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Constellations and their Myths
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Capricornus
Capricornus is often represented as a sea-goat, a creature with the front part of a goat and the tail of a fish. It is connected to the deity Pan, who transformed into a sea-goat during an attack by the monster Typhon, according to Greek mythology. Capricornus is also a zodiac constellation.
Aries
Aries represents a ram with a golden fleece, which is linked to the Greek myth of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts. Aries is also one of the twelve zodiac constellations.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius represents a centaur archer and is often associated with Chiron, the wise centaur from Greek mythology. It points its arrow towards the center of the Milky Way and is one of the constellations of the zodiac.
Scorpius
Scorpius represents a scorpion and is linked to the story of Orion in mythology. According to one tale, Orion was killed by a scorpion sent by Artemis or Gaia. The constellation is easily identifiable by its 'J' shape and the bright star Antares.
Leo
Leo represents the lion and is associated with the Nemean Lion from Greek mythology, a fearsome beast that was killed by Hercules during his first labor. It is one of the constellations of the zodiac.
Ursa Major
Ursa Major is known for containing the Big Dipper asterism. It represents the Great Bear in various mythologies, including Greek where the nymph Callisto was turned into a bear and placed in the sky by Zeus.
Aquarius
Aquarius depicts the water-bearer, often identified with Ganymede from Greek mythology. Ganymede was a beautiful young boy who was taken to the sky by Zeus to become the cupbearer of the gods.
Pisces
Pisces depicts two fish tied together with a cord, associated with Aphrodite and Eros who transformed into fish to escape the monster Typhon, according to Greek mythology. This constellation also belongs to the zodiac.
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia is recognizable by its distinctive 'W' shape formed by five bright stars. It represents the vain queen Cassiopeia from Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivaled beauty and was placed in the sky as punishment.
Gemini
Gemini represents the twins Castor and Pollux from Greek and Roman mythology. The brothers were among Jason's Argonauts and were granted a shared half-immortality after Castor's death.
Orion
Orion is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and visible throughout the world. It is one of the most recognizable constellations, noted for the three stars in Orion's Belt. Mythologically, it represents Orion the Hunter, a figure from Greek mythology often associated with the goddess Artemis.
Taurus
Taurus is depicted as a bull in the sky, often identified with the bull that Zeus transformed into to abduct Europa in Greek mythology. It contains the star clusters of the Pleiades and Hyades.
Virgo
Virgo is often associated with various mythological female figures, including Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture. It is one of the largest constellations and also part of the zodiac, symbolizing purity and harvest.
Cancer
Cancer, the crab, is a constellation that is difficult to see due to its faint stars. It is associated with a crab that was sent by Hera to fight Hercules during one of his labors. In Greek mythology, after its defeat, the crab was placed in the sky as a constellation. Cancer is also among the zodiac constellations.
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