Columba is a constellation that was called Columba Noachi for awhile, which means “Noah’s Dove.” You recall I’m sure that Noah, at the ripe old age of 600, loaded his wife and his three sons and their wives and millions of animals into a boat with one little window. Yahweh himself closed the door. They […]
September 17, 2017
Coma Berenices – berenice’s hair
Coma Berenices is a constellation whose name is from an actual historical figure, Queen Berenice II of Egypt, 266 – 221 BC. Not only was she a real queen, she was the original drama queen. In many ways this was the time of real-life games of thrones. For example, her first husband had an affair […]
September 10, 2017
Corona Australis – the southern crown
The constellation named Corona Australis, the southern crown, used to be named Corona Austrina. The International Astronomical Union, the same magnificent bastards whose hatred of Pluto led to its utter and complete humiliation, officially recorded the name as “Corona Austrina” in 1922. Back then each constellation was also given a four-letter abbreviation to be used […]
September 3, 2017
Corona Borealis – the northern crown
Corona Borealis is a constellation whose name translates to Northern Crown. It is easy to find, just a semi-circle of bright stars high in the summer sky. It does look kind of like a tiara I suppose. It’s a bit of expensive jewelry that once belonged to Princess Ariadne of Crete. You may remember from […]
August 27, 2017
Corvus – the crow
The constellation Corvus represents a crow. I sort of wish it was associated with a crow story from one of the American Indian tribes. The Indian stories about crows are so much more dignified, glorious even. Crows and ravens in the Americas are wise and always doing great things like stealing fire from the gods […]
August 20, 2017
Crater – the cup
Crater is one of the constellations passed down from the ancients to us via Ptolemy. Its brightest star Labrum, “the lip” (of the cup) is rather dim. The allegorical drawing is usually of the type of cup that has two opposing handles, for serious wine consumption. In the story, the god Apollo is taking a […]
August 13, 2017
Crux – the southern cross
Crux, the southern cross, started showing up on some constellation maps in the early 1600’s. It became accepted more or less officially in 1679 when Augustin Royer insisted on tearing Crux away from Centaurus, of which it was a part since ancient times. It’s just as well because Crux is one of the most easily […]
August 6, 2017
Cygnus – the swan
The constellation Cygnus is a large swan, flying southward along the summer plane of the Milky Way. There is a dark lane that separates the cloudy path of our galaxy into two parts here. It’s known as the Great Rift. Although it looks like a divided highway, the dark part is really a long cloud […]
July 30, 2017
Delphinus – the dolphin
Delphinus is a small summer constellation which represents a dolphin. It’s one on Ptolemy’s maps which means it goes way back. It looks like a kite. At some point in history a few brighter stars, the kite-ish part but disregarding the tail, came to be known as Job’s Coffin. Job you may remember is the […]
July 23, 2017
Dorado – the swordfish
The constellation Dorado is one of 12 constellations created by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius, who liked to name stuff after exotic animals. The allegorical figure is usually drawn as a swordfish, even though the name itself is associated with dolphinfish. The name dolphinfish is associated with mahi mahi, and the name mahi mahi is […]
July 16, 2017
Draco – the dragon
Draco the dragon is a long, thin, dim, winding constellation that separates the two dippers. His neck curls back as though he is glancing behind, and his head is being stepped on by Hercules. According to the Romans, Draco was killed and placed in the sky by their goddess, Minerva. To the Greeks Draco was […]
July 9, 2017
Equuleus – the little horse
Equuleus is the ancient designation for this small constellation. Even Claudius Ptolemy included it on his maps as the little horse. It’s the second smallest constellation, the record for smallest being held by the southern cross. It’s usually drawn as just a horses head, sometimes peaking out from behind Pegasus. Maybe they’re related, on the […]
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September 24, 2017
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