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"Long ago, when man was young and the dragon already old, the wisest of our race took pity on man and gathered together all the dragons making them vow to watch over man always. And at the moment of his death, the night became alive with those stars. And thus was born the dragons' heaven."
-Draco from Dragon Heart
Dragons were so important to people that they found their shapes in the stars. Two constellations are derived from the old myths and legends of dragons. One is a modern constellation, having nothing at all to do with myth.
Draco
Draco (the dragon) is the eigth largest constellation in the sky measuring 1,083 square degrees. It has always been identified as a dragon, or a dragon like creature. Draco winds around the sky close the north pole and in most northern latitudes, never sets. Thuban is Draco's alpha star (or brightest star) and over 4,000 years ago was the north star. At that time, the heavens really appeared to revolve around this constellation. Today, the north star is Polaris at the tip of the handle of the 'Little Dipper'. Thuban is located third star from the end of the tail. Draco's head is a boxy group of stars lying north of the bright star Vega (future north star). It's long body winds towards Cepheus, then turns and runs west between the big and little dippers.
Hydra
Hydra (the sea serpent) is the largest and longest constellation in the sky spanning 1,303 square degrees across the heavens. At mid-northern latitudes it takes more than six hours for the whole constellation to rise. It is sometimes called the female water snake because its latin name is feminine and to distinguish it from Hydras (called the male water snake). Its head is south of Cancer (the crab) and east of Canis Minor (little dog). Its body snakes east
almost as far as Scorpius (the scorpion).
Hydrus
Hydrus, the male water snake, is a small constellation close to the south pole, measuring at 243 square degrees. It's a modern constellation created by Johann Bayer and published in his 1603 atlas to fill in an area near the south celestial pole. There is no mythilogical associations with this constellation as there are with Draco and Hydra. Hyrdus is bordered on the west by Tucana (the Tucan) and on the east by Mensa and Dorado.
Lair of the Dragon
Dragon's Gold
Western Dragon
Through History
Other Historical Dragons
Many Forms
Dragons of the Far East
Dragon Links
