The Constellation Sagittarius, the Archer
Click on image for full size

Related links:

Mythology of Sagittarius

Sagittarius

Sagittarius is a make-believe creature with the chest and head of a man and the body and legs of a horse. He is shooting his bow at the Scorpion, just next door. Sagittarius is big, but his stars are not very bright. The brightest stars make the shape of a teapot, with a lid, handle, and spout.

Sagittarius was a good friend of the Muses, the goddesses of the arts. The Muses loved their friend very much and asked Zeus to place a picture of him in the sky, so that everyone could admire him.

You might also be interested in:

Science, Evolution, and Creationism

How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable....more

Scorpius

Some constellations do not really look like their names. It takes a lot of imagination to picture the stars of Pegasus as a winged horse, for example. But Scorpius really looks like a scorpion! It has...more

Zeus

In Greek mythology, Zeus (Jupiter in Roman mythology) was the king of heaven and Earth and of all the Olympian gods. He was also known as the god of justice. He was named king of the gods in the special...more

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA