The Mythology of the Night Sky

The Mythology of the Night Sky
Author: David E. Falkner
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2011-08-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1461401372

The Mythology of the Night Sky is intended primarily for amateur astronomers who would like to know the mythology behind the names of constellations and planets. It deals with the 48 constellations identified by the ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy, as well as all the planets of our solar system and their moons, which are named after Roman gods. To assist practical observers the book gives the location and description of each constellation, including named stars and deep-sky objects. Readers are encouraged to observe and image the constellations for themselves, and there is a lot of practical information in this book to help them along the way. In addition to providing a detailed (and mostly Greek) mythology of the constellations and the vast soap opera that was part of the Ancient Greek pantheon, this book also addresses the planets of the Solar System, which are named after the Roman - not Greek - gods.

The Mythology of the Night Sky

The Mythology of the Night Sky
Author: David E. Falkner
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 331
Release: 2020-09-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9783030476939

This book is for amateur astronomers who would like to know the mythology behind the names of astronomical objects in the night sky. It covers the lore and legend behind Ptolemy’s 48 constellations, along with significant asterisms, the planets and their moons, the brightest named asteroids and dwarf planets. The revised second edition includes a host of new moons and dwarf planets discovered since 2011. In addition, it now features a new section on major asteroids and their associated myths. While still primarily focused on Greco-Roman mythology, the book now branches out to cover more recently named objects from other cultures, such as Hawaiian, Rapanui, Tongva and Inuit. To assist practical observers, the book gives the location and description of each constellation, including named stars and deep-sky objects. A host of helpful astronomy tips and techniques, as well as a brief introduction to astrophotography, are included to encourage direct observation and imaging of these mythical objects in the night sky.

Heroes of the Night Sky

Heroes of the Night Sky
Author: Tom Kindley
Publisher: Cicada
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2016-07-18
Genre: Constellations
ISBN: 9781908714329

Recounts the Greek myths behind the names of such constellations as the Great Bear, Andromeda, and Orion.

Star Myths of the Greeks and Romans

Star Myths of the Greeks and Romans
Author: Theony Condos
Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
Total Pages: 253
Release: 1997-01-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1609256786

This A-to-Z reference offers in-depth information on the history and mythologies of the forty-eight classical constellations—with excerpts from ancient texts. The nightly appearance of the stars, their arrangement in the sky, their regular risings and settings through the course of the year, have been a source of endless wonder and speculation. But where did the constellations come from and what are the myths associated with them? Star Myths of the Greeks and Romans puts the answers at your fingertips. Included in this handbook are the only surviving works on the constellation myths that have come down to us from antiquity: an epitome of The Constellations of Eratosthenes —never before translated into English—and The Poetic Astronomy of Hyginus. Also provided are accurate and detailed commentaries on each constellation myth, and complete references for those who wish to dig deeper. This book is a comprehensive sourcework for anyone interested in astronomy or mythology—and an ideal resource for the occasional stargazer.

Tales of the Night Sky

Tales of the Night Sky
Author: Robin Kerod
Publisher: Wellfleet Press
Total Pages: 131
Release: 2020-09-15
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 157715228X

With an 18 x 24" landscape poster that charts some of the best-known constellations under which dreams are made, Tales of the Night Sky blends science, philosophy, and myth for the casual astronomer.

Constellation Myths

Constellation Myths
Author: Eratosthenes
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2015
Genre: Literary Collections
ISBN: 0198716982

This translation brings together ancient classical texts derived from Eratosthenes' handbook of astral mythology, Hyginus' guide to astronomy, and Aratus's astronomical poem Phaenomena to provide a complete collection of Greek astral myths.

They Dance in the Sky

They Dance in the Sky
Author:
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 154
Release: 1987
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9780618809127

A collection of legends about the stars from various North American Indian cultures, including explanations of the Milky Way and constellations such as the Big Dipper.

Ancient Skies: Constellation Mythology of the Greeks

Ancient Skies: Constellation Mythology of the Greeks
Author: David Weston Marshall
Publisher: The Countryman Press
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2018-08-07
Genre: History
ISBN: 1682682129

Look to the sky and see the stories in the stars The stars and constellations are among the few remaining objects that appear to us just as they appeared to our distant ancestors. From anywhere on Earth, a person may view the celestial panorama simply by stepping outside at night and gazing upward. This non- fiction narrative presents the tales of the forty- eight classical constellations, compiled from literature spanning a thousand years from Homer (c. 800 BC) to Claudius Ptolemy (c. 150 AD). These age- old tales have captured the human imagination from ancient times to the present, and through them we can examine the early practical astronomy, philosophical speculation on the cosmos, and fundamental moral beliefs of much of Western civilization. Illustrations and star charts carefully reconstructed from ancient sources lend a visual element and immerse the reader in the world of ancient cosmology and constellation mapping. Through Marshall’s research and storytelling, Ancient Skies brings the belief systems of the classical world to shining life.

Star Tales

Star Tales
Author: Ian Ridpath
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 226
Release: 2018-01-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0718894782

Every night, a pageant of Greek mythology circles overhead. Perseus flies to the rescue of Andromeda, Orion faces the charge of the snorting Bull, and the ship of the Argonauts sails in search of the Golden Fleece. Constellations are the invention of human imagination, not of nature. They are an expression of the human desire to impress its own order upon the apparent chaos of the night sky. Modern science tells us that these twinkling points of light are glowing balls of gas, but the ancient Greeks, to whom we owe many of our constellations, knew nothing of this. Ian Ridpath, award-winning astronomy writer and popularizer, has been intrigued by the myths of the stars for many years. Star Tales is the first modern guide to combine all the fascinating myths in one book, illustrated with the beautiful and evocative engravings from two of the leading star atlases: Johann Bode’s Uranographia of 1801 and John Flamsteed’s Atlas Coelestis of 1729. This classic book, now in a revised and expanded edition, presents additional information on the constellations with new and enchanting illustrations. For anyone interested in the stars and classical mythology, for anyone who is an armchair astronomer, this is the perfect gift.

Constellations of the Night Sky

Constellations of the Night Sky
Author: Bruce LaFontaine
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2003-05-19
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9780486426488

Large, double-page illustrations introduce stargazers of all ages to 22 major constellations, among them Aquarius, the water bearer; Orion, the hunter; Gemini, the twins; as well as Canis Major, Taurus, and Leo. Accompanying text relates mythological story behind each constellation's name and identifies its principal stars.