In partnership with Raygill Astronomy Club
Sagittarius the archer was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy. It remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. It is the most southerly of the zodiacal constellations and is always very low in the night sky over Yorkshire. Part of it remains permanently below our horizon. This group of stars is not particularly...
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Summer is generally regarded as the worst time for stargazing. It is true that the period of darkness is short and that the brilliant winter constellations are out of view. But the summer skies are certainly not devoid of interest. There are several legends associated with Cygnus the Swan. According to one of these, Jupiter changed himself into a swan when...
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The scorpion is a superb constellation. Methodologically it is the scorpion, which rose out of the ground at Juno’s command, at attack the great hunter Orion. A large and sprawling constellation, which lies near the Milky Way, and thus holds many bright open and globular star clusters. A welcome change after hunting down the faint and distant galaxies of...
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Virgo (the constellation of the Virgin) In mythology Virgo was identical with Astraea, the daughter of Jupiter and Themis, and the goddess of justice. During the golden age Astraea ruled the world, but when mankind altered its ways the goddess was so disgusted that she returned to heaven. I think we know how she felt with world affairs as they are. Spica,...
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Hydra (the constellation of the Water snake or Sea serpent) An original constellation. Mythologically it was a monster with a hundred heads. It was Hercules second labour to kill the monster, which he did. Hydra has the distinction of being the largest separate constellation in the Sky and also one of the dullest. Its has only one bright star,...
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Ursa Major is one of the oldest of the constellations, and is included in the forty-eight listed by Ptolemy. In western mythology Ursa Major was originally named Callisto. In Hindu astronomy it is named as Sapta Rishi, meaning the ‘Seven Great Sages. The seven stars are very important in Taoist astrology. Sometimes there are said to be nine stars...
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