| Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 1,752,865,936 visitors served. |
|
Dictionary/ thesaurus | Medical dictionary | Legal dictionary | Financial dictionary | Acronyms | Idioms | Encyclopedia | Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
Pegasus |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.03 sec. |
Pegasus, in astronomyPegasus (pĕg`əsəs), in astronomy, northern constellation constellation, in common usage, group of stars that appear to form a configuration in the sky; properly speaking, a constellation is a definite region of the sky in which the configuration of stars is contained...... Click the link for more information. lying SW of Andromeda and SE of Cygnus. It is named for the mythological winged horse Pegasus. The constellation is easily recognized by the Great Square formed by the bright stars Markab (Alpha Pegasi) at the southwest corner, Scheat (Beta Pegasi) at the northwest corner, Algenib (Gamma Pegasi) at the southeast corner, and Alpheratz in Andromeda at the northeast corner. The constellation reaches its highest point in the evening sky in October. In 1995 a planet at least half the size of Jupiter was discovered orbiting the star 51 Pegasus, which is about 40 light-years from the earth; this marked the first time a planet was detected orbiting a sunlike star outside the solar system. Pegasus, in Greek mythologyPegasus, in Greek mythology, winged horse that carries the thunderbolt of Zeus. He sprang full-grown from the neck of the dying Gorgon Medusa. With a slash of his hoof, he created the Hippocrene, a sacred spring of the Muses on Mt. Helicon. Hence, he has often been associated with the arts, especially poetry. Pegasus was captured by Bellerophon Bellerophon (bəlĕr`əfŏn, –fən), in Greek mythology, son of Glaucus; originally called Hipponoüs...... Click the link for more information. , who rode him through many adventures. His name indicates a pre-Greek origin. PegasusIn Greek mythology, a winged horse. It sprang from the blood of Medusa as she was beheaded by Perseus. Bellerophon captured Pegasus and rode him in several of his exploits, including his fight with the Chimera, but when he tried to ride the winged horse to heaven he was unseated and killed, and Pegasus was placed in the sky as a constellation. The flight of Pegasus is often regarded as a symbol of poetic inspiration. PegasusThe code name for Windows CE. See also Pegasos. Pegasus [′peg·ə·səs] (astronomy) A northern constellation; right ascension 22 hours, declination 20°N. Also known as Winged Horse. Pegasus winged horse. [Class. Myth.: Zimmerman, 195] See : Flying Pegasus winged mount of Bellerophon. [Gk. Myth.: Hall, 238] See : Horse Pegasus steed of the Muses; symbolizes poetic inspiration. [Gk. Myth.: Espy, 32]
See : Inspiration
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
|
| ? Mentioned in | ? References in classic literature | |
|---|---|---|
Framed and glazed upon the wall behind the dingy little bar, was another Pegasus - a theatrical one - with real gauze let in for his wings, golden stars stuck on all over him, and his ethereal harness made of red silk. And when Perseus cut off her head, there sprang forth great Chrysaor and the horse Pegasus who is so called because he was born near the springs (pegae) of Ocean; and that other, because he held a golden blade (aor) in his hands. When John went into the stable he told James that master and mistress had chosen a good, sensible English name for me, that meant something; not like Marengo, or Pegasus, or Abdallah. |
| Encyclopedia |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Free toolbar & extensions |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|---|