Star Wars: Harrison Ford Appears at Comic-Con After Plane Crash - http://clapway.com/2015/07/11/star-wars-harrison-appears-at-comic-con-after-plane-crash678/

When it comes to the upcoming Star Wars movies–owned by Disney, logistically disowned by George Lucas, partially corrupted by sub-par prequels, and an aging Harrison Ford–most fans of the franchise are split between semi-religious release at the thought of a continuation to the universe the epic tale has weaved, or abhor the idea of seeing some favored actors limp around on stage for what may amount to nothing more than symbolic mania, deadening the old trilogy’s significance.

PROFESSIONALISM IS NEITHER ANTIQUATED NOR DISTANT

Wherever you happen to fall on the Star Wars fan spectrum, please know that these actors are alive and kicking. Literally. Harrison Ford, who recently sustained serious injuries when he crash landed his plane at a Los Angeles golf course in March, made his first public appearance for the fans’ ogling pleasure at a Comic-Con Star Wars: The Force Awakens panel. He showed up at the end as a pleasant surprise.

FORD PLEASED TO GREET HIS FANS

At the popping San Diego Convention Center, Ford’s entrance sent the crowd into hyper-drive as Harrison Ford joined fellow re-un-ex-costars Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill. Ford missed an earlier Star Wars event that came too soon after his flight mishap, but he certainly looked pleased to stand in solidarity with his cast and fans, despite what looked like an awfully painful limp.

HARRISON FORD UNDAUNTED BY PLANE MISHAP

The moderator, Chris Hardwick, made a point to inquire about the fictitious vigilante’s health, but was curtly redirected by Ford’s subject-changing responses, e.g., “Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you very much.” When a fan asked about his foot from the wild crowd, Ford simply responded, “My foot? I just walked here,” rhetorically ending that conversation. In pain or not, it seems Ford is here to work. However, perhaps he should keep Chewie closer for his next flight.

ALSO: COMIC-CON: FRANCHISE RE-LAUNCH & INEVITABLE SENTIMENTALITY

During the talk, Harrison Ford became slightly emotional when the group discussed the strangeness becoming more endemic of 21st century Hollywood of returning to a franchise this big, and this culturally affective, after such a long break. Ford reflects: “It should have felt ridiculous. That was 30-(something) years ago and I sort of grew up. And yet, there I was doing something I did so long ago. I will tell you that it felt great… The original Star Wars…was part of the beginning of my work life. I’m very grateful for the opportunity I had in that film and for the success of that film.”

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Star Wars: Harrison Ford Appears at Comic-Con After Plane Crash

Behold the tale of Perseus the hero. - http://clapway.com/2015/06/28/stargazing-101-perseus-the-hero/

I figured since we just discussed Cassiopeia and her daughter, Andromeda, we should move on to Perseus. If you recall from the last Stargazing 101 blog post, Perseus saved Andromeda by slaying the monster Poseidon sent. Here is his story!

They Mythology

Perseus was well known as a hero. He was born into royalty on his mother’s side, who’s father was the king of Argos. The king was given a prophecy that his grandson would kill him, so he locked up his daughter, Danae, in hopes she would never procreate and fulfill the prophecy. Zeus had other plans for the princess. The king discovered that his daughter was pregnant and furiously locked her and the child in a wooden chest and threw them out to sea.

Their voyage took them to the island of Seriphos where they were met with hospitality and kept safe. The king of the island, Polydectes, sent Perseus on a dangerous mission that no man had been able to complete. He was told to bring back the head of Medusa, a surely fatal assignment. The gods were watching over him that day and he was sent help from Hermes, the messenger, and Athena, goddess of war and wisdom. With their assistance, he beheaded Medusa and began his travel home. It was on his way there that he found Andromeda.

When his heroic story made it’s way around the lands, Perseus was invited to participate in games to honor a deceased king. Argos was attending these funeral games, each not knowing of the other, and while throwing the discus Perseus accidentally hit Argos and killed him.

The Constellation

Algol is a very famous star located in the cluster that makes up Perseus. It is the white “star” in the right leg of the man-shaped constellation. “Algol” is the Arabic word for “head of the demon” and it is said that this star is supposed to represent the eye of Medusa. What is even more interesting is that this star is a binary star and has another, dimmer star revolving around it. Since it is a variable star, it brightens and dims and almost looks as if it’s winking! If you’re in the northern hemisphere, you can see Perseus best in the winter.

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Stargazing 101: Perseus the Hero

The story behind the constellation among the brightest of stars... - http://clapway.com/2015/06/28/stargazing-101-cassiopeia-the-queen/

My mother loved to tell me the story of Cassiopeia the Queen. She shared with me the following version, the story her mother told her.

The Mythology

Cassiopeia was a famous queen who was very proud of her beauty. She constantly boasted that she and her daughter, Andromeda, were more beautiful than all the sea-nymphs. The nymphs didn’t like hearing this so they complained to Poseidon, god of the sea, who told Cassiopeia if she kept up with her ways that he would punish her and her land.

He threatened to create a monster to destroy them both. Her king took Poseidon at his word and sought out an oracle to tell him what to do. The oracle advised him to extend Andromeda as an offering to the monster. Only this act would appease the sea god, the oracle warned. The king took his daughter to the cliffs and chained her up. The gods favored Andromeda that day because traveling along the coast at that moment was Perseus. He spotted the princess and immediately fell in love. He told the king that he would slay the beast in return for Andromeda’s hand in marriage. The king agreed and Perseus kept his word. He defeated the monster and married the princess. Poseidon was not happy that Cassiopeia didn’t learn her lesson so he took her, and placed her in the stars as punishment for her pretentiousness. The constellation in the sky looks like an upside-down chair and it is said that she hangs from her throne for dear life.

The Facts

You might recognize this name from a 2001 movie starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, Serendipity. It’s definitely a chick flick, one of my favorites actually, so you may or may not have actually seen it. For whatever reason, the small scene between the two discussing her Cassiopeia shaped freckles became very popular. You can see the queen at night against a backdrop of the Milky Way. The middle star of the “w” shape of the stars is known as Gamma Cassiopeia and it is about 15 times the size of the Sun. This star, along with another of the constellation, Rho Cassiopeia, is destined to become a supernova eventually. Cassiopeia has produced two of these in the past. She is also home to one of the largest collection of young stars in the galaxy, right behind Orion’s in size.

What little girl doesn’t love a good old fashion love story with a happy ending for the princess? Growing up, I would always make my mom tell me the one about Cassiopeia. We’d go out in our front yard where she had made a pallet of blankets and she’d point out the constellation to me while telling me the story. This was a thing we did often with my mother. This is how we heard all the different stories. What’s your favorite constellation? Tell me below!

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Stargazing 101: Cassiopeia the Queen

Are you familiar with a different Orion story? - http://clapway.com/2015/06/25/stargazing-101-orion-the-hunter/

The Facts

Orion’s Belt — the belt of Orion the Hunter — is one of the most widely known parts of a constellation and one of the easier ones to spot in the sky.Orion himself, seen in the winter sky, is composed of 2 of the brightest stars in the sky and followed by his 2 constellation companions, Canis Major and Canis Minor. Located right below his “belt” is the Orion Nebula, a place where new stars are born!

It is a giant cloud of gas and dust and is somewhere around 1,300 light-years away from earth, however, it’s brightest stars can be seen through an amateur’s telescope. In 2012, a team of astronomers found evidence suggesting this nebula might have a black hole at its center.

The Mythology

As it was passed down to me, from a stargazing family, Orion’s tale was one of my favorites. Orion the Hunter was the son of Poseidon and was a very handsome and skilled hunter who was always followed by his two hunting dogs. He was very conceited and would often claim he could rid the entire world of all its beasts. Growing tired of his constant bragging, Gaia, Mother Earth, sent a giant scorpion to test him.

When the battle began, Orion quickly realized he was no match for the scorpion and jumped into the sea to flee. Apollo, God of the Sun, decided to end this nonsense. He coerced his sister, Artemis, Orion’s friend, to shoot him. He told her that the little black object swimming in the sea was a villain trying to escape, and he bet her that she wouldn’t be able to reach him with her arrow. Unable to turn down the chance to boast of her skills, Artemis shot Orion. When she swam out to claim her prize, she realized what she had done. She begged the gods to revive him, but they refused, so she put him in the sky where he would always near.

Following my youth, I realized with different cultures there are many different versions of whom Orion really was and how he came to live among the stars. In some, he was a rapist, and in others a hero and father. I’m sure my parents decided to find a cleaner version for me to hear as a child, but it’s still my favorite version. Are you familiar with a different Orion story? Tell me your version in the comments!

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Stargazing 101: Orion the Hunter