Pegasus (redirected from Pegasus (mythology))

Pegasus, in astronomy

Pegasus (pĕg`əsəs), in astronomy, northern constellation 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.

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Pegasus, in Greek mythology

Pegasus, 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, who rode him through many adventures. His name indicates a pre-Greek origin.

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Pegasus

In 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.

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Pegasus

The code name for Windows CE. See also Pegasos.

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Pegasus [′peg·ə·səs]

(astronomy)

A northern constellation; right ascension 22 hours, declination 20°N. Also known as Winged Horse.

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Pegasus

winged horse. [Class. Myth.: Zimmerman, 195]

See : Flying

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Pegasus

winged mount of Bellerophon. [Gk. Myth.: Hall, 238]

See : Horse

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Pegasus

steed of the Muses; symbolizes poetic inspiration. [Gk. Myth.: Espy, 32]

See : Inspiration

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Pegasus - 1. A product to support Internet searches, electronic mail, and Usenet news.

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Pegasus

in ancient Greek mythology, a horse that was born from the trunk of the Gorgon Medusa when she was slain by Perseus. Pegasus was subsequently tamed by Bellerophon, who, with the horse’s help, slew the monster Chimera. A kick of Pegasus’ hoof resulted in the appearance on Mount Helicon of the spring of Hippocrene, the waters of which, according to late Attic beliefs, inspired poets. From this legend came the expression “to saddle Pegasus,” that is, to become a poet.

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Pegasus

(sea moths, or dragonfish), the only genus of fishes of the family Pegasidae of the order Hypostomides. The fishes reach a length of 18 cm. There are five species of sea moths, distributed in the tropical coastal waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific, from eastern Africa to Japan and southeastern Australia. Like poachers and pipefish, sea moths have an armor of large bony plates, which are fused on the head and body and are movable on the tail. The snout is elongated, and the mouth is small and toothless. The pectoral fins are winglike; for this reason, the Swedish naturalist C. Linnaeus named the genus after the mythical winged horse Pegasus. In Southeast Asia, dried sea moths are commercially valuable as amulets. The best-known species are P. volitans and P. natans.

REFERENCE

Zhizn’ zhivotnykh, vol. 4, part 1. Moscow, 1971.

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Pegasus

an equatorial constellation whose brightest stars have visual stellar magnitudes of 2.4, 2.4, 2.5, 2.8, and 3.0. The best conditions for observation of Pegasus occur in August and September. The constellation is visible throughout the USSR. (SeeSTELLAR SKY.)