Name A Star The Original Star Naming Service - Since 1978
The Original Star Naming Service – Since 1978

Category Archives: Constellations Available From Name a Star

Learn about the constellations available from Name a Star. Symbolism, Mythology, and how to find them are all explained.

Constellation Lyra The Lyre Of Orpheus Includes Interesting Double Stars

Posted on by Cort Vaughan

Learn about the double stars of the constellation Lyra and how Orpheus used his lyre to charm women and Hades the god of the underworld. He even saved Jason and the Argonauts from the lure of the Sirens.  Symbolism: Lyra the lyre, a musical instrument with strings used in antiquity. Mythology: Lyra represents the lyre of Orpheus, the musician and poet in Greek mythology. There are many stories of Orpheus. In one he saves Jason and the Argonauts when his beautiful music quells the voices of the Sirens as they attempted to lure the Argonauts to their death on the […]

Constellation Hydra The Water Snake

Posted on by Cort Vaughan

Learn how Hercules defeated Hydra the multi headed Water Snake, which grew two new heads every time he cut one off. Find out more about the 88 constellations at Name a Star.  Symbolism: Hydra the Water Snake, the largest constellation in the night sky. Mythology: The oldest stories come from Hindu and Chinese mythology referring to dragons. Stories better known in the west come from ancient Greece describing a mythological hybrid of serpent, lion and bird. One myth associates Hydra with a crow that is sent by Apollo to fetch a cup of water. The crow stops to feast on figs instead of […]

Constellation Taurus The Bull Known For Over 15,000 Years

Posted on by Cort Vaughan

Symbolism: Bull. It has been associated with the bull in many cultures and mythologies: Greek and Egyptian among others, and even going back to Ancient Babylon.  Mythology: Taurus is the second sign in the zodiac and represents those born from April 20 to May 20. In Greek mythology, Taurus is usually associated with Zeus, who adopted the shape of a bull in order to seduce and abduct Europa, the beautiful daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor. Zeus mingled with the king’s herd and, being the most handsome bull there, he got Europa’s attention. The princess admired the bull and, when she sat […]

Cygnus The Swan Constellation Seduces Across Ancient Greek, Hindu, and Chinese Mythologies

Posted on by Cort Vaughan

Symbolism: Cygnus The Swan Mythology: In one of several Greek myths, the god Zeus disguises himself as a swan, then seduces Leda, the Spartan king Tyndareus’s wife. She gave birth to two sets of twins, the immortal Pollux and Helen, who were fathered by Zeus and the mortal Castor and Clytemnestra, who were fathered by Tyndareus. Castor and Pollux are represented by the zodiac constellation Gemini. In Hinduism, the period of time (or Muhurta) between 4:24 AM to 5:12 AM is called the Brahmamuhurtha, which means “the moment of the Universe”; the star system in correlation is the Cygnus constellation. This is believed to be a highly […]

Constellation Aquila The Eagle Soars Thru Romantic Stories Of Multiple Cultures

Posted on by Cort Vaughan

Symbolism: Aquila the Eagle Mythology: Aquila represents the eagle, which held Zeus’s/Jupiter’s thunderbolts in Greco-Roman mythology. Aquila is also associated with the eagle that kidnapped Ganymede, a son of one of the kings of Troy (associated with Aquarius), to Mount Olympus to serve as cup-bearer to the gods. In another story, the eagle is found guarding the arrow of Eros (represented by the constellation Sagitta), which hit Zeus and made him love-struck. In yet another myth, Aquila represents Aphrodite disguised as an eagle, pretending to pursue Zeus in the form of a swan, so that Zeus’ love interest, the goddess Nemesis, would give him shelter. […]

Discover The Risqué Stories Behind Delphinus The Dolphin

Posted on by Cort Vaughan

Summary: Delphinus is both  a fun summer constellation and a racy character in mythological Greek stories of seduction and betrayal. Symbolism: Dolphin Mythology: There are two myths associated with the constellation Delphinus. According to the first, Greek god Poseidon wanted to marry Amphitrite, a beautiful nereid. However, wanting to protect her virginity, she fled to the Atlas mountains. Poseidon then sent out several searchers, among them Delphinus, the dolphin. Delphinus accidentally stumbled upon her and was able to persuade Amphitrite to accept Poseidon’s wooing. Out of gratitude, the god placed the image of a dolphin among the stars. In the […]