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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Pegasus
Origin:
Pegasus is a very old constellation, dating back to at least the time of
the Assyrians (1500 BC) but probably even before. The Winged Horse
has been found stamped on coins dating to the same era.
Information:
Pegasus is among the most well-known constellations in the fall sky.
The "Great Square" of Pegasus nearly as well known as the
"Big Dipper" of Ursa Major, both being asterisms in their
respective constellations but often confused for the entire star
group. In any event, the Great Square provides a focal point for
finding other constellations; for example, Lacerta
to the northeast, Andromeda to the northwest, Pisces to the southwest (although the
"Circlet" is directly to the south of the Square), Aquarius to the southeast, Equuleus,
Delphinus, Vulpecula,
and Cygnus ascending, in order, north on the
eastern side of Pegasus. The Great Square is nearly overhead for
northern observers at 9 pm on October 28. Pegasus is worth exploring
with binoculars but it is in the telescope that the many excellent deep
sky objects of Pegasus will be found. The constellation is home to
several very fine galaxies (one amazing cluster of galaxies -- Stephen's
Quintet) and a bright globular cluster, M15. Using Pegasus as a
starting point, it is a small task to locate Andromeda and, from there,
the Great Galaxy in Andromeda.
Mythology:
Pegasus was the result of the mating of the Gorgon Medusa and Poseidon,
god of the sea, but Pegasus was not born from Medusa until her head was
cut off by Perseus. On his way home to the
island of Seriphos to present the trophy of Medusa's severed head to
Athena, some of the blood from the head dripped out of the sack in which
it was carried (the "magic wallet" provided by Athena) and fell
into the sea. Recalling his love for Medusa, Poseidon combined the
drops of blood with the white foam of the waves and with white sand of the
beach and out of the mixture was created the Winged Horse, Pegasus.
Soon after its birth Pegasus, in a
single kick to the ground on Mount Helicon, opened the famous spring of
Hippocrene. The spring became sacred to the Muses who believed it to
be the ultimate source of all poetic inspiration.
All who knew of the winged horse
desired to catch and tame the creature and Bellerophon, Prince of Corinth,
became obsessed with this goal. On the advice of a seer, Bellerophon
went to the temple of the goddess Athena. He stayed for the night in
the temple and, while he slept, the goddess appeared to him with a golden
bridle and told him that with it he would be able him to capture
Pegasus. Upon waking, he found the golden bridle beside him and it,
indeed, allowed him to easily catch and tame the excellent-flying
horse. Pegasus proved to be of great help in his many adventures,
including his slaying of the Chimaera.
Bellerophon's pride, unfortunately, got
the best of him and when he attempted to fly Pegasus to Mount Olympus, the
magic horse threw him off leaving Bellerophon to fall back to Earth.
Pegasus continued on to Mount Olympus and found shelter there with Athena,
Zeus' daughter. Here, Pegasus spent his days carrying lightning
bolts for Zeus. Bellerophon was left to wander the Earth, hated by
the gods. Athena immortalized Pegasus in the heavens as a
constellation. |
