The mythology of the night sky: an amateur astronomer's guide to the ancient Greek and Roman legends

The Mythology of the Night Sky is intended primarily for amateur astronomers who would like to know the mythology behind the names of constellations and planets. It deals with the 48 constellations identified by the ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy, as well as all the planets of our solar system and their moons, which are named after Roman gods. To assist practical observers the book gives the location and description of each constellation, including named stars and deep-sky objects. Readers are encouraged to observe and image the constellations for themselves, and there is a lot of practical information in this book to help them along the way. In addition to providing a detailed (and mostly Greek) mythology of the constellations and the vast soap opera that was part of the Ancient Greek pantheon, this book also addresses the planets of the Solar System, which are named after the Roman - not Greek - gods. Stands as a unique single-source reference, for astronomers and for anyoneinterested in classical literature. Organized by season for convenient practical observations. Gives practical observation data for stellar and deep-sky features, as well as observing and imaging tips. Serves as a great resource for astronomy lectures and star parties. INDICE: 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: TheLegend 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.

• ISBN: 978-1-4614-0136-0
• Editorial: Springer New York
• Encuadernacion: Rústica
• Páginas: 224
• Fecha Publicación: 28/10/2011
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés