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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Corona Borealis
Origin:
One of the constellations described by Ptolemy in the Almagest
(A.D. 140), Corona Borealis ranks among the oldest known constellations.
Information:
The northern crown is a small, easy to find constellation between Boötes, the Herdsman and Hercules. The constellation culminates at
around 9 pm about July 15. There are few deep-sky objects to be
found in the northern crown unless explored with a very large
telescope. Corona Borealis is, however, home to several beautiful
double stars.
Mythology:
According to one myth, the daughter of King Minos of Crete, Ariadne,
wore a jeweled crown of incredible beauty. Dionysus (Bacchus in
Roman mythology) desired to take Ariadne as his wife and to convince her
of his godly status, took the crown and threw it into heaven.
The Chinese saw the constellation as a
"cord". Australian aborigines saw a boomerang.
Ancient Arabs saw a broken dish (from the incomplete circle of stars). |
