Heavens Above

Kids love a good fairy tale, and the Greek myths behind the constellations make terrific bedtime, or anytime, stories. Here are some abbreviated accounts to get you started:

Cassiopeia: Wife, Mother, Rock
Cassiopeia was the beautiful and vain wife of Cepheus, the Ethiopian king of Joppa. Having second thoughts after promising her daughter, Andromeda, in marriage to Perseus (who had recently slain Medusa), she convinced Agenor (one of Poseidon's sons) to interrupt the wedding and claim Andromeda for himself.

Unfortunately, Cassiopeia learned too late that it is not a good idea to cross a man that has access to a Gorgon's head. Perseus, understandably upset, retrieved the head and proceeded to turn the wedding party to stone. Poseidon, feeling remorseful over the event, placed both Cassiopeia and Cepheus among the stars, with Cassiopeia herself reclining on a chair revolving around Polaris.

In the autumn sky, look for the distinct "W" shape of Cassiopeia's chair, bathed in the light of the Milky Way.

Leo: One Tough Cat
The Nemean Lion was a giant creature, roaming the streets and surrounding countryside of the Peloponnesian villages and devouring everyone it met. The task of killing the Lion was the first item on the list of Heracles' labors; however, the beast's skin was impenetrable to Heracles' wooden club, arrows, and sword. Heracles was forced to wrestle the Lion. He finally choked it to death, and then cut off its pelt with its own claws. The Lion was immortalized among the stars to commemorate the battle with Heracles.

Leo, which is close to the Big Dipper, is easy to find because his head looks like a backward question mark with the bright star Regulus at the bottom.

Pegasus: Celestial Caddy
When Perseus slew Medusa, Pegasus, the winged horse, flew out of her head. After spending some time essentially fighting evil with Bellerophon (a grandson of Sisyphus), Pegasus was stung on the behind by a gadfly sent by Zeus (who was annoyed with Bellerophon). Pegasus gave Bellerophon the boot (or hoof, in this case), and went to Olympus, where he spent his time carrying around Zeus' thunderbolts.

Pegasus can be seen in the middle of the southern sky in autumn, and is conspicuous constellation that includes the "Great Square of Pegasus," which is comprised of the bright stars Scheat, Markab, Algenib, and Alpha Andromedae.