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

Is the False Cross worth mentioning as an asterism? Or Orion's Belt?

Thank you

Re: Alpheratz/Sirrah http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/Alpheratz.html although if you want me to quote your Ptolemy's catalogue I will change my entry. I'll happily add the history of the star which served two constellations.

<< I'm surprised to find that the "Winter Triangle" is better known, as I'd never heard of it until about 2 years ago, whereas I've known the Summer Triangle all my life.>> it's more well-known *to me* so I've removed that comment,

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I'll check

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To be done

thank you Gnomon

I am concerned about linking to the two items (tea mug and t-shirt) in the Teapot section, as they're commercial links. However, I'm not selling them, but I don't want to be seen as promoting them. I just thought it was funny when I wrote it, but having slept on it, I might remove the links and say such things can be found on the Web. On the other hand, it has more of an impact when you can click the link straight to an image of the asterism on a t-shirt. What are your thoughts on that?

I think there's probably no harm in linking to the mug, but linking to the t-shirt as well is overdoing it.

In the entry on Bayer designations, Wikipedia says:

"Some stars were "border stars", falling on the boundaries between two constellations, and Bayer would assign them a Greek letter from each constellation. The two most prominent examples are &#946; Tau/&#947; Aur, and &#945; And/&#948; Peg."

Oh, that didn't paste properly.

"In the entry on Bayer designations, Wikipedia says:

"Some stars were "border stars", falling on the boundaries between two constellations, and Bayer would assign them a Greek letter from each constellation. The two most prominent examples are beta Tau/gamma Aur, and alpha And/delta Peg."

I've rewritten it although I'm nt sure it's very clear

I've removed those links to the external website by the way, I found them easily enough and others can too, if they're interested in the items

I'll add Orion's Belt and The Circlet of Pisces, as soon as I can, will probably be tomorrow now as my grandson's just arrived from school and I have to

I notice you say that asterisms are chance alignments and not star clusters. But the "Coathanger" is a cluster, isn't it?

The consensus now is that it's an asterism: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070112.html

I've checked, there are only two kid goats in Haedi. Capella is their mother.

"Both Pegasus and Andromeda featured in the Greek astronomer Ptolemy's Almagest, and the star at the top left corner of the square was listed as being in both constellations. Johann Bayer, when he came up with his system of naming the stars, continued the tradition of this star belonging to both Pegasus and Andromeda. He called it both alpha Andromedae and delta Pegasi. It also bears the names Alpheratz and Schirra. In 1930 the IAU decided to clear up the ambiguous borders of the ancient star patterns and set clearly defined limits for all of the 88 constellations. They would not allow a star to be in two different constellations; the star became part of Andromeda only, and the name delta Pegasi is no longer used. So the Great Square of Pegasus now has only three corners in the winged horse constellation, the other corner belongs to Andromeda."

I see we've passed 1,000 posts in this conversation!

I just noticed that myself when I read your last posting. I went to make the adjustment and add you to the credits, then came back here to post an



Goodnight Gnomon

Goodnight!

Would you mind writing your bible reference as Book of Job 38:30-34 ? I believe that is the standard way of writing chapter and verse.

All of it in italics? Or just Book of Job 38:30-34 ?

Have to dash - doctor's appointment - but I'll be back soon and hope to polish this off today

There's a general rule that the Bible and the names of the books in it are not italicised. But it is not mentioned in h2g2's Style Guide.

OK I'll leave it plain then

What are your thoughts on A61463333 now? I really can't make my mind up with which asterism to go with, the famous or the not-so well known?

I think it is good as it is.

The word asterism means any chance alignment of stars (as opposed to a cluster) so all the official constellations are in fact asterisms. You might like to say that this entry is about asterisms which are not official constellations.