We will now proceed to detail the constellations, which are familiar by name to everybody. We have already given the names of the zodiacal groups, which consist of many stars, each designated by a letter of the Greek alphabet so far as possible, then the Roman letters and numerals are employed. Thus α (Alpha) is the most brilliant star; β (Beta) the next bright γ (Gamma) the next, and so on; so the relative brilliancy of the stars in the constellation is indicated, but not the very biggest star of the first magnitude is intended by α, for the star δ in one constellation may equal α in another. John Bayer originated this method in 1603.
The arrangement of the constellations is plunged in the obscurity of ages, but B.C. 370 there were forty-five thus grouped. There are northern and southern constellations which are visible above our old friends Aries, Taurus, Cancer, etc. We will, as in duty bound, consider our old acquaintances first, and then give a list of the northern and southern groups of stars; but we shall find that the forms are in the greater part due to the imagination of the ancients, and do not bear out our ideas of the animals they are supposed to represent, while at the same time they cross and recross with other constellations in the skies in a very puzzling way.
Fig. 596.—Aries.
The first constellation is Aries, the Ram, which is celebrated in mythology as the proud possessor of the Golden Fleece, which we may remember was seized and carried away by Jason and the Argonauts. The Hellespont is so called from Helle, who fell from the Ram’s back when being carried upon it over the Black Sea. The Ram is here represented with the equinoctial ring.
We perceive in Aries two very bright stars near the head. These are (α) Arietis and (γ) Sheretan. The signs and constellations do not now correspond as they used to do, because of the change in the position of the stars, which gives rise to the Precession of the Equinoxes (vide ante., p. 497), so that the stars which two thousand years ago were in conjunction with the sun, are much more to the eastward. In olden time (when astronomy was young), the sun entered Aries on the 21st March, and now a change has taken place. But in about another twenty thousand years, they will all come right again. This will be perceived by reference to the celestial globe. The Ram has sixty-six stars in his constitution.
Fig. 597.—Taurus.
Taurus, the Bull, is the next constellation. He received his name from the celebrated animal into which Jupiter transformed himself when he wished to carry away Europa. The star Aldebaran (α) is the end of a kind of V in the Bull’s face. The Pleiades are on the shoulder to the right. This cluster of twinkling stars is well known, and will guide the observer towards the imaginary Bull, which we must nowadays describe as rather a fanciful delineation. Europe is called after Europa, because Jupiter, as a Bull, carried her to this continent. There are 141 stars in Taurus, according to the number found in the list of Aratus, and probably more.
