what is the myth of pegasus the constellation

Pegasus: The Winged Horse

• The Myth Behind the Constelltion Pegasus. Pegasus was the winged-horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa when Perseus cut her head off. ...
• Pegasus Constellation Points of Interest
• Bright Stars in Pegasus. These are the stars in Pegasus with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.

Full Answer

What is the story behind the constellation Pegasus?

What is the story behind the Pegasus constellation? The constellation of Pegasus is associated with the myth of the white-winged horse that sprang from the neck of the Gorgon Medusa, when the hero Perseus beheaded her, in Greek mythology.

What is the Pegasus constellation in the northern hemisphere?

Constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and is one of the 88 constellations recognised today.

What is the most famous myth about Pegasus?

The most famous myth involving Pegasus is the one of Bellerophon, the hero who was sent by King Iobates of Lycia to kill the Chimaera, a monster that breathed fire and was devastating the king’s land. Bellerophon found Pegasus and tamed him using a golden bridle given to him by the goddess Athena.

How many stars are in the constellation Pegasus?

Pegasus belongs to the Perseus family of constellations, along with Andromeda, Auriga, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cetus, Lacerta, Perseus, and Triangulum. Pegasus contains a Messier object – Messier 15 (NGC 7078, Cumulo de Pegaso) – and has nine stars with confirmed planets.

What is special about Pegasus?

It has 12 times our sun's mass, 185 times its radius, and is 5,000 times more luminous. Enif means “the nose” in Arabic and marks the muzzle of the Winged Horse. Scheat (Beta Pegasi), the second brightest star in Pegasus, is a red giant star (M2.

Who named the Pegasus constellation?

PtolemyPtolemy was an ancient astronomer who named and recorded the first 48 constellations, including Pegasus, the winged horse.

What did Pegasus do in Greek mythology?

He belonged to the Greek hero Bellerophon for some time, before being stabled by Zeus and tasked with drawing the chariot of his thunderbolts.

How did Pegasus get its name?

When Perseus struck off the head of Medusa, with whom Poseidon had had intercourse in the form of a horse or a bird, there sprang forth from her Chrysaor and the horse Pegasus. The latter obtained the name Pegasus because he was believed to have made his appearance near the sources (pêgai) of Oceanus.

What are 5 facts about Pegasus?

15 Best Pegasus Facts to Make Your Mind SoarPegasus was the immortal winged horse from Greek Mythology! ... Just to be clear, there was only one Pegasus! ... It's fair to say Pegasus didn't look much like his Dad! ... Pegasus had power over water just like his Dad! ... The Spring on Mount Helicon was created by Pegasus!More items...•

What month can you see Pegasus?

It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and is one of the 88 constellations recognised today. Visible at latitudes between +90° and −60°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of October.

What powers does a Pegasus have?

Pegasus' PowersFlight.Carrying thunder and lightning to Zeus.Creating springs of water by pounding his hoof.Immortality.

What does Pegasus stand for?

Pegasus is a symbol for the immortality of the soul. An example of Pegasus is the constellation named after the winged horse in Greek mythology. noun.

What is the Pegasus weakness?

Weakness. No special weapons can cause extra damage to Spiral Pegasus, but he can be frozen in place by Dark Hold, the weapon/technique taken from Dark Necrobat. Pegasus takes extra damage from X and Zero's normal attacks while he's frozen by Dark Hold.

Is Pegasus a boy or girl?

Pegasus Origin and Meaning The name Pegasus is boy's name meaning "from a water spring". The white winged stallion in Greek mythology who sprang from the blood of Medusa when she was beheaded by Perseus. Pegasus was ridden by the hero Bellerophon in his fight against the Chimera.

How was Pegasus born?

Pegasus, in Greek mythology, a winged horse that sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa as she was beheaded by the hero Perseus.

How old is the constellation Pegasus?

12 billion years oldPegasus contains one Messier object known as M15, or the Great Pegasus Cluster. It is a globular star cluster that contains more than 100,000 stars. It is one of the oldest globular clusters known. It is 33,600 light years from Earth and is thought to be over 12 billion years old.

What is another name for Pegasus constellation?

The Winged HorsePegasus / NameFacts, location and map The neighboring constellations are Andromeda, Aquarius, Cygnus, Delphinus, Equuleus, Lacerta, Pisces and Vulpecula. The constellation name Pegasus is pronounced /ˈpɛɡəsəs/. In English, the constellation is known as Pegasus or the Winged Horse.

Who named the constellation Scorpius?

astronomer PtolemyScorpius is one of the 48 constellations identified by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. It is an ancient constellation that pre-dated the Greeks. The Sumerians called it GIT-TAB, which means “the scorpion.” In Greek mythology, it represented the scorpion sent by a jealous Artemis to slay Orion.

What constellation was named after a hunter from Greek mythology?

OrionOrion, in Greek mythology, a giant and very handsome hunter who was identified as early as Homer (Iliad, Book XVIII) with the constellation known by his name. The story of Orion has many different versions.

How were constellations originally named and identified?

How are constellations named? Most of the constellation names we know came from the ancient Middle Eastern, Greek, and Roman cultures. They identified clusters of stars as gods, goddesses, animals, and objects of their stories.

Who painted the Pegasus?

Pegasus as depicted by Johann Bayer in his Uranometria (1603). Source image provided by www.RareMaps.com — Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.

What was the winged horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa when Perseus cut?

Pegasus was the winged-horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa when Perseus cut her head off. He served as Perseus’ steed and helped the hero defeat the sea-monster Cetus to save Princess Andromeda and the country of Aethiopia.

What is the myth about Pegasus?

One myth regarding his powers says that his hooves dug out a spring, Hippocrene, which blessed those who drank its water with the ability to write poetry. Pegasus was born when Perseus cut off the head of Medusa, who was impregnated by the god Poseidon. He was born with Chrysaor from Medusa's blood.

Where is the constellation Pegasus?

Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky , named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and is one of the 88 constellations recognised today.

What is the name of the star that surrounds Pegasus?

Pegasus is dominated by a roughly square asterism, although one of the stars, Delta Pegasi or Sirrah, is now officially considered to be Alpha Andromedae, part of Andromeda, and is more usually called "Alpheratz". Traditionally, the body of the horse consists of a quadrilateral formed by the stars α Peg, β Peg, γ Peg, and α And.

What time is Pegasus visible?

For other uses, see Pegasus (disambiguation). Visible at latitudes between + 90 ° and − 60 °. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of October. Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology.

What hemisphere is Pegasus in?

Its position in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere means that the whole constellation is visible to observers north of 53°S. Pegasus with the foal Equuleus next to it, as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825.

How many degrees is Pegasus?

Covering 1121 square degrees, Pegasus is the seventh-largest of the 88 constellations. Pegasus is bordered by Andromeda to the north and east, Lacerta to the north, Cygnus to the northwest, Vulpecula, Delphinus and Equuleus to the west, Aquarius to the south and Pisces to the south and east. The three-letter abbreviation for the constellation, as adopted by the IAU in 1922, is "Peg". The official constellation boundaries, as set by Belgian astronomer Eugène Delporte in 1930, are defined as a polygon of 35 segments. In the equatorial coordinate system the right ascension coordinates of these borders lie between 21h 12.6m and 00h 14.6m , while the declination coordinates are between 2.33° and 36.61°. Its position in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere means that the whole constellation is visible to observers north of 53°S.

Which star system has an exoplanet?

Twelve star systems have been found to have exoplanets. 51 Pegasi was the first Sun-like star discovered to have an exoplanet companion; 51 Pegasi b (unofficially named Bellerophon) is a hot Jupiter close to its sun, completing an orbit every four days. Spectroscopic analysis of HD 209458 b, an extrasolar planet in this constellation, has provided the first evidence of atmospheric water vapor beyond the solar system, while extrasolar planets orbiting the star HR 8799 also in Pegasus are the first to be directly imaged. V391 Pegasi is a hot subdwarf star that has been found to have a planetary companion.

What is the story behind the Pegasus constellation?

The constellation of Pegasus is associated with the myth of the white-winged horse that sprang from the neck of the Gorgon Medusa, when the hero Perseus beheaded her, in Greek mythology.

What is the constellation of Pegasus?

The constellation of Pegasus is among the oldest and largest Greek constellations, first listed in Ptolemy’s Almagest, which had a total of 48 recorded constellations. The constellation of Pegasus is named and associated after the legendary winged horse, also named Pegasus, from Greek mythology. According to legend, the horse had magical powers, ...

What are the brightest stars in Pegasus?

There are plenty of interesting bright stars in Pegasus, among them, the supergiant star Enif, which is the brightest star in Pegasus, the second-brightest star which is a red giant, Scheat, the third-brightest, Markab which is an A-type subgiant star, the fourth-brightest in Pegasus, Algenib which is a subgiant star, the red dwarf and white dwarf star system designated as AG Pegasi, the pulsating Phi, and Psi Pegasi red giants, the white star Salm, or the first discovered Sun-like star to host an exoplanet, 51 Pegasi, among many others.

How many meteor showers are there in Pegasus?

There is only one meteor shower associated with the constellation of Pegasus, the July Pegasids. The brightest star in Pegasus is Enif / Epsilon Pegasi, which has an apparent magnitude of 2.399. Currently, around 12 stars in Pegasus have been confirmed to host planets.

What time is Pegasus best viewed?

Best Viewed: at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during October. The constellation of Pegasus is bordered by the constellations of Andromeda, Aquarius, Cygnus, Delphinus, Equuleus, Lacerta, Pisces, and Vulpecula. Pegasus is part of the Perseus family of constellations, along with Andromeda, Auriga, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cetus, Lacerta, Perseus, and Triangulum.

What is the name of the brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda?

There is one famous asterism in Pegasus, the Great Square of Pegasus, which is formed out of the three brightest stars in the constellation, namely Markab, Scheat, Algenib, and the star Alpheratz, which is the brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda. The Great Square of Pegasus asterism is used by astronomers as a guide ...

Where is Pegasus located?

Pegasus is located in the fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ4), and it can be seen at latitudes between +90 o and -60 o. Pegasus’s location in the northern hemisphere means that the whole constellation is visible to observers north of 53 o S, and it is best viewed during the month of October.

What is a pegasus?

Pegasus is a beautiful mystical white horse with wings. He flies through the skies, wild and free, visiting places of dreams and hopes.

What is the history of Pegasus?

Pegasus history dates back to ancient civilizations of the Greeks, Chinese and Hindus, and was documented in stories, folklore, and myths.

What is the Great Square of Pegasus?

The Great Square of Pegasus is a well-known asterism or star pattern. It is made up of 4 stars, Markab (Alpha Pegasi), Scheat (Beta Pegasi), Algenib (Gamma Pegasi) and Alpheratz.

What is the name of the spiral galaxy in the constellation Stephan's Quintet?

NGC 7319 is a spiral galaxy, also part of Stephan’s Quintet. These galaxies have formed by massive galactic collisions over millions of years. The NGC 7319 Pegasus nebula lies about 360 million light-years away from our Solar System.

What is the name of the southern constellation?

Pegasus is a southern constellation and the 7th largest constellation of the 88 named constellations. It occupies an area of 1121 square degrees. Pegasus lies in the fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere, NQ4.

What is the 7th largest constellation in the sky?

The Pegasus constellation is the 7th largest in the sky. It is also known as the Winged Horse. It is an ancient constellation that dates back to Greek times and is associated with a mystical horse who teamed up with a mortal Bellerophon, to accomplish many missions.

Which star is the brightest in Pegasus?

If you exclude Alpheratz, Epsilon Pegasi is the brightest star in Pegasus. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 2.3 and lies about 690 light-years away from the Sun. Enif is an orange sequence supergiant, that has a radius of 185 times that of the sun.

What is Pegasus's story?

Pegasus’s story was a favourite theme in Greek art and literature; Euripides’ lost tragedy Bellerophon was parodied at the beginning of Aristophanes’ Peace (421 bc ). In late antiquity Pegasus’s soaring flight was interpreted as an allegory of the soul’s immortality; in modern times it has been regarded as a symbol of poetic inspiration.

Who beheaded Pegasus in 2021?

Pegasus, in Greek mythology, a winged horse that sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa as she was beheaded by the hero Perseus.

What is the name of the horse that sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa?

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Pegasus, in Greek mythology, a winged horse that sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa as she was beheaded by the hero Perseus.

Who was the servant of Zeus?

Subsequently Bellerophon attempted to fly with Pegasus to heaven but was unseated and killed or, by some accounts, lamed. The winged horse became a constellation and the servant of Zeus. The spring Hippocrene on Mount Helicon was believed to have been created when the hoof of Pegasus struck a rock. Bellerophon with his horse Pegasus, stone ...

Overview

Mythology

The Babylonian constellation IKU (field) had four stars of which three were later part of the Greek constellation Hippos (Pegasus). Pegasus, in Greek mythology, was a winged horse with magical powers. One myth regarding his powers says that his hooves dug out a spring, Hippocrene, which blessed those who drank its water with the ability to write poetry. Pegasus was born when Perseus cut off the head of Medusa, who was impregnated by the god Poseidon. He was born with Chrysaor from …

Characteristics

Features

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