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E-book
Author Falkner, David E

Title The mythology of the night sky : an amateur astronomer's guide to the Ancient Greek and Roman legends / David E. Falkner
Published New York : Springer, ©2011

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Description 1 online resource (xiii, 238 pages) : illustrations (chiefly color)
Series Patrick Moore's practical astronomy series
Patrick Moore's practical astronomy series.
Contents Preface -- Chapter 1: Astrophotography Using a Compact Digital Camera -- Chapter 2: An Introduction to Greco-Roman Mythology -- Chapter 3: The Winter Constellations -- Chapter 4: The Legend of Jason and the Argonauts -- Chapter 5: The Spring Constellations -- Chapter 6: The Summer Constellations -- Chapter 7: The Legend of Hercules -- Chapter 8: The Autumn Constellations -- Chapter 9: The Legend of Perseus -- Chapter 10: Planets and Satellites -- Appendix A: Names of the Greek and Roman Gods -- Appendix B: Ptolemy's Constellations -- Appendix C: The Messier Objects -- Appendix D: NGC/IC Objects by Constellation -- Appendix E: The Greek Alphabet -- Bibliography
Summary Every amateur astronomer can easily recognize most of the constellations, but how many of us know the story behind them? What myths did the Ancient Greeks weave around the mighty hunter Orion that places him so prominently in the sky? Did you know that this mythical being was said to have been killed by Diana, herself a hunter, while he was exhausted by his fight with Scorpius? The constellation of Scorpius, the giant scorpion, is dominated by the red supergiant Antares and hangs in the sky opposite Orion. Yet there is no constellation of Diana to be found! The Mythology of the Night Sky strikes a balance between backyard astronomy and ancient mythology. Organized by seasons, this book describes Ptolemy's 48 constellations with location and description in detail, while also telling the mythological tales in full.¡Along with the named constellations, this title also incorporates the lore behind the christening¡of the planets and their satellites. Readers discover the importance of the ancient characters, why they were immortalized in the sky, how several constellations are all woven into the same story and how satellite names are related to their planets
Analysis fysica
physics
astronomie
astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomie
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-228) and index
Notes English
Subject Astronomy, Greek -- Mythology
Astronomy, Roman -- Mythology
Physique.
Astronomie.
Astronomy
Physics
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9781461401377
1461401372
1283351870
9781283351874
1461401364
9781461401360