The constellation Pegasus represents a Flying Horse. Here’s where you can look to see the constellation Pegasus tonight. If you look towards the east-southeast in early evening, you may catch glimpse of a large square pattern of stars. This pattern lies at the center of the constellation Pegasus.

This square star pattern, by the way, has its own name. It’s called the Great Square of Pegasus, and it’s fairly easy to pick out. The Great Square marks the body of the Flying Horse. The star Enif marks the tip of the Horse’s nose. The brightest star in Pegasus is Markab, whose total luminosity is 205 times that of our own sun. The star Alpheratz – although located in the Great Square – is actually part of a neighboring constellation Andromeda.

In the mythology of the sky, Pegasus was born from the blood of the serpent-haired Medusa. After Perseus, a hero of ancient mythology, killed Medusa and cut off her head, some of her blood dripped into the sea. From it, the sea god Poseidon fashioned the Flying Horse. He gave the Horse to Perseus, who rode the Horse while having great adventures.

Written by earthsky

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