Corona Austrina: Difference between revisions

In the 3rd century BC, the Greek didactic poet Aratus wrote of, but did not name the constellation,[63] instead calling the two crowns Στεφάνοι (Stephanoi). The Greek astronomer Ptolemy described the constellation in the 2nd century AD, though with the inclusion of Alpha Telescopii, since transferred to Telescopium. Ascribing 13 stars to the constellation, he named it Στεφάνος νοτιος (Stephanos notios), "Southern Wreath", while other authors associated it with either [[Sagittarius]] (having fallen off his head) or Centaurus; with the former, it was called Corona Sagittarii.[65] Similarly, the Romans called Corona Australis the "Golden Crown of Sagittarius".[66] It was known as Parvum Coelum ("Canopy", "Little Sky") in the 5th century.[67] The 18th-century French astronomer Jérôme Lalande gave it the names Sertum Australe ("Southern Garland")[65][67] and Orbiculus Capitis, while German poet and author Philippus Caesius called it Corolla ("Little Crown") or Spira Australis ("Southern Coil"), and linked it with the Crown of Eternal Life from the New Testament. Seventeenth-century celestial cartographer Julius Schiller linked it to the Diadem of Solomon.[65] Sometimes, Corona Australis was not the wreath of Sagittarius but arrows held in his hand.

Corona Australis has been associated with the myth of Bacchus and Stimula. Jupiter had impregnated Stimula, causing Juno to become jealous. Juno convinced Stimula to ask Jupiter to appear in his full splendor, which the mortal woman could not handle, causing her to burn. After Bacchus, Stimula's unborn child, became an adult and the god of wine, he honored his deceased mother by placing a wreath in the sky.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_Australis  Corona Australis]]</ref>