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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Capricornus
Origin:
Capricornus is one of the 12 zodiacal constellations, following Sagittarius and leading Aquarius.
The constellation was as such by the ancient Babylonians and is one of the
48 constellations described by Ptolemy in the Almagest (A.D. 140).
Information:
Capricornus is a Fall constellation that is highest in the sky for
northern observers around 9 pm early in October. The shape of the
constellation has been described as an inverted chevron, inverted
triangle, and bikini bottom. Capricornus is easy to find and
identify being locate north of Pisces
Austrinus and east of the "teapot" of Sagittarius. Capricornus is among the
other water-oriented constellations including Cetus
the Whale, Pisces the fishes, Eridanus the River, and Delphinus
the Dolphin, and Aquarius the Water Bearer.
Mythology:
In one myth, Pan was feasting with the other gods when suddenly the
monster Typhon (thus, the class of storm known as the typhoon)
appeared. To escape certain death, all of the gods but Pan changed
into a variety of different animals. Pan, in terror (hence
"panic"), jumped into the river (perhaps Eridanus)
before changing into goat. His lower extremities turned into a fish
tail while his upper body turned into a goat. The transformation was
so much to Zeus's liking and amusement that he placed the "sea
goat" into the sky. |
