STAR GAZER
THE INTERNATIONAL EDITION
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Horkheimer: Greetings, greetings fellow star gazers. Every October
and November a wonderful constellation appears almost overhead
before midnight. And although it is not as bright as summer and
winter constellations its mythology is absolutely magical and
poetic. Let me show you.
O.K., if you go outside between 8 and midnight in October and November and look close to overhead you will see four stars which if you draw lines between them make a slightly lopsided square which for over 2,000 years has been called the Great Square of Pegasus, the winged horse. But why you might ask is only half a horse pictured here? Well Pegasus was born from the blood of Medusa and the foam of the sea so perhaps Pegasus is just rising from the ocean, his other half still submerged although it has also been suggested that since the image of Pegasus was often used for the figureheads of ancient ships, this could also account for only half of him showing in the heavens.
In fact in an ancient work called "The Destruction of Troy" we read of "a ship named Pegasus which was likened to a flying horse." Pegasus is indeed a very ancient figure and is featured on some of the most beautiful ancient coins of Corinth and Carthage. Because Pegasus was associated with the heroic deeds of Perseus he has long been regarded as a celestial symbol to inspire heroes to perform wonderful deeds. But he is also regarded as a symbol to inspire poets. The reason being, as one myth states, that as Pegasus was prancing around one day, under his hooves a spring was created, a spring which was alleged to have magic power in its waters. For it was believed that if one drank of its magical water one would experience ecstasy and be gifted with the art of poetry.
But my favorite way of looking at this Great Square comes from the ancient Persians who imagined that this square was a portal to another dimension, the dimension of eternal bliss, the doorway to paradise. And sometimes when I'm outside looking up at this square I almost want to leap up and fly through it and see the wonders which lie deep within. You see, though we can see nothing within this square from urban areas, when you get away from city lights, on a clear moonless night, you may be able to count 10 to 15 dim stars with the naked eye within its borders. But with a modern telescope we can find dozens of galaxies, island universes of billions of stars like our Milky Way galaxy. So in a way this ancient square is a portal to another dimension, the dimension of the wonders of the universe, which we can now see with our modern telescopes. How wonderful.
So get thee outside some night before midnight
this October and November and gaze up at this Great Square and
remind your self of all the millions before us who have done likewise.
I think you'll find it almost magical. And it just may bring out
the poet in you. Keep looking up!
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Horkheimer: Every October and November an almost magical constellation flies high. Between 8 and midnight look close to overhead and you'll see the four stars which make up the great Square of Pegasus, the winged horse, whose image was often used on some the most beautiful coins of ancient Corinth and Carthage. The ancient Persians imagined that this square was the doorway to another dimension, the portal to paradise. And if you're far from city lights you can see 10 to 15 dim stars within its borders. With a telescope however you can find dozens of galaxies like our own Milky Way. So get thee outside before midnight and gaze up at this great square, which many consider to be a cosmic inspiration to heroes and poets. Keep looking up!
Please give us your comments. (Click
Here)
* This week's Sky At A Glance and
Planet Roundup from Sky & Telescope.Starry Night Deluxe was used to produce this episode
of Star Gazer![[SmilinJack]](jack1sm.jpg)
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