The Vixen (Vulpecula) And Hydrus Mythology

Vulpecula and Hydrus

By Joe Adomanis (The Vixen)

And Trevor Howard (Hydrus)

Hydrus(male hydra)

History

Hydrus was one of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius from the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman and it first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 (or 1598) in Amsterdam by Plancius with Jodocus Hondius. The first depiction of this constellation in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer's Uranometria of 1603.The companion to Hydra, the female water snake, he is forced to journey through Eridanus, Orion, and the Milky Way to visit his lover.

Vulpecula (The Vixen)

The Vixen or The Fox,

is one of the youngest constellations

It is also the hardest constellation to find

Stars are O:Vulpeculae, HD 189733 b,

PSR B191921, and PSR B193721

PICTURES

Information

Hydra is the largest constellation in the sky, covering 1303 square degrees of sky, and also the most extended, stretching almost horizon to horizon. There are many deep sky objects of merit mostly open clusters and galaxies in Hydra which are worth exploring. Hydra runs roughly parallel and south of the ecliptic. The head of Hydra rises with and south ofCancer(the Crab) and passes, in order, south ofSextans(the Sextant),Crater(the Cup),Corvus(the Crow),Virgo(the Virgin), andLibra(the Scales).

History

The Vixen limps through a forest covered

in red clay as it lays down and appears to have perished.

A goose comes along to pick from the Vixen's body when suddenly the Vixen catches the goose in it's claws and devours the goose. The Vixen is seen as Satan because of this. "The Vixen's deceit is similar to the way Satan deceives souls"

- Arthur H. Collins

Mythology

The connection

Mythology

The swamps of Lerna was home of the enormous water-snake Hydra, possessing nine heads (one of which was immortal), and with breath that would kill from a mere whiff. Hercules, fulfilling on of the requirements of his "labors" located the monster's lair, and proceeded to hack off the heads of Hydra with his sword. Unfortunately, when one head was sliced off, another (in some versions, two heads) appeared in its place. Hercules (in some versions, his nephew Iolsus) solved this problem by using a torch to cauterize each stump after he cut off that head. Hercules finished off the Hydra by cutting off the immortal head. He then dipped his arrows in the Hydra's blood. The slightest scratch from one of these poisoned arrows brought instant death to the victim.

Bounding across an open field surrounded by Lyra, Aquila, Pegasus, and Cygnus,

Vulpecula the Fox (a modern constellation) runs for his life.

Dashing to the northwest, he's chased by Sagitta, the Arrow,

which seems to have been shot by a tiny hunter riding Equuleus, the Little Horse.

The arrow has already sped past

Delphinus, the Dolphin, who has decided to chase the Fox as well.The story ends well.

Since all four of these charming constellations actually fly across the sky at the same westerly pace,

the Fox is forever safe from harm.

The Vixen and Hydrus do not have many connections, but through days of searching we discovered of one connection. The Field that the Vixen bound through is surrounded by Hydra and Hydrus, Lyra, Pegasus, Aquila, Cygnus.