![]() Hydra is well known as the largest of all the constellations. The trip was unsuccessful, as Zeus sent something to cause Pegasus to buck Bellerophon from his back, sending him plummeting back to earth.Īs a reward, Zeus placed Pegasus in the sky as a constellation. Pegasus was enlisted to carry Bellerophon to Mount Olympus after the deaths of his children. He was best associated with the myth of the hero Bellerophon, who slayed the Chimera with the assistance of Pegasus and the goddess Athena. In mythology, Pegasus was a beautiful, winged horse borne from Medusa, springing from her neck as she was beheaded by Perseus. It can be best seen at latitudes between 90 and -60 degrees.įrom summer to fall, Pegasus is best seen in the Northern Hemisphere.įrom winter to spring, it is best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere. Pegasus consists of fifteen recognised stars, formed into a square with lines emerging from its corners. ![]() Pegasus is the 7th largest constellation, thought to take up around 1121 square degrees.Īlongside other constellations, including Cassiopeia, Pegasus is a member of the Perseus family of constellations. Legend says that Gaia placed both the scorpion and Orion in the sky Orion is placed in front of the scorpion, destined to be pursued forever as a reminder that animals must be respected. In her anger, Gaia unleashed a scorpion upon Orion that he could not fight off. Orion claimed that he would kill every wild animal on earth, which angered the earth goddess, and mother to animals, Gaia. In mythology, Orion was a hunter famed for his abilities and hired by King Oenopion to kill the beasts that wreaked havoc on the island of Chios. The constellation can be seen from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres it can be seen best from latitudes between 85 and -75 degrees. One of the best ways to find Orion is by looking for the infamous Belt, which is made up of three stars. It contains the seventh brightest star, Rigel. It is the 26th largest constellation, covering about 594 square degrees. It can be seen around the world and is found on the celestial equator. OrionĪlso known as ‘the Hunter’, Orion is one of the most well-known constellations in the sky. Perseus used the head of Medusa to turn his opponents to stone, killing them all.Ĭassiopeia and Cepheus also fell victim to Medusa’s head and were elevated to the sky in their deaths.įor her vanity, Cassiopeia was condemned to forever spin around the North Celestial Pole and spend half of each year upside down. The wedding was interrupted by a former suitor of Andromeda’s, which caused a fight. She was rescued by the hero Perseus, who she later married. To appease the god, Cassiopeia and Cepheus bound their daughter, Andromeda, to a rock to act as prey for Cetus. In response, Poseidon unleashed a sea monster named Cetus upon the kingdom. Legend says she boasted her beauty outweighed that of the Nereids, the sea nymphs favoured by Poseidon. Mythological backgroundĪccording to mythology, Cassiopeia was the beautiful and vain Queen of Ethiopia, wife of King Cepheus. Visible all year, the constellation is found in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly the northwest and latitudes between 90 and -20 degrees. It is the 25th biggest constellation and consumes around 598 square degrees.Īlong with other constellations such as Andromeda and Cetus, Cassiopeia is part of the Perseus family of constellations.Ĭassiopeia is best identified through its distinctive ‘W’ shape, which is made up of five stars. Complete list of Greek ConstellationsĬassiopeia is a large constellation seen in the Northern Hemisphere. ![]() In this article, we will list the Greek constellations and delve into a few favourites. Most are thought to predate Ancient Greece, listed in ancient work on constellations by Ptolemy and Aratus. There are currently 48 officially recognised constellations with Greek origins.
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