h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Star Constellations: Pegasus 'the Winged Horse' - A28678369
Author: Galaxy Babe - U128652

The latest in the constellation project. I had already written up Stephan's Quintet (5 colliding galaxies) and linked to the APOD picture and it's just been featured on this month's Sky At Night

GB

It's good, GB.
You've got to include the Ferranti Pegasus computer (1955), though. Arguably the zenith of the British contribution to computer development, and with a decent claim to being the world's first business computer.

Thanks Pin
Ferranti Pegasus computer added

What shall I do next? Another constellation, or Mick Jagger?

Since the picture is already in the guide, I think you should put it in the Entry now, GB.

I think the bit about delta Pegasi is a bit confusing. Isn't it the case that it used to be delta Pegasi, and is now considered part of Andromeda instead? So only three of the four stars in the Square are actually in Pegasus.

I'm unsure how to reword that

Hi GB. Re that Delta Peg paragraph. I've reworded it to try to make it clearer if its any help. Listed below if you want to use it.

The Great Square of Pegasus is easily recognisable. Three of the four corners are Alpha Pegasi Markab in the south-west, which is the brightest star in Pegasus, Gamma Pegasi, Algenib in the south-eastern corner and Beta Pegasi Scheat in the north-western. The fourth corner however presents one of those anomalies that occurs occasionally in the nomenclature of astronomy.

In 1930 the IAU IAU, International Astronomical Union decided to clear up the ambiguous borders to the constellations and set clearly defined limits for all of the eighty-eight constellations. In doing so they allocated the north-eastern star of the square Alpheratz,sometimes known as Schirra to the neighbouring constellation of Andromeda. Up to that time Alpheratz had been classified Delta Pegasi, but with this change was re-classified as Alpha Andromedae. Another clearly identifying feature to the square is that Scheat is one corner of a triangle of stars, the other two, Eta and Mu Pegasi, lie outside the square to its western side. Each of these two other stars can be seen to be a line-of-sight double.

DK

heck of a read this. Knowing zilch about stars I'll not comment on content. It looks and reads like a professional manual, well laid out, full of facts and figures. I'll leave content to those who know the subject. Shows why you're called Galaxy babe thats for sure.

Thank you very much ST, I'm glad you enjoyed it

I've replaced my para with your info, Deke, I'd be grateful if you'd like to check it looks OK.

I love the thought of the International Astronomical Union tidying up constellations which in scientific terms have no meaning at all.

We should thank the gods for the easy-on-the-memory handy referencing system they gave us.

Don't know how much of the mythology you want to bring in, but I found out this morning that the four bright stars of the original square are Diomedes' flesh eating mares, who (allegedly) ancestored Alexander's Bucephalus. From myth straight into history .

thanks Waz

Deke or Gnomon should I delete the info on delta Pegasi from the star table?

If that star is already listed in the Andomeda entry as alpha Andromedae, I don't see any point in listing it again.

It's gone

Gnomon is right. Strictly speaking it isn't part of Pegasus. There is sufficient explanation in the text to understand why it wouldn't be in the list.
Also my Boys-Own book on not putting stars in lists, by Patrick Moore doesn't show it. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me.

DK

I agreed, it's gone

Anything else, or can this fly?

The titles in the first table should all start with capital letters: genitive, short, area, co-ordinates, zodiac and origin.

either North, South, East or West of it -- omit the word "either", as "either" is only used when there are two things.

Bellerophon was invincible, he even defeated -- change the comma to a semicolon

Some are named stars, like alpha Ori is known as Betelgeuse -- I find this wording clumsy. In the Cygnus entry, I changed it to:

Some stars have proper names as well; for example, alpha Cygni is Deneb;

eighty eight constellations --> 88 constellations

of a triangle of stars, the other two -- change the comma to a semicolon

line-of-sight double -- what's a line of sight double? Do you mean a naked-eye double?

orbiting a viable sun -- it's not clear what you mean by "viable sun". Do you mean a sun like our own? A sun capable of supporting life?

"This orbit compares to around 13% of our innermost planet, Mercury" -->
"This orbit compares to around 13% of the orbital period of our innermost planet, Mercury

gasses --> gases

energized hydrogen gas --> energised hydrogen gas

no such planets have been found. --> no such planet has been found.

Why do you describe NGC 1 and 2 as "spiral galaxy" but NGC 7217 as "unbarred spiral galaxy"? Does hthis mean that the other two are barred?

"Supernova SN 1959D" -- this could be expanded slightly "Supernova SN 1959D was discovered in this galaxy"

Pegasus is name of the official --> Pegasus is the name of the official