Pegasus

Pegasus is a large and prominent northern constellation, which appears highest in the evening sky in the months around September. Its brightest stars form part of the easily recognisable asterism the Square of Pegasus, which comprises three stars in Pegasus and one in Andromeda.

The northern-most two stars in the Square are often used as a starting point for star-hopping to the Andromeda Galaxy M31.

Lying away from the Milky Way, this sky area has few deep sky objects, but Pegasus is home to the bright globular cluster M15.

In Greek mythology, Pegasus was a winged horse, sent by Zeus to fetch thunder and lightening from Mount Olympus.

Pegasus sprang from the spilled blood of the Medusa, which dripped into the ocean after she was slain by Perseus. Pegasus then flew off into the sky. Returning to earth later and eventually tamed by Minerva, Pegasus was given to Bellerophon to aid him in conquering the monster Chimera. Bellerophon was successful in destroying the monster. After the death of his children, Bellerophon asked Pegasus to take him to Mount Olympus. He then attempted to fly up to Mount Olympus to live with the gods. Zeus, angered by the presumption of Bellerophon, made an insect sting Pegasus causing him to buck Bellerophon off, who fell to his death. Pegasus continued his flight up to Mount Olympus and was used in several missions to defeat evil aggressors. In honor of his great service, Zeus placed his constellation among the stars.

Another myth regarding his powers says that his hooves dug out a spring, Hippocrene, which blessed those who drank its water with the ability to write poetry. Pegasus was the one who delivered Medusa’s head to Polydectes, after which he travelled to Mount Olympus in order to be the bearer of thunder and lightning for Zeus.

In the Indian astronomy Pegasus is called ನಕುಲ (Nakula), a character from the epic Mahabharata.

Pegasus contains:

• Stars
  • Enif (mag 2.4)
  • Scheat (mag 2.5)
  • Markab (mag 2.5)
  • Algenib (mag 2.8)
  • Matar (mag 2.9)
  • Homam (mag 3.4)
  • Sadalbari (mag 3.5)
  • Biham (mag 3.5)
  • ι-Peg (mag 3.8)
  • λ-Peg (mag 4.0)
  • 1-Peg (mag 4.1)
  • κ-Peg (mag 4.1)
  • ξ-Peg (mag 4.2)
  • π-Peg (mag 4.3)
  • 9-Peg (mag 4.3)
  • υ-Peg (mag 4.4)
  • 2-Peg (mag 4.5)
  • 70-Peg (mag 4.5)
  • 55-Peg (mag 4.5)
  • τ-Peg (mag 4.6)
  • ψ-Peg (mag 4.7)
  • 56-Peg (mag 4.8)
  • O-Peg (mag 4.8)
  • 32-Peg (mag 4.8)
  • 35-Peg (mag 4.8)
• Open Clusters
  • IC 1476 (mag 15.6)
  • IC 5113
  • IC 5112
  • IC 1480
  • IC 1465
  • NGC 7772
  • NGC 7036
• Globular Clusters
  • Messier 15 (mag 6.3)
• Galaxy
  • NGC 7331 (mag 9.5)
  • NGC 7814 (mag 10.5)
  • NGC 7479 (mag 11.0)
  • NGC 7332 (mag 11.0)
  • NGC 7619 (mag 11.1)
  • NGC 7626 (mag 11.2)
  • NGC 7177 (mag 11.2)
  • NGC 7741 (mag 11.3)
  • NGC 7742 (mag 11.5)
  • NGC 7803 (mag 11.5)
  • NGC 7448 (mag 11.7)
  • NGC 7457 (mag 11.9)
  • NGC 7653 (mag 11.9)
  • NGC 7217 (mag 11.9)
  • NGC 7817 (mag 11.9)
  • NGC 7625 (mag 12.0)
  • NGC 16 (mag 12.1)
  • NGC 7587 (mag 12.1)
  • NGC 7339 (mag 12.1)
  • NGC 7769 (mag 12.1)
  • NGC 7678 (mag 12.2)
  • NGC 7771 (mag 12.2)
  • NGC 7385 (mag 12.3)
  • NGC 7623 (mag 12.4)
  • NGC 7137 (mag 12.4)