The constellations

“Why did not somebody teach me the constellations and make me at home in the starry heavens ,which are always over head ,and which I don’t half know to this day ?” -THOMAS CARLYLE

Constellations are totally imaginary thing that poets made up which means ,a group of Stars that appears to form gods ,heroes ,and mythical animals . But as the stars are moving relative to earth ,these constellations will disappear and future generations will need to invent constellations for their own . But for now ,their are total 88 recognisable constellations ,from whom mine 5 favorites are –

1. HYDRA is the largest constellation of the 88 . It represents a water snake on whom Apollo’s crow blames it’s tardiness . God sent the bird ,Corvus to fetch him water in a cup which was associated with Carter . The crow was distracted and stopped to feast when it finally returned to Apollo ,it said water snake was to blame but God saw through bird’s lie and punished him by placing it into the sky. Apollo also turned water snake and cup in the sky where snake eternally prevents crow from drinking out of the cup .

2. DRACO name is derived from the Latin term which means huge serpent involves the most famous story where he was the dragon ,in order to possess the Golden Apples of Hesperides ,Hercules had a defeat the dragon . Dragon was defeated by goddess Athena ,when Olympian gods fought the Titans ,goddess Athena grabbed dragon’s tail and threw him into the sky. It is located between Ursa Major constellation and Ursa Minor constellation .

3. VOLANS is one of the smallest constellation which represents the flying fish and originally named Piscis Volans but as the time passed ,it was shortened to Volans . It is one of those constellations which are not associated with any myths or imaginary story and can be seen clearly in Southern sky . In the sky this flying fish is chased by the predatory fish represented by DORADO CONSTELLATIONS .

4. CORONA BOREALIS is well known to represent the northern crown and considering it’s size it lies on the 73rd position among 88 constellations . It is located between the BOOTES and HERCULES CONSTELLATIONS . In classical mythology ,it generally represents the crown given by the god Dionysus to Cretan Princess Ariadne and set by him in the heavens . It is a similar pattern of CORONA AUSTRALIS ,known as the southern crown .

5. GEMINI is the northern sky constellation and includes the apparent paths of sun ,moon ,and planets . According to Gemini mythology ,the constellation represents the twins ,Castor and Polydeuceus who belong to same mother but different fathers . Pollux was an immortal while Castor ,his twin brother was mortal and finally has to die . Having spent their whole lives together Pollux begged his father for help . Zeus decides that rather than killing Pollux so he can be with Castor he makes Castor immortal also ,and two of them get to live together forever as constellation GEMINI .