放大圖片
國王克甫斯(仙王)和王后卡西奧佩婭(仙后)統領依索匹亞。其女兒安德羅墨達(仙女)長得美艷動人。卡西奧佩婭曾揚言,其女的美貌更勝海之女神,因而開罪海神之妻安菲特里忒,海神遂派遣海怪蹂躪依索匹亞。神諭揭示必須把安德羅墨達供奉給海神,方能解困。安德羅墨達遂被其父母用鐵索鎖在岸邊一塊巨石上作祭獻,剛巧珀耳修斯完成殲滅蛇髮魔女美杜莎的任務,於是拿出美杜莎的人頭,將海怪變成石頭,救出了她。
仙王座像一個五角形,仙后座則像英文字母M或W。仙女座構成飛馬的後腳,用雙筒望遠鏡仔細探索它,可察覺M31仙女座星系,它距離我們250萬光年。
The Celestial Royal Family(part two)
Cepheus was King of Athiopia. His Queen, Cassiopeia, born him a daughter, Andromeda. Cassiopeia boasted that the beauty of Andromeda surpassed that of Nereids, the Sea-goddess. Nereids overheard Cassiopeia and became furious. She complained to Poseidon, God of the Sea, who sent a sea-monster, Cetus, to destroy Athiopia. Cepheus consulted an oracle that told him to offer Andromeda as a sacrifice. Andromeda was chained to the rocks on the coast. Perseus was flying home after killing Medusa. He was overwhelmed by Andromeda's beauty and decided to save her. He took out Medusa's head and faced it at Cetus. Cetus quickly turned into stone.
The constellation Cepheus looks like a pentagon and Cassiopeia is just like the letter W or M. Andromeda is connected to Pegasus and becomes the horse's hind legs. Carefully sweep Andromeda with a pair of binoculars, you may be able to spot the well-known Great Andromeda Galaxy, M31. It is about 2.5 million light years away. ■甄枝強 資深天文愛好者
|