Heavenly Chariot flies in west at nightfall
Comment Print Me Email to FriendTonight's Sky for Monday, Mar 31 2008
As darkness falls, there are several ways to distinguish the brilliant star Capella from the other bright stars in your western sky. Capella, the northernmost first-magnitude star, is the farthest bright star to your right as you’re facing west. Also, Capella looks yellow, like our sun. Moreover, Capella has a famous trio of starlets accompanying her, dubbed “The Kids.”
Capella is the brightest luminary in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer. In star lore, this pentagon-shaped figure portrays a mythological personage riding a chariot. In some versions, this is Poseidon – the god of the sea – driving the chariot. In other versions, it’s Erichthonius, the ancient king of Athens.
Talking about Athens, it was here that Poseidon and the goddess Athena quarreled for possession of the city. The other Olympian gods, fearing a destructive struggle, intervened. They decided to hold a contest, proclaiming the one who could give the better gift to humanity as the patron god (or goddess) of Athens. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, creating the horse. Athena struck the ground with her spear, and up sprung the olive tree.
The Olympians judged Athena the winner, so the city was named after her.
