798
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Draco (constellation) (view source)
Revision as of 16:38, December 2, 2009
, 16:38, December 2, 2009Created page with 'Draco is an extensive, circumpolar constellation located in the far northern celestial hemisphere, almost encircling Ursa Minor. The constellation is most noted for ...'
Draco is an extensive, circumpolar [[constellation]] located in the far northern [[celestial hemisphere]], almost encircling [[Ursa Minor]]. The constellation is most noted for the fact that [[Thuban]], the north star of the ancient world is a member. Draco was one of the 48 constellations recorded by [[Ptolemy]] in his ''Almagest'' or Great Book, and is one of the 88 modern constellations.
==Mythological Background==
Likely recognized since the [[neolithic]] age, the constellation is among the earliest recorded in history. For the ancient [[Babylonians]], the constellation represented '''Tiamat''', whose body was split by [[Marduk]] to create the heavens and Earth. In [[ancient Egypt]], the constellation was known as '''Taweret''', the [[Egyptian]] goddess of childbirth, fertility, and of the northern skies. During this time, the star [[Thuban]] was the pole star, giving the appearance that the night sky revolved around the constellation. As such, one of the shafts from the burial chamber of the pharaoh [[Khufu]], inside the [[Great Pyramid]] pointed directly at the star.<ref>http://www.crystalinks.com/draco.html</ref>
In [[Greek mythology]], the constellation was associated with Draco, a [[dragon]] that lived in a far off land. According to the mythology, [[Cadmus]] traveled to this land with his soldiers as part his quest to find his sister, [[Princess_Europa|Europa]], who was previously kidnapped by [[Zeus]]. After being sent there by the [[Oracle]] of Delphi. The Dragon managed to kill all of Cadmus' soldiers while they searched for water before the [[Phoenician]] prince slew it. The goddess [[Athena]] then appeared to him, and informed him to sow the teeth of the dragon into the ground. The teeth then became new soldiers that helped Cadmus found the city of [[Thebes]].<ref>http://seds.org/Maps/Stars_en/Fig/draco.html</ref>
In both Greek and [[Roman mythology]], Draco also presented the dragon called '''Ladon'''. Ladon, according to legend, was the dragon that guarded the golden [[apple|apples]] in the garden of the [[Hesperides]]. [[Heracles]] was required to steal these apples as the eleventh of his twelve labors. He managed this feat by putting the dragon to sleep using music. Later, the goddess [[Hera]] placed the dragon into the sky and it became the constellation Draco.<ref name="starry">http://starryskies.com/The_sky/constellations/draco.html</ref>
In [[Chinese]] mythology, the constellation was seen as a dragon that consumed the [[Sun]] or [[Moon]] during an [[eclipse]]. The [[Persians]] saw Draco as a man-eating serpent known as '''Azhdeha'''. In early [[Hindu mythology]], Draco was seen as an [[alligator]] called '''Shi-shu-mara'''.<ref name="starry">http://starryskies.com/The_sky/constellations/draco.html</ref>
==Stars and other features==
In addition to the stars of the constellation, Draco has several other notable astronomical features. The [[Cat's Eye Nebula]] (NGC 6543), a [[planetary nebula]] some 3300 light years distant, is one of the deep sky objects located within the constellation. Others include the '''Draco Dwarf Galaxy''', a satellite of the [[Milky Way]], and the galaxy '''NGC 5866''', the latter located some 50 million light years away.
Despite [[Thuban]] having the alpha [[Bayer designation]], usually reserved for the brightest stars in a constellation, it is [[Eltanin]] (Gamma Draconis) that is the brightest star in Draco, with an apparent magnitude of 2.24.
===Named Stars===
*[[Thuban]] - Alpha Draconis (α Dra)
*Rastaban - Beta Draconis (β Dra)
*Eltanin - Gamma Draconis (γ Dra)
*Tyl - Epsilon Draconis (ε Dra)
*Aldhibain - Zeta Draconis (ζ Dra)
*Aldhibain - Eta Draconis (η Dra)
*Edasich - Iota Draconis (ι Dra)
*Gianfar - Lambda Draconis (λ Dra)
*Alrakis - Mu Draconis (μ Dra)
*Grumium - Xi Draconis (ξ Dra)
*Alsafi - Sigma Draconis (σ Dra)
*Dziban - Psi Draconis (ψ Dra)
[[Category:Astronomy]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Mythological Background==
Likely recognized since the [[neolithic]] age, the constellation is among the earliest recorded in history. For the ancient [[Babylonians]], the constellation represented '''Tiamat''', whose body was split by [[Marduk]] to create the heavens and Earth. In [[ancient Egypt]], the constellation was known as '''Taweret''', the [[Egyptian]] goddess of childbirth, fertility, and of the northern skies. During this time, the star [[Thuban]] was the pole star, giving the appearance that the night sky revolved around the constellation. As such, one of the shafts from the burial chamber of the pharaoh [[Khufu]], inside the [[Great Pyramid]] pointed directly at the star.<ref>http://www.crystalinks.com/draco.html</ref>
In [[Greek mythology]], the constellation was associated with Draco, a [[dragon]] that lived in a far off land. According to the mythology, [[Cadmus]] traveled to this land with his soldiers as part his quest to find his sister, [[Princess_Europa|Europa]], who was previously kidnapped by [[Zeus]]. After being sent there by the [[Oracle]] of Delphi. The Dragon managed to kill all of Cadmus' soldiers while they searched for water before the [[Phoenician]] prince slew it. The goddess [[Athena]] then appeared to him, and informed him to sow the teeth of the dragon into the ground. The teeth then became new soldiers that helped Cadmus found the city of [[Thebes]].<ref>http://seds.org/Maps/Stars_en/Fig/draco.html</ref>
In both Greek and [[Roman mythology]], Draco also presented the dragon called '''Ladon'''. Ladon, according to legend, was the dragon that guarded the golden [[apple|apples]] in the garden of the [[Hesperides]]. [[Heracles]] was required to steal these apples as the eleventh of his twelve labors. He managed this feat by putting the dragon to sleep using music. Later, the goddess [[Hera]] placed the dragon into the sky and it became the constellation Draco.<ref name="starry">http://starryskies.com/The_sky/constellations/draco.html</ref>
In [[Chinese]] mythology, the constellation was seen as a dragon that consumed the [[Sun]] or [[Moon]] during an [[eclipse]]. The [[Persians]] saw Draco as a man-eating serpent known as '''Azhdeha'''. In early [[Hindu mythology]], Draco was seen as an [[alligator]] called '''Shi-shu-mara'''.<ref name="starry">http://starryskies.com/The_sky/constellations/draco.html</ref>
==Stars and other features==
In addition to the stars of the constellation, Draco has several other notable astronomical features. The [[Cat's Eye Nebula]] (NGC 6543), a [[planetary nebula]] some 3300 light years distant, is one of the deep sky objects located within the constellation. Others include the '''Draco Dwarf Galaxy''', a satellite of the [[Milky Way]], and the galaxy '''NGC 5866''', the latter located some 50 million light years away.
Despite [[Thuban]] having the alpha [[Bayer designation]], usually reserved for the brightest stars in a constellation, it is [[Eltanin]] (Gamma Draconis) that is the brightest star in Draco, with an apparent magnitude of 2.24.
===Named Stars===
*[[Thuban]] - Alpha Draconis (α Dra)
*Rastaban - Beta Draconis (β Dra)
*Eltanin - Gamma Draconis (γ Dra)
*Tyl - Epsilon Draconis (ε Dra)
*Aldhibain - Zeta Draconis (ζ Dra)
*Aldhibain - Eta Draconis (η Dra)
*Edasich - Iota Draconis (ι Dra)
*Gianfar - Lambda Draconis (λ Dra)
*Alrakis - Mu Draconis (μ Dra)
*Grumium - Xi Draconis (ξ Dra)
*Alsafi - Sigma Draconis (σ Dra)
*Dziban - Psi Draconis (ψ Dra)
[[Category:Astronomy]]
==References==
{{reflist}}