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

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