The Mythology of the Night Sky

Greek, Roman, and Other Celestial Lore
2. Auflage 2020
ISBN: 978-3-030-47693-9
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 331 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 591 g

Reihe: The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series

This book is for amateur astronomers who would like to know the mythology behind the names of astronomical objects in the night sky. It covers the lore and legend behind Ptolemy’s 48 constellations, along with significant asterisms, the planets and their moons, the brightest named asteroids and dwarf planets.

The revised second edition includes a host of new moons and dwarf planets discovered since 2011. In addition, it now features a new section on major asteroids and their associated myths. While still primarily focused on Greco-Roman mythology, the book now branches out to cover more recently named objects from other cultures, such as Hawaiian, Rapanui, Tongva and Inuit. 

To assist practical observers, the book gives the location and description of each constellation, including named stars and deep-sky objects. A host of helpful astronomy tips and techniques, as well as a brief introduction to astrophotography, are included to encourage direct observation and imaging of these mythical objects in the night sky.

Zielgruppe

Popular/general

Autoren/Hrsg.

Falkner, David E.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Astronomische Beobachtung: Observatorien, Instrumente, Methoden
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Geschichte der Astronomie
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Astronomie: Sachbuch

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

1 An Introduction to Greco-Roman Mythology                                                             

The Night Sky and Ancient Cultures                                                                                  Greek or Roman?                                                                                                                

The Creation of the World                                                                                                  

Astronomical Family Trees                                                                                                 

2 The Winter Constellations                                                                                             

Orion – The Hunter                                                                                                             

Canis Major – The Great Dog                                                                                             

Canis Minor – The Little Dog                                                                                              Lepus – The Hare                                                                                                                

Scorpius – The Scorpion                                                                                                     

Taurus – The Bull                                                                                                                 The Hyades – The Daughters of Atlas                                                                               

The Pleiades (M45) – The Seven Sisters                                                                             

Auriga – The Charioteer                                                                                                      Eridanus – The River                                                                                                           Aries – The Ram                                                                                                                 

Gemini – The Twins                                                                                                            

The Ship Argo                                                                                                                     

Puppis – The Stern                                                                                                               Pyxis – The Mariner’s Compass                                                                                          

Vela – The Sails                                                                                                                  

Carina – The Keel                                                                                                               

3 The Legend of Jason and the Argonauts                                                                     

The Constellations                                                                                                              

The Legend                                                                                                                         

4 The Spring Constellations                                                                                             

Ursa Major and Ursa Minor – The Greater Bear and the Lesser Bear                                

Ursa Major – The Great Bear and the Big Dipper                                                               Ursa Minor                                                                                                                          

Boötes – The Herdsman (or the Plowman)                                                                         

Virgo – The Virgin                                                                                                               Corvus – The Crow                                                                                                             

Crater – The Cup                                                                                                                

Centaurus – The Centaur                                                                                                    

Lupus – The Wolf                                                                                                                Leo – The Lion                                                                                                                   

Hydra – The Watersnake                                                                                                    

Cancer – The Crab                                                                                                              

5 The Summer Constellations                                                                                          

Ophiuchus – The Serpent-Bearer                                                                                        

Serpens (Cauda and Caput) – The Serpents                                                                       

Corona Borealis – The Northern Crown                                                                             

Corona Australis – The Southern Crown                                                                            

Draco – The Dragon                                                                                                            Aquila – The Eagle                                                                                                              Scorpius – The Scorpion                                                                                                     

Libra – The Scales                                                                                                               

Sagittarius – The Archer                                                                                                      Lyra – The Lyre                                                                                                                   Cygnus – The Swan                                                                                                            

Ara – The Altar                                                                                                                   

Hercules – The Hero                                                                                                            Sagitta – The Arrow                                                                                                            Equuleus – The Foal                                                                                                           

6 The Legend of Hercules                                                                                                

The Constellations                                                                                                               The Legend                                                                                                                         

7 The Autumn Constellations                                                                                          

Delphinus – The Dolphin                                                                                                    

Aquarius – The Water-Bearer                                                                                              Capricornus – The Sea-Goat                                                                                               

Pisces – The Fishes                                                                                                             

Pisces Austrinus – The Southern Fish                                                                                  Pegasus – The Flying Horse                                                                                                

Andromeda – The Princess                                                                                                 

Cetus – The Sea-Monster (Whale)                                                                                       Cassiopeia – The Queen                                                                                                      

Cepheus – The King                                                                                                           

Perseus – The Hero                                                                                                              Triangulum – The Triangle                                                                                                  

8 The Legend of Perseus                                                                                                  

The Constellations                                                                                                              

The Legend                                                                                                                         

9 Introductions to Other Mythologies

Norse Mythology

Celtic Mythology

Inuit Mythology

Hawaiian Mythology

Rapa Nui Mythology

Tongva Mythology

10 Planets and Satellites                                                                                                    

Mercury                                                                                                                               

Venus                                                                                                                                   Earth                                                                                                                                    Earth’s Satellite – The Moon                                                                                               Mars                                                                                                                                    

Mars’ Satellites                                                                                                                   

Jupiter                                                                                                                                  Jupiter’s Satellites                                                                                                               

Saturn

Saturn’s Satellites                                                                                                               

Uranus

Uranus’ Satellites                                                                                                                

Neptune

Neptune’s Satellites                                                                                                            

11 Dwarf Planets and Asteroids

The Dwarf Planets

Ceres

Pluto

Eris

Haumea

Makemake

Sedna

Quaoar

Orcus

The Asteroids

Vesta (4 Vesta)

Pallas (2 Pallas)

Ceres (1 Ceres)

Iris (7 Iris)

Eros (433 Eros)

Hebe (6 Hebe)

Juno (3 Juno)

Melpomene (18 Melpomene)

Eunomia (15 Eunomia)

Flora (8 Flora)

12 Astrophotography Using a Compact Digital Camera or Smartphone Camera

Introduction to Digital Cameras

Astrophotography Using a Compact Digital Camera

Astrophotography Using a Smartphone Camera

Author’s Final Word

Appendices                                                                                                                        

Appendix A Names of the Greek and Roman Gods                                                          

Appendix B Ptolemy’s Constellations                                                                                

Appendix C The Messier Objects                                                                                       

Appendix D NGC/IC Objects by Constellation                                                                 

Appendix E The Greek Alphabet

Bibliography                                                                                                                      

Index

Über Autor(innen)

David Falkner first became interested in Astronomy as a pre-teen when his father took him to a show at the Holcolm Planetarium in Indianapolis, IN.  He became hooked and has loved astronomy ever since.  When he was a teenager he inherited a home-made Newtonian telescope that needed the primary mirror.  He ground a 6” mirror and completed his first telescope, which gave him years of pleasure observing the heavens.  In 1973 David joined the US Navy and became an officer in 1980.  In 1986 as a Naval Officer stationed in Monterey, California he was involved with the Friends of MIRA (Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy) where he conducted outreach to local schools associated with the return of Halley’s Comet.  David retired from the US Navy in 1993 and settled in Minnesota where he continues his love of astronomy. He has taught introductory Astronomy at a local community college and does extensive astronomy outreach both a NASA Solar System Ambassador and as President of the Minnesota Astronomical Society.