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==Mythological Background==

==Mythological Background==

There are several stories in [[Greek mythology]] that involve the constellation Cygnus.  One myth involved [[Zeus]] and the goddess [[Nemesis]].  Nemesis sought to escape from Zeus by disguising herself as various animals.  According tot he legend, when she changed herself into a [[goose]], Zeus transformed himself into a beautiful [[swan]] and won her over.  The constellation was then formed to celebrate the exquisite swan.  Another version has Zeus becoming the swan in order to court the queen of [[Sparta]], [[Leda]].<ref>http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/cygnus.html</ref>

There are several stories in [[Greek mythology]] that involve the constellation Cygnus.  One myth involved [[Zeus]] and the goddess [[Nemesis]].  According to the myth, Nemesis sought to escape from Zeus by disguising herself as various animals.  When she changed herself into a [[goose]], Zeus transformed himself into a beautiful [[swan]] and won her over.  The constellation was then formed to celebrate the exquisite swan.  Another version has Zeus becoming the swan in order to court the queen of [[Sparta]], [[Leda]].<ref>http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/cygnus.html</ref>

Another Greek legend has Cygnus as one of two birds (the other being the eagle [[Aquila]], also a constellation), that were hunted by [[Hercules]], but managed to escape.  It is believed that the two birds, along with [[Lyra]] (the vulture) were the ''Stymphalian Birds'', whom Hercules were to slay as the sixth of the twelve labors.<ref name="seds">http://seds.org/Maps/Stars_en/Fig/cygnus.html</ref>

Another Greek legend has Cygnus as one of two birds (the other being the eagle [[Aquila]], also a constellation), that were hunted by [[Hercules]], but managed to escape.  It is believed that the two birds, along with [[Lyra]] (the vulture) were the ''Stymphalian Birds'', which Hercules slew as the sixth of the twelve labors.<ref name="seds">http://seds.org/Maps/Stars_en/Fig/cygnus.html</ref>

In [[Chinese]] mythology, the constellation is the once-a-year magpie bridge known as 鹊桥 (''Que Qiao'') from the story of ''the princess and the cowherd''.

In [[Chinese]] mythology, the constellation is the once-a-year magpie bridge known as 鹊桥 (''Que Qiao'') from the story of ''the princess and the cowherd''.

==Stars and Other Features==

==Stars and Other Features==

The binary star [[Albireo]] (Beta Cygni) represent the head of the swan.  The tail is where the brightest star of the constellation, [[Deneb]], is located.  Deneb is also the tip of the Northern Cross and the upper-left corner of the [[Summer Triangle]].  The dim binary star [[61 Cygni]] also lies within the constellation and is the closet star within it, only some 11.4 light years away, and is famous for being the first star to be measured using [[parallax]].

The binary star [[Albireo]] (Beta Cygni) represents the head of the swan.  The tail is where the brightest star of the constellation, [[Deneb]], is located.  Deneb is also the tip of the Northern Cross and the upper-left corner of the [[Summer Triangle]].  The dim binary star [[61 Cygni]] also lies within the constellation and is the closet star within it, only some 11.4 light years away, and is famous for being the first star to be measured using [[parallax]].

Cygnus is also the location of several notable deep sky objects, including numerous diffuse and [[planetary nebula|planetary nebulae]], and [open star cluster|open star clusters]].  The '''Fireworks Galaxy''' (NGC 6946) is also located here, known as the most active supernovae galaxy known.  Another galaxy is '''Cygnus A''', one of the strongest astronomical [[radio]] source known in the cosmos.  '''Cygnus X-1''' is another astronomical feature within the constellation and is famous for not only being one of the greatest known sources of [[x-ray|x-rays]], but the first discovered example of a black hole.<ref name="seds">http://seds.org/Maps/Stars_en/Fig/cygnus.html</ref>

Cygnus is also the location of several notable deep sky objects, including numerous diffuse and [[planetary nebula|planetary nebulae]], and [open star cluster|open star clusters]].  The '''Fireworks Galaxy''' (NGC 6946) is also located here, known as the most active supernovae galaxy known.  Another galaxy is '''Cygnus A''', one of the strongest astronomical [[radio]] sources known.  '''Cygnus X-1''' is another astronomical feature within the constellation and is famous for being one of the greatest known sources of [[x-ray|x-rays]].<ref name="seds">http://seds.org/Maps/Stars_en/Fig/cygnus.html</ref>

===Named Stars===

===Named Stars===