Constellations: Delphinus

Delphinus is the Greek word for Dolphin and this is how the dolphin came to be placed among the stars. Poseidon wished to make Amphitrite his wife, she, out of modesty, fled to Mount Atlas, eager to preserve her virginity. Poseidon sent out many searchers to find her, among them the dolphin. While wandering about the islands of Atlas, the dolphin discovered Amphitrite, whereupon it announced her discovery and brought her to Poseidon, who married …showed first 75 words of 530 total…

…showed last 75 words of 530 total…expect, names dating from Antiquity, but instead are quite new. They first appeared in a star catalogue of 1814 that was published at the Palermo Observatory in Italy. When read backwards they form the name Nicolaus Venator which is the Latinized version of the name of the assistant director of that observatory at that time: Niccolo Cacciatore (both Cacciatore and Venator mean hunter). Delphinus is best seen in September (at 9:00 PM) between latitudes 90 and -70 degrees