The Constellation
Equuleus |
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Mythology and History |
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The Little Horse. |
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Equuleus is one of the smallest constellations in the heavens.
It's quite old, and may have been founded by Ptolemy in the second century
AD. However, the author of the Almagest often borrowed from
others, and it is possible his principle source, Hipparchus, was the true
creator of this constellation. |
The outstanding Greek astronomer Hipparchus
(146-127 BC) composed the first star catalogue, of about 850 stars.
He also discovered the precession of the equinoxes and invented trigonometry.
It is not known if he actually created any constellations.
The "little horse" that the name refers
to is lost in antiquity. Some sources believe it to be a half-brother
of Pegasus, Celeris. The only brother of Pegasus, Chrysaor, was born
simultaneously with Pegasus. Instead of a horse, Chrysaor was a warrior.
Its original name seems to have been
Al Faras al Awwal and the Latin equivalent Equus Primus,
"the First Horse," since it rises just before Pegasus.
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