with the Milky Way galaxy in about four billion years.

It belongs to the Perseus family of constellations.

Best seen in November.

Myth

In Greek mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of King Cepheus (see-fee-us) and Queen Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia offended the Nereids (near-e-ids) (sea nymphs) by saying she and Andromeda were more beautiful than they were.

The nymphs complained to Poseidon. He sent a sea monster, Cetus (see-tus), to flood and destroy Cepheus’ (see-fee-us-uz) lands as punishment for his wife’s boastfulness. Cepheus (see-fee-us) sought advice from the Oracle of Ammon on how to prevent the destruction of his lands. He was told that the only way to appease the gods and nymphs was to sacrifice his daughter, Andromeda, to Cetus (see-tus). Andromeda was chained to a rock and would have been left to the monster if Perseus had not come along and saved her. The two were later married. The goddess Athena placed her image among the stars, next to the constellations representing her husband Perseus and her mother Cassiopeia.

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2. Aquarius (A-kwer-e-us) – the Water Carrier

Interesting Facts

This is one of the 12 (13 really!) constellations of the Zodiac.

Aquarius is a rather faint constellation, which would not be famous if it weren't part of the Zodiac.

Aquarius is universally associated with water. In most cultures, it is drawn as a man pouring water from a bucket.

When the Sun entered Aquarius, the New Year was about to begin, and the watery season would soon begin, promising plentiful crops.

Aquarius is the 10th largest constellation in the sky.

Aquarius belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations.

Best seen in October.

Myth

Aquarius represents Ganymede (ganny-mead) in Greek mythology. Ganymede was as kidnapped by an eagle (represented by the constellation Aquila) and take to Olympus to serve as cup-bearer to the gods.

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3. Aquila (uh-kwil-uh) – the Eagle

Interesting Facts

Aquila is the 22nd largest constellation. Its brightest star, Altair, is the 12th brightest star in the sky. Aquila belongs to the Hercules family of constellations. Best seen in September. Altair, along with Deneb and Vega form the well-known Summer

Triangle asterism (a “constellation” that does not officially exist!).

Myth

The Eagle has always been a bird of kings, and is found frequently on shields of warriors, banners, and flags. Aquila was Jupiter's bird, the one that can rise highest of all and has carried out many a difficult task for Jupiter.

Aquila carried out the Prometheus’s (pro-me-thee-us-uz) punishment. Prometheus gave man fire against the wishes of Zeus. This angered Zeus. As punishment, he chained Prometheus (pro-me-thee-us) to a pillar. From dawn to dusk, the eagle of Zeus ate his liver. Because Prometheus (pro-me-thee-us) was immortal, his liver grew back every night, only to be eaten the next day by the eagle. His suffering was meant to go on forever. Zeus accepted an appeal from Hercules to show Prometheus (pro-me-thee-us) mercy. The wise centaur, Chiron (keye-ron), agreed to give up his immortality in exchange for Prometheus' freedom. Once Zeus agreed, Hercules shot the eagle through the heart. Zeus placed the Eagle among the stars for his devoted service.

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4. Aries (Air-eez) – the RamInteresting Facts


The Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Persians all agreed on this constellation’s name of the Ram.

Aries is the 39th largest constellation. The constellation Aries has five stars

with known planets Aries belongs to the Zodiac family of

constellations. Best seen in December.

Myth

The story of Aries begins with the unhappy children of a broken family.

Queen Ino (eye-know) hated the children of King Athamas (ath-uh-mass). She decided to get rid of them. The first thing that she did was to spread disease among the crops so that the crops would fail and there would be no harvest.

When the king sent to the great oracle at Delphi to ask of the gods the reason for the failure, Ino (eye-know) had messengers to bring back the answer that the children should be sacrificed to save the crops. When the king didn’t want to make the sacrifice, the local priests insisted that the children must be sacrificed.

Athamas (ath-uh-mass) took the children to the top of a nearby mountain to make the sacrifice. Their dead mother was watching from heaven. She asked the gods to send down a golden ram and carry the children to safety. This is the ram of Aries (air-eez). Moments before the sacrifice, the ram arrived and carried the children to safety.

Aries also represents the Golden Fleece Jason and the Argonauts returned to Greece.

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5. Auriga (Ah-ree-guh) – the Charioteer

Interesting Facts

It is an ancient Northern Hemisphere constellation. Auriga (ah-ree-guh) is usually pictured as a charioteer; the youth

Auriga wields a whip in one hand and holds a goat (Capella [kuh-pell-uh]) and her two kids in the other.

Capella (kuh-pell-uh) is the 6th brightest star in the sky. Capella (kuh-pell-uh) means "small goat. Auriga is the 21st largest constellation in the sky. Auriga (ah-ree-guh) belongs to the Perseus family of constellations. Best seen in February

Myth

Auriga (ah-ree-guh) is identified with Erichthonius (air-ik-thoh-knee-us), king of Athens and son of the fire god Hephaestus (huh-fest-us). Erichthonius (air-ik-thoh-knee-us) was raised by the goddess Athena, who taught him many skills he wouldn’t have ordinarily learned. He was the first man who used four horses to pull a chariot, imitating the chariot of the Sun god. Zeus was impressed and later placed Erichthonius (air-ik-thoh-knee-us) among the stars.

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6. Cancer – the Crab

Interesting Facts

This is one of the 12 (13 really!) constellations of the Zodiac. Cancer is famous only because it is a part of the Zodiac. Cancer is very faint with no stars brighter than 4th magnitude. Is the 31st largest constellation. Belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations. The name comes from the Latin; cancer means crab. Best seen in March.

Myth

Cancer is connected with the crab in the story of the Twelve Labors of Hercules.

Hera sends the crab to annoy Hercules when he was fighting Hydra, the serpent-like beast with many heads and poisonous breath. When the crab tries to kill Hercules, he kicks it all the way to the stars.

The crab ended up in a region of the sky that has no bright stars, because despite its efforts, the crab was not successful in accomplishing the task Hera gave it.

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7. Canis (kay-nus) Major – the Large Dog

Interesting Facts

Canis Major is the 43rd largest constellation. Three stars with known planets are found in Canis Major. When Sirius rose before the Sun, the Egyptians knew the

Nile was about to flood. Canis Major belongs to the Orion family of constellations. Sirius, the dog star, is the brightest star in the sky. The phrase, “dog days of summer” comes from the

Egyptians. They thought August was so hot because Sirius was in the sky during the day along with the

Sun. The extra heat came from Sirius.

Best seen in February.

Myth

Canis Major is seen as one of the two hunting dogs of the great hunter Orion.

Canis Major is related with Laelaps (lay-laps), the fastest dog in the world. Zeus gave Laelaps (lay-laps) to Europa (you-rope-uh) as a present, along with a javelin that could not miss. The gift proved to be an unfortunate one. Europa (you-rope-uh) was killed accidentally by her husband Cephalus (seph-uh-luhs), who was out hunting with the javelin.

Cephalus (seph-uh-luhs) took the dog to hunt down a fox that was causing some trouble. Like Laelaps (lay-laps), the fox was very fast and could not be caught. Once the dog found the fox and started chasing it, the race did not appear to have an end in sight. Zeus himself finally ended it and turned both animals to stone. He placed the dog in the night sky as the constellation Canis Major.

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8. Capricornus (kap-ri-corn-us) – the Water Goat

Interesting Facts

Australian Aborigines (ab-or-rij-uh-knees) call the Capricorn a kangaroo constellation.

Capricornus is the 40th biggest constellation in the sky.

Capricornus has three stars with known planets.

Capricornus belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations,

Best seen in September.

Myth

Capricornus represents the forest deity Pan. He had the legs and horns of a goat. Pan was placed in the sky by Zeus in gratitude for his coming to the other gods’ rescue on several occasions.

During the gods’ war with the Titans, Pan helped scare the Titans away by blowing his conch (kon-ch) shell. He warned the gods that Typhon (tie-fon), a monster sent by Gaia (guy-uh) to fight the gods, was approaching. He also suggested that the gods disguise themselves as animals until the danger passed.

Pan eluded Typhon (tie-fon) by jumping into the river Nile and turning the lower part of his body into that of a fish. Zeus eventually killed Typhon (tie-fon) with his thunderbolts. This is why Capricornus is a goat with the tail of a fish.

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9. Cassiopeia (kass-e-o-pe-uh) – Cassiopeia

Interesting Facts

Cassiopeia is the 25th largest constellation. It belongs to the Perseus family of constellations. Three stars in Cassiopeia are known to have planets. The Perseid meteor show is also associated with

Cassiopeia. Best seen in November (can be seen all year).

Myth

Cassiopeia, the wife of King Cepheus (see-fee-us), was beautiful, arrogant, and vain. Her boasts that both she and her daughter Andromeda were more beautiful than the sea nymphs angered Poseidon.

Cetus (see-tus), the sea monster, on Poseidon's instructions, was to destroy the whole country was to by causing a flood. Cepheus (see-fee-us) and Cassiopeia consulted a wise oracle, who told them that the only way to save the country was to sacrifice their daughter. Andromeda was chained to a rock at the sea's edge, and left there to await helplessly her fate at the mercy of the sea monster. But Perseus arrived in time and saved Andromeda. Poseidon considered that Cassiopeia should not escape punishment entirely, and placed her in the heavens in such a position that she circles the celestial pole in an upside-down position for half the time.

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10. Centaurus – the Centaur

Interesting Facts

Centaurus is the ninth largest constellation in the sky.

Centaurus contains 11 stars with known planets. The brightest star in the constellation is Alpha

Centauri, which is also the fourth brightest star in the sky and the closest star to the Sun.

Centaurus belongs to the Hercules family of constellations.

Best seen in May. Centaurus is a Southern Hemisphere

constellation. You cannot see it if you are north of the Florida Keys, and there, when seen, it’s very low on the horizon.

Myth

The Centaur represents Chiron (keye-ron), the wise centaur who mentored many well-known Greek heroes. He was the son of the Titan king Cronus (crow-nus) and the sea nymph Philyra (phi-lie-ruh).

Chiron (keye-ron) was a teacher of medicine, music and hunting. He lived in a cave on Mount Pelion (pel-ee-on) and taught many young princes and future heroes. He died when he died when an arrow, shot by Hercules, accidently hit him. He had dipped the arrow in Hydra’s blood, a poison for which there was no cure.

Since he was immortal, he suffered terrible pains, but could not die. Zeus eventually released the centaur from immortality and suffering, allowing him to die, and later he placed him among the stars.

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11. Corvus – the Crow

Interesting Facts

Corvus is the 70th largest constellation. Corvus belongs to the Hercules family of constellations. Corvus has one star with known planets. Best seen in May.

Myth

One day Apollo was about to offer sacrifice to Zeus. He sent the Crow off with the Cup to fetch water from a nearby spring. The Crow was distracted by a fig tree bearing fruit that was almost ripe. The fruit tempted the Crow, but he didn't want to eat the unripe figs; so he waited for two or three days for the fruit to ripen.

Eventually the god tired of waiting for the Crow to return and fetched the water himself. The Crow, having eaten his fill of the ripe figs, flew back to Apollo with his long delayed Cup of water. Apollo was furious!

The Crow offered the excuse that a water snake had been blocking the spring, but the wise Apollo saw through the excuse and punished the Crow. Apollo changed the melodious voice of the bird into a raucous squawk. Some say that it was at this point that the white feathers of the crow were turned into black. But the worst punishment of all is that Apollo set the crow Corvus into the stars right beside the Cup. The water snake was commanded never to let the Crow get near enough to the Cup to drink.

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12. Crater – the Cup

Interesting Facts

Crater is the 53rd constellation in size. Crater has three stars with known planets. Crater belongs to the Hercules family of constellations, Best seen in April.

Myth

Crater represents the cup of the god Apollo. The constellation is associated with the story of Apollo and his sacred bird, either the crow or the raven, which is represented by the neighboring constellation Corvus. This is the cup Apollo gave Corvus to fill with water. When it takes the crow three days to return with the water, Apollo is angry. The crow lies and tells Apollo a water snake kept him from getting the water. An angry Apollo placed the water snake (Hydra), the crow (Corvus), and the cup (Crater) into the sky as constellations. The cup was placed on the back of the water snake. The crow was placed near the cup. The cup is far enough away from the crow so he cannot get a drink.

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13. Cygnus – the Swan

Interesting Facts

Cygnus is the 16th largest constellation in the night sky.

Cygnus has 10 stars with known planets. The brightest star in the constellation, Deneb, is the

19th brightest star in the sky. Cygnus belongs to the Hercules family of

constellations, The first verified black hole, Cygnus X-1, was found

in Cygnus. Best seen in September. Deneb, along with Altair and Vega form the

well-known Summer Triangle asterism (a “constellation” that does not officially exist!).

Myth

Phaeton (fay-ton) and Cycnus (sigh-see-nus) were racing each other across the sky when they came too close to the Sun. Their chariots burned up and they fell to the Earth. Cycnus (sigh-see-nus) came to and, after looking for Phaeton (fay-ton) for a while, he discovered his dead friend’s body trapped at the bottom of the Eridanus (air-uh-dan-us) River. He was unable to recover the body, so he made a pact with Zeus: if the god gave him the body of a swan, he would only live as long as a swan usually does. Once transformed, Cycnus (sigh-see-nus) was able to dive into the river, retrieve Phaeton’s (fay-tonz)

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body and give his friend a proper burial. This allowed Phaeton’s (fay-tonz) soul to travel to the afterlife. Zeus was moved by Cycnus’ (sigh-see-nusuz) sacrifice and placed his image in the sky.

14. Delphinus (del-feen-us) – the Dolphin

Interesting Facts

Delphinus is the 69th constellation in size. Delphinus has five stars with known planets. Delphinus belongs to the Heavenly Waters family of

constellations. Best seen in September.

Myth

Apollo, the god of poetry and music, placed the dolphin among the constellations for saving the life of Arion (air-e-on), a poet and musician whose skill with the lyre made him famous.

Arion (air-e-on) was sailing back to Greece after a concert tour of southern Italy when the sailors who were also on the ship started plotting to kill him and take the money he had earned. Surrounded, Arion (air-e-on) asked them to let him sing one last song. The sailors allowed this, and Arion’s (air-e-onz), music drew several dolphins to the ship. As he played, the dolphins swam alongside the ship and Arion (air-e-on) decided to take a leap of faith and he jumped overboard. One of the dolphins carried him all the way back to Greece. Later, Arion (air-e-on) confronted the sailors and had them sentenced to death. In this version of the myth, Apollo placed the dolphin next to the constellation Lyra in the sky, and Lyra represents Arion’s (air-e-onz) lyre.

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15. Draco – the Dragon

Interesting Facts

Draco is the 8th largest constellation. A very old and big constellation, Draco once held even

more stars. Quite fittingly, Hercules is just to the east of Draco. In fact, some cartographers draw the figure of Hercules with one foot resting on the head of Draco.

Thuban is the Arabic name for Dragon. This star was the pole star at about 2700 B.C.

Draco belongs to the Ursa Major family of constellations. Best seen in July (can be seen all year).

Myth

Draco represents the dragon Ladon which guarded the legendary tree on which grew the beautiful apples of gold. The tree belonged to the goddess Hera, the spouse of Zeus. It was the hero Hercules who killed the Dragon. The Eleventh Labor of Hercules was to steal the apples from the golden tree. Hercules killed the Dragon with arrows poisoned with the blood of the Hydra, and with the aid of Atlas, made off with the apples from the tree. After the loss of the apples, Hera placed the Dragon into the sky as the constellation of Draco.

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16. The Elk Skin – The Elk Skin

Interesting Facts

The Elk Skin constellation is made up of stars in Cassiopeia. The Elk Skin would be the 25th largest constellation. This constellation was created by the Quileute (kwill-e-ute)

Tribe. Three stars in the area of the Elk Skin are known to have

planets. Best seen in November (can be seen all year).

Myth

One bright autumn day, four brothers went elk hunting upriver in their canoe. The fifth and youngest brother did not go hunting that day but stayed home.

After they had gone a long way upriver, the eldest brother said, “This should be far enough.”

“We should be able to find elk here!” said another.

Packing what they would need for lunch and for their hunting, the brothers set off on foot in search of elk. Before they had traveled very far on the prairie, they saw a big man walking toward them. He greeted them and asked, “Where are you going?”

“We are elk hunting, Man of the Prairie,” they replied.

“I know how you can find all the elk you want,” he told them. “If you hide, I will drive elk down this ravine and you can kill them.”

Now, this man was a very clever trickster. As he began to walk away, he looked back and told the brothers that he would trade their poor arrows for the good ones he had been saving. Since they were

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(No picture of the Elk Skin was found. Use Cassiopeia as your picture to

represent the Elk Skin)


already in his power, they readily agreed. Soon they gave up their arrows for fine-looking but weak ones. The Man of the Prairie told them he was going off to find the elk for the brothers.

Soon, a big elk with huge antlers charged down the ravine toward the four brothers. Because their arrows were worthless, the elk was able to kill all four brothers. Then, he turned himself back into the Man of the Prairie.

When his four older brothers did not return, the youngest brother went out looking for them. Before long, he found their empty canoe near the prairie. Like a good hunter, he followed his brothers’ footsteps. Just as he came to the place where his brothers had met the big man, the Man of the Prairie came walking toward him.The Man of the Prairie tried to trick the fifth brother just as he had the four others. The youngest brother, however, was a medicine man and had powerful magic of his own. The Man of the Prairie could not persuade the fifth brother to trade away his arrows; he was ready for such a trick. He could see how worthless the arrows were. “This must be how he fooled my brothers,” he thought.

“I will not trade with you!” he shouted to the big man.

The Man of the Prairie turned to go away and the youngest brother hid behind a tree. Soon the man changed himself into a huge elk and came charging after the fifth brother just as he had charged the four brothers. He shot four arrows – one for each of his brothers – into the huge elk. Then he wrestled him to the ground and killed him. When he had skinned the elk, he stretched the skin and found it was even bigger than the prairie. He quickly threw the elkskin up into the sky.

And so it is still there, where you can see it on any clear night. Stars make the holes where the fifth brother had driven in stakes while stretching the skin. Other stars are the elk’s tail.

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17. Gemini – the Twins

Interesting Facts


The stars of Gemini include two of the most recognizable in the heavens: the twins Castor and Pollux.

Gemini is the 30th largest constellations. The two-man, United States capsule, Gemini, was named

after this constellation. Pollux is the 17th brightest star in the sky. The Geminids meteor shower is associated with this

constellation. Gemini belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations. Best seen in February.

Myth

The Twins represents the two brothers, Castor and Pollux.

Their mother was Queen Leda of Sparta. Castor was the mortal Twin and the son of King Tyndareus (tie-n-dare-e-us). Pollux was immortal. They were inseparable and devoted to each other.

Both twins excelled at the hunt and at the arts of war. Pollux was a champion boxer and Castor was a famous horseman. He was skilled with the sword as well and taught the art of sword fighting to the young Hercules.

The Twins sailed with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece.

Castor's life ended as the result of an encounter with another pair of twins. In a fight over cattle, Lynceus (Lie-n-e-cus) ran Castor through with the sword, whereupon Pollux killed Lynceus (Lie-n-e-cus). Idas (eye-das) attacked Pollux, but Zeus killed him with a thunderbolt. Pollux was heartbroken at the loss of his twin. He prayed to Zeus that he might share his immortality with his brother. Zeus took mercy upon the twins and set them together eternally among the stars as the constellation of the Gemini.

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18. The Constellation of the Hand – The Constellation of the Hand

Interesting Facts

The stars of the Constellation of the Hand are made up of the lower half of Orion.

The three bright stars that form Orion’s belt form the “wrist” of the Hand.

The Great Orion Nebula is found in the “palm” of the hand. Best seen in January.

Myth

The Constellation of the Hand represents the arm of a great Lakota chief. The myth tells us how the gods wanted to punish the Lakota chief for his selfishness and made the Thunder People rip out his arm. To help her father, the chief's daughter offered to marry whomever would recover her father's arm. One man made a long and perilous journey through the sky and the Earth.

Fallen Star, a young warrior born of a mortal mother and a celestial father, returned the lost arm to the chief and married his beautiful daughter. The return of the arm to the chief symbolizes the harmony between the gods and the people with the help of the younger generation.

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19. Hercules

Interesting Facts

Hercules is a sprawling constellation just to the west of Lyra. The constellation was originally represented as a kneeling

man with a foot on the neighboring dragon (Draco). Hercules is the 5th largest constellation. It belongs to the Hercules family of constellations. Best seen in July.

Myth

Hercules was one of the sons of Zeus. Hercules became immortal, but ever after, he was followed by the hatred of Hera. Since he had become one of the immortals, she could not kill him. So, she worked to make the life of Hercules a living hell.

Hera cast a spell on Hercules. He fell into a fit of madness and uncontrollable rage. Hercules was immensely tall and strong and skilled with weapons, so that in his madness no one could oppose or control him. Completely crazy, he slaughtered his children. Upon coming to himself, Hercules was stricken by grief and remorse at what he had done and appealed to the Oracle at Delphi as to what he could do to atone for the tragedy. The answer he received was that he must serve the King of Mycenae (my-seen-a) for twelve years. It was in fact from the Oracle at this time that Hercules received his name, which is written as "Hercules" in Greek, meaning 'glory of Hera'. The tasks that the King set for Hercules, became known as the Twelve Labors of Hercules.

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20. Hydra – the Watersnake

Interesting Facts

Hydra is the largest constellation in the sky.

Hydra used to be even bigger. It was eventually broken up into four constellations - Hydra, Sextans (the sextant), Crater (the cup), and Corvus (the crow).

Hydra belongs to the Hercules family of constellations.

Best seen in April.

Myth

Hydra figures in the second Labor of Hercules.

Hydra was a multi-headed snakelike monster. It was difficult to kill, because when one head was cut off, two more heads grew back out of the stump of the old one.

Hercules was able to slay the monster with the aid of his charioteer, who burned the stumps with a torch as Hercules cut off the heads of the monster. It was said that one of the heads of the monster was immortal. So after cutting off that head, Hercules buried it under a large rock.

After slaying the monster, Hercules cut open its body and soaked the heads of his arrows in the poisonous blood of the monster's body.

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21. Leo – the Lion Interesting Facts


Leo is the 12th largest constellation. Regulus is the 20th brightest star in the sky. The Leonids meteor show is associated with this

constellation. Leo belongs to the Zodiac family of

constellations. Best seen in April.

Myth Leo is the Nemean Lion slain by Hercules as the first of his Labors. The Lion lived in a cave near the town of Nemea southwest of Corinth.

This was no ordinary Lion. The Lion was an enormous animal with a hide like armor. It could be pierced by neither sword nor spear. The countryside was in terror. This was the animal that Hercules had to kill.

Hercules battled the Lion for a full month. Eventually he was able to grab the animal and strangle it to death. Using the Lion's own sharp claws, Hercules was able to cut off the animals tough hid, which he wore as a cloak, with the Lion's head serving as his helmet. The gaping mouth of the terrible Lion made Hercules look impressive indeed. The Lion's hide became Hercules' armor. He could not be injured by spear, sword, or arrow.

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22. Lepus – the Hare

Interesting Facts

Lepus, "The Hare", is an ancient constellation found under the feet of Orion, the Hunter.

Lepus is the 51st largest constellation. It belongs to the Orion family of constellations. Best seen in February.

Myth

The Hare was set into the sky by the Messenger God, Hermes, to honor the hare's swiftness. In the winter sky, the hare is seen right by the feet of the Great Hunter Orion. The rabbit looks like it is ready to flee. The legend of the Easter Bunny may also be connected with this constellation. According to the story, there was at one time a bird, which was changed into the hare by the Goddess of Spring. The creature lost its power to fly, but the hare was given great speed.

Once a year the hare is allowed to lay eggs again, which is why in the springtime, we hunt for the eggs of the Easter Bunny.

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23. Libra (Lee-bra) – the Scales

Interesting Facts

This is one of the 12 (13 really!) constellations of the Zodiac. It is the only constellation in the Zodiac that is not an animal. The abbreviation for the weight – pound – comes from

Libra – lb. It is the 29th largest constellations. Libra belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations. Best seen in June.

Myth

Libra lies between Scorpius and Virgo. Once long ago the area occupied by Libra was seen as comprising the claws of the scorpion Scorpius.

After about the first century B.C. this constellation has become associated with the Balance Scales. The constellation of Libra is sometimes seen as the Scales of Justice. This leads to an association with the constellation of Virgo, who has been identified with the Goddess of Justice. It is the Goddess who judges the souls of men after their death by weighing them in her balance.

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24. Lyra (Lie-ruh) – the Lyre

Interesting Facts

Vega is the brightest star in Lyra. It is the 5th brightest star in the sky.

Because of the Earth’s wobble, Vegan will be the North Star in about 10,000 years.

Vega, along with Deneb and Altair form the well-known Summer Triangle.

Lyra is the 52nd largest constellation. Lyra belongs to the Hercules family of constellations. Best seen in August.

Myth

Hermes, the Messenger God, invented the Lyre. Hermes happened upon an empty tortoise shell, and turning the shell around in his hands, he idly thumped it. The resonant echoes of the shell gave him the idea of tying strings across the shell. He found the strings made beautiful sounds, and so the Lyre was created.

Hermes gave the Lyre to the god Apollo. Apollo passed the Lyre on to his son, Orpheus (or-phe-us), who sailed with Jason and the Argonauts (are-go-nots). He was the most accomplished musician of the

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age. The music of Orpheus (or-phe-us) could charm people, even angry people, and wild beasts. Orpheus (or-phe-us) with his Lyre could charm even rocks and streams. After a mob killed Orpheus (or-phe-us), they took his Lyre and threw it in a river. Zeus sent a vulture to retrieve the Lyre, which he set into the stars.

25. Maui’s Hook – Maui’s Hook - (Hawaiian and Maori)

Interesting Facts

Maui’s hook is made up of stars in the Little Dipper, Draco, Boötes, Corvus, and Capricornus.

Best seen in June.

Myth

Maui's brothers, weary of seeing their younger brother catch so many fish when they could barely hook enough to feed their families. They tried to leave him behind when they went fishing, but their wives complained to Maui of a lack of fish, so he promised them a catch so large they would be unable to finish it before it went bad.

To make good his boast Maui carefully prepared a special fishhook which he pointed with a chip from the magic jawbone, and then hid under the flooring mats of his brothers' fishing canoe.

At dawn, the brothers silently set sail, thinking they had managed to leave their brother behind, and only when they were well out to sea did Maui emerge. The brothers were furious, but it was too late to turn back. After they had fished in vain, Maui suggested that they sail until well out of sight of land, where they would catch as many fish as the canoe could carry. The dispirited brothers were easily persuaded, and Maui's prediction came true. But even when the canoe was so overladen with fish that it was taking on water and the brothers were ready to set sail for home, Maui produced his own hook and line and against their protests insisted on throwing it out. For bait, he struck his nose until it bled and smeared the hook with his own blood. As Maui began to chant a spell, the line went tight. Though the canoe almost turned over and was close to sinking, Maui pulled all the harder and his terrified brothers bailed the more furiously.

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At last, Maui's catch was dragged to the surface and they all gazed in wonder. For Maui's hook had caught the Hawaiian Islands (Hawaii) or the Islands of New Zealand (Maori).

26. Ophiuchus (o-fi-you-cuss) – the Serpent Bearer

Interesting Facts

Ophiuchus is the 13th member of the Zodiac. The part of the constellation in the Zodiac is

found between Scorpius and Sagittarius. Ophiuchus is the 11th largest constellation. Ophiuchus is a part of the Hercules family of

constellations. Best seen in July.

Myth

In Greek myth, Ophiuchus (o-fi-you-cuss) represents the god of medicine, Asclepius (uh-sclep-e-us). Asclepius (uh-sclep-e-us) was the son of Apollo and was taught by Chiron (keye-ron), the Centaur. He learned how to bring people back from the dead, which worried Hades. The god of the underworld asked his brother Zeus to kill the medicine god. Zeus did strike him dead, but then put the figure of Asclepius in the sky to honor him.

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27. Orion – the Hunter

Interesting Facts

Second only to the Big Dipper, Orion is one of the most recognizable patterns of stars in the northern sky.

From the northern hemisphere, the three bright stars in a straight line that form Orion's Belt are easily visible on the southern horizon in winter evenings.

The bright star that forms Orion's left shoulder is Betelgeuse (beetle-juice). The name of this star means "The Armpit of the Central One" in Arabic,

Orion was recognized across many cultures. Hanging down from Orion's belt is his sword that is

made up of three fainter stars. The central "star" of the sword is actually not a star at all, but the Great Orion Nebula, where new stars are forming.

Orion is the 26th largest constellation. Orion belongs to the Orion family of constellations. Best seen in January.

Myth

Orion was the son of Poseidon. He was so tall that he could stride across the bottom of the sea with his head sticking out above the waves. Poseidon gave him the ability to walk on the surface of the water. In the sky, Orion carries an unbreakable bronze club. In his other hand, he bears the pelt of a lion.

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Myth has it that the sting of a Scorpion killed Orion. The Scorpion is identified with the constellation of Scorpius, halfway around the sky from Orion. The Scorpion was sent by the Gaia (guy-uh), the Goddess of the Earth, because Orion had dared to hunt down all the animals of the earth. As the Scorpion rises in the east, Orion sets, indicating the victory of the Scorpion over the Hunter.

28. Pegasus – the Winged Horse

Interesting Facts

Pegasus is a conspicuous constellation which includes the so-called "Great Square of Pegasus". However, it must now share the northeast corner of the square with Andromeda; a star from the “Great Square” (Alpheratz) was given to Andromeda, to provide the lady with a

head!

Pegasus is the 7th largest constellation. Pegasus belongs to the Perseus family of

constellations. Best seen in October.

Myth29 | P a g e


Pegasus is a white winged horse that sprang from the neck of the Gorgon Medusa when Perseus beheaded her.

Bellerophon (bell-air-o-fon) was a hero sent Chimaera (kie-mur-uh), a monster that breathed fire and was destroying kingdoms. Bellerophon (bell-air-o-fon) found Pegasus and tamed him using a golden bridle given to him by Athena. He swooped down on the Chimaera (kie-mur-uh) from the sky and killed the monster with his lance and arrows. After this and several other heroic deeds, Bellerophon (bell-air-o-fon) let the successes get to his head. Riding Pegasus, he tried to fly to Olympus and join the gods. He didn’t succeed. He fell off the horse and back to Earth.

Pegasus did however make it to Olympus. There, Zeus used the horse to carry his thunder and lightning, and eventually placed him among the constellations.

29. Perseus

Interesting Facts

Perseus is the 24th largest constellation. The Perseid meteor shower is associated with this

constellation. It belongs to the Perseus family of constellations. As far back as 100 A.D., Perseus was seen as

holding the head of Medusa, with the star Algol being the "evil eye" of the Gorgon.

Best seen in December.

Myth

Perseus is the son of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, and a mortal woman. When Perseus grew up, he was sent on an impossible quest. He was sent to kill Medusa. She was so ugly, anyone who looked at them would turn to stone.

He pleaded with the gods for help. He a mirrored shield by Athena and a pair of winged sandals by Hermes. Perseus flew using the sandals to find Medusa. When he found her, he did not look at her.

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Instead, he used the reflection in the shield to guide his sword so he could behead her as she slept. As she died, the white, winged horse Pegasus sprang from her neck.

On his way back from his victory against Medusa, Perseus came across a woman chained to a rock, waiting to be sacrificed to a sea monster. This woman was Andromeda, the Princess. Her mother, Cassiopeia boasted that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the sea nymphs who were the daughters of Poseidon. Angered by the insult to his daughters, Poseidon sent floods to the lands ruled by Cassiopeia and her husband, King Cepheus. Cepheus consulted an oracle who told him that the only way to satisfy Poseidon's anger was to sacrifice his daughter.

Luckily, Perseus came on the scene just in the nick of time and killed the sea monster and saved the princess.

30. Pisces (Pie-seas) – the Fish

Interesting Facts


Pisces in the 14th largest constellation in the sky.

Pisces is depicted as two fish connected by their tails at the star Alrescha (al-ray-shaw).

Pisces belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations.

Best seen in November.

Myth

The Fish represent Aphrodite (af-row-die-tea) and her son Eros (air-os). Aphrodite (af-row-die-tea) was the Goddess of Love and Eros (air-os) was her son with Ares (air-eez), the God of War.

Pisces (pie-seas) refers to the battle with the monstrous Typhon (tie-fon) in the ten-year war where the younger gods overthrew the elder Titans. One day the gods were surprised by the approach of the monster. The goat god Pan shouted a warning and tried to change himself into a fish. Aphrodite (af-row-die-tea) and Eros (air-os) were changed into fish themselves and swam away to safety. As they

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appear in the sky, a cord ties the two fish together. Aphrodite (af-row-die-tea) tied the little boy to her body so that he would not get lost as they swam away to safety.

31. Sagittarius (Saj-i-tear-e-us) – the Archer

Interesting Facts


The center of our galaxy, the Milky Way, lies in the direction of Sagittarius.

Sagittarius is the 15th largest constellation. Sagittarius belongs to the Zodiac family of

constellations. An asterism (a “constellation” that does not officially

exist!) called the “Teapot” can be found in Sagittarius.

Best seen in August.

Myth32 | P a g e


The Greeks identified the constellation as Crotus (crow-tus), the son of the god Pan and Eupheme (you-fee-me), the nurse of the Muses (myou-suz). Crotus (crow-tus) was a satyr (say-tar), a creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a goat. Although most satyrs(say-tarz) were wild, uncultured and disrespectful, Crotus (crow-tus) was gentle and became a great musician and hunter, who invented the bow. Because he was close to the Muses, they were the ones who asked Zeus to place him among the stars as Sagittarius, the archer.

32. Scorpius (score-pea-us) – the Scorpion

Interesting Facts


Scorpius is one of the oldest constellations known - possibly even one of the original six signs of the Zodiac.

The Sun only spends nine days in Scorpius. Most of the time the Sun spends its time in neighboring Ophiuchus (the 13th constellation of the Zodiac).

The constellation was once much larger, but the western portion representing the claws of the scorpion was given to Libra.

Antares is the 15th brightest star in the sky. It is a bright, red star. “Antares” means “rival of

Mars.” Antares has been mistake for Mars. Scorpius is the 33rd largest constellation. Scorpius belongs to the Zodiac family of

constellations. Best seen in July.

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Myth

Scorpius is almost exactly halfway around the Zodiac from the constellation of Orion. Scorpius rises around the time Orion sets and vice versa. Scorpius was put in the sky, it is said, for the following reason: Orion, since he used to hunt, and felt confident that he was most skilled of all in that pursuit, said to Artemis that he was able to kill anything the earth produced. Gaia (guy-uh), the Earth, angered at this, sent the Scorpion to kill him. Zeus, admiring the courage of both, put the Scorpion among the stars, as a lesson to men not to be too self-confident. Artemis, because of her love for Orion, asked Zeus also to place Orion in the sky. The constellation was established in such a way that when Scorpion rises, Orion sets.

33. The Slingshot Stars – The Slingshot Stars

Interesting Facts

The stars in this constellation were made using the stars in the constellation Delphinus (the Dolphin).

The constellation was created by the Pueblo tribe. The size of the Slingshot Stars would make this the 69th

largest constellation. Best seen in September.

Myth

Long ago, in the days after the great flood when all things began to come alive again, the people emerged from the underworld. They began moving slowly to the south as they were instructed by Our

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(No picture of the Slingshot stars Skin was found. Use Delphinus as your picture to represent the Slingshot

stars.)


Mother, the mother of the Pueblo (pweb-uh-low) Indians. She also told the people that they were all brothers and sisters and were to live as one large family.

As they began traveling, one little girl, Kotcimanyako (kot-see-man-yak-o), was left behind in all the hustle and bustle of packing and moving out. She stood looking up at Our Mother.

“Come closer, Kotcimanyako (kot-see-man-yak-o),” said Our Mother.

The little girl came closer, and Our Mother gave her a little bag of tightly wrapped white cotton.

“Carry this little bag on your back,” she told Kotcimanyako (kot-see-man-yak-o). “Do not unwrap the bag for any reason.”

The little girl promised not to open the bag.

Again, Our Mother said, “Be very careful, little one, and remember not to pen the bag, no matter what happens.”

Again, Kotcimanyako (kot-see-man-yak-o) promised, though she had no idea what was in it and did not know why she was forbidden to open the bundle.

And so Kotcimanyako (kot-see-man-yak-o) began her journey to the south, hoping to overtake the others before too many days passed. As she walked, she wondered about many things, but most of all about the bag on her back. “Why can I not open the bag? Would it hurt to take just a little look?” And so she thought until her head was spinning and her curiosity began to get the better of her.

At lunchtime, she took the bundle off her back so she could rest by a little stream. She asked herself, “One little peek couldn’t hurt anything, could it?”

The bundle was tied with many knots. It seemed to be growing in her hands as she struggled with the first knot. Before long, she came to the last one and began working it loose. Just then, something popped out. As the knot fell apart, more things flowed from the bag and scattered all over the sky. She had no idea what they were, but they were coming out so fast that she grew very frightened.

Quickly, she tried to grab the ones that had not flown away and stuff them back into the bag. Her fingers worked fast to gather as many as possible. Then she put them in her bundle and tied it tightly.

When Kotcimanyako (kot-see-man-yak-o) came to the south and the end of her journey, she discovered that the things she had let out were stars. She unwrapped the few stars she had been able to keep and the elders placed them in their proper patterns. This is the reason why most of the patterns are unnamed – those are the ones that scattered when Kotcimanyako (kot-see-man-yak-o) opened her bundle. The few we have names for are the ones that remained in her bag. They are the Slingshot Stars, the Pot Rest Stars, and the Shield Stars (Big Dipper).

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34. Taurus (tar-us) – the Bull

Interesting Facts

This is one of the 12 (13 really!) constellations of the Zodiac. Taurus belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations. The Taurid meteor show is associated with this constellation. Taurus is one of the oldest constellations. Taurus’ brightest star, Aldebaran (al-deb-uh-ron) is the 13th

brightest star in the sky. The Pleiades (plee-uh-deez) open star cluster (also known as

the Seven Sisters) is found in Taurus. Drawings of Taurus and the Pleiades (plee-uh-deez) cluster

have even been found in a cave painting dating back to 15,000 B.C.

Taurus is the 17th largest constellation. Best seen in January.

Myth

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Taurus was a bull known as Cerus (sear-us), a large and powerful bull of whom the villagers were afraid. He would regularly trample their villages. He was owned by no one, and none of the farmers knew where he came from.

The bull was wild and out of control. One day the Spring goddess Persephone (purr-sef-oh-knee) finds him trampling through a field of recently-bloomed flowers and goes to him. Though he cannot speak, he understands her and her presence calms her. They form a bond together, and the bull learns to behave himself. Persephone teaches the bull patience and how to use his strength wisely.

Every year in the spring when Persephone (purr-sef-oh-knee) returns to the land, Cerus (sear-us) returns to the land to join her. She sits upon his back and he runs her through the fields, allowing her to set all of the plants in bloom as they ride by. In the fall when Persephone (purr-sef-oh-knee) returns to Hades, Cerus (sear-us) returns to the sky as the Taurus constellation.

The Pleiades (plee-uh-deez) are said to represent seven sisters. They were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione (plee-oh-knee). When Atlas was given the task of holding the world on his shoulders, the daughters were so unhappy that the gods felt sorry for them and transformed them into the stars.

35. The Great Bear – The Great Bear

Interesting Facts

The constellation of the Great Bear was created by the Anishinabe (an-ish-shin-ahbee) Tribe.

The constellation is made up of the stars in Ursa Major. The area covered by the Great Bear would make it the 3rd

largest constellation. Best seen in April (can be seen all year).

Myth

Fisher was a small animal but a great hunter. Hunting was difficult in those days because it was always winter. "Come with me." he told his friends, "We will go where the Earth is closest to Skyland. The Skyland is always warm and we will bring some of the warmth down to Earth." The Otter, Lynx, and Wolverine traveled with Fisher up the mountains, closer and closer to Skyland.

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When they were very close, Fisher said, "We must jump up and break through to the land above the sky." The Otter jumped up and bumped his head on the sky. He fell on his back and slid all the way down the mountain.

Lynx jumped up and bumped so hard it knocked him unconscious. Wolverine jumped up and bumped hard against the sky. He jumped again and again until the sky cracked a little. He jumped again and broke through. Fisher jumped through after him.

They found Skyland to be a beautiful place, full of warmth and plants and flowers. They found cages full of birds which they released. The birds flew through the crack in the sky to the world below. The warmth of Skyland began to flow to the Earth and melt the snow. The Sky-People came out of the lodges and said "Thieves! They are taking our warm weather!"

Wolverine escaped back through the crack but Fisher started working to make the crack bigger. He knew that if it were too small the Sky-People might be able to patch it. The Sky-People began chasing him and shooting arrows. Although he was powerful, they eventually hit a fatal spot. The great Gitchee Manitou took pity on poor Fisher because he had tried to help his friends. He healed him and placed him in the sky. Each autumn as Fisher is falling towards Earth the Sky-People try to patch the crack and Winter comes. Then in spring, Fisher climbs back high in the sky and reopens the crack and Summer comes.

36. The Great Bear – The Great Bear

Interesting Facts

The constellation of the Great Bear was created by The Wasco Tribe.

The constellation is made up of the stars in Ursa Major.

The area covered by the Great Bear would make it the 3rd largest constellation.

Best seen in April (can be seen all year).

Myth

Once there were five wolves who would share meat with Coyote.

One night the wolves were staring at the sky. "What are you looking at?" asked Coyote. "There are two animals up there,” they told him. "But we can't get to them." "That is easy,” said Coyote.

He took his bow and shot an arrow into the sky where it stuck. He shot another arrow which stuck into the first. Then he shot another and another until the chain of arrow reached the ground.

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The five wolves and Coyote climbed the arrows and the oldest wolf took along his dog. When they reached the sky, they could see that the animals were grizzly bears. The wolves went near the bears and sat there looking at them and the bears looked back. Coyote thought they looked good sitting there so he left them and removed his arrow ladder. The three stars of the handle of the Big Dipper and the two stars of the bowl near the handle are the wolves. The two stars on the front of the bowl that point to the North Star are the bears. Alcor, the little star by the wolf in the middle of the handle is the dog.

37. Ursa Minor – the Little Bear (Little Dipper)

Interesting Facts

The most famous star in Ursa Minor is Polaris, the North Star. This is the star that is nearest to the North Pole.

Polaris was the most important star for navigating at sea. To find Polaris, first find the

Big Dipper. If you follow the Two stars at the end of the cup upwards (out of the cup of the Big Dipper), the next bright star you will run into is Polaris. Because they are so useful for finding the all- important North Star, these two stars are known as the Pointer Stars.

Ursa Minor is the 56th largest constellation.39 | P a g e


It belongs to the Ursa Major family of constellations. Best seen in June (can be seen all year).

Myth

The Small Bear has to do with the birth of Zeus.

Because of a prophecy that one of his children would dethrone him, Cronus (crow-nus) disposed of his children as they were born. He swallowed them! Cronus (crow-nus) had already disposed of several children this way by the time that Zeus was born.

Zeus’s mother, Rhea (ray-uh), fooled Cronus (crow-nus) by wrapping a stone in the swaddling clothes of the baby Zeus. Cronus (crow-nus) swallowed the stone, thinking that he had disposed of the baby. Rhea (ray-uh) had Zeus smuggled to the island of Crete. The baby Zeus remained in the cave for a year. Eventually he overthrew Cronus (crow-nus) and forced him to throw up the children that he had swallowed. These children became the leaders of the younger gods, who in a ten-year war overturned the rule of the Titans to take command of the cosmos.

38. Virgo – the Virgin

Interesting Facts

Virgo is the second largest constellation in the sky.

It also has 20 stars with known planets, more than any other constellation.

The brightest star in the constellation is Spica. It is the 16th brightest star in the sky.

Virgo belongs to the Zodiac family of constellations.

It is best seen in May.

Myth

In Greek mythology, Dike (the Greek goddess of justice), lived in the Golden Age of mankind. She was born a mortal and placed on Earth to rule over human justice. The Golden Age was marked by prosperity and peace, everlasting spring, and humans never knowing old age. When Zeus fulfilled the old prophecy and overthrew his father, this marked the beginning of the Silver Age. This Age was not

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as successful. Zeus introduced the four seasons. Humans no longer honored the gods as they had used to. Dike gave a speech to the entire race, warning them about the dangers of leaving behind the ideals of their ancestors and saying worse was yet to come. Then she flew to the mountains, turning her back on humans. When the Bronze and Iron Ages came and humans started warring among themselves, Dike left the Earth altogether, and flew to the heavens.

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