The Eagle constellation is located in the equatorial region. It is one of the 48 constellations documented by Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer, in the 2nd century. The Romans called it the "Flying Vulture".
The Eagle constellation is located in the Milky Way. It is surrounded by the constellations of the Little Horse, Dolphin, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Hercules, Shield and Arrow. You can easily recognize it by three bright stars that are almost in a straight line on the left shoulder, back and neck of a huge bird. The Eagle constellation in the sky covers an area of 652.5 square meters. degrees. It includes 119 stars that are visible to the naked eye.
Observation of the constellation Aquila
Above the horizon above all, the constellation Eagle is in August and September at night. It is at this time that it is most convenient to observe it. On a moonless and clear night, up to 70 stars can be seen with the naked eye in this constellation. Of these, 8 are brighter than 4th magnitude.
The brightest star
The brightest star in the constellation Aquila is Altair, it belongs to the stars of the 1st magnitude. If you mentally connect it with lines with the celestial bodies located near it, you get a figure that resembles a soaring eagle with spread wings. Not only the Greeks sawthis bird of prey, but also the Arabs, who gave it the name "Altair" (that is, "flying").
Altair (the constellation Eagle) is one of the closest stars to our planet. Only 16 light years is the distance to it from us. That's why she looks so bright. However, its size is only 2 times larger than the size of the Sun. Its radiation is 8 times more intense than that of the Sun. Altair is approaching the Earth at a speed of 26 km / s, but only after 12 thousand years it will be at a distance of 15 light years from our planet, that is, it will approach the Earth only 1 light year. Altair, together with Beta and Gamma Aquilae, forms the body of the constellation Aquila.
Beta, gamma, zeta, eta, epsilon and delta constellations
At a distance of about 44.7 light-years from our planet is the beta constellation Aquila. Its apparent magnitude is 3.71. The gamma of this constellation is a huge yellow-orange star. Its apparent magnitude is 2.72. Zeta is a triple star system. Eta is a yellow-white supergiant, 3,000 times brighter than the Sun. It is one of the brightest Cepheids that can be seen with the naked eye. The epsilon of this constellation is a triple star system. The orange giant leads it. The atmosphere of this K-type giant is barium. The delta of the constellation of interest to us is a triple star system. Its main celestial body is an F-type subgiant. You will find all this by looking at the constellation Eagle, the diagram of which is presented above.
Zeus fight against his father, helpPrometheus
Arrow is a small cluster of stars located in the Milky Way. Mythology connects the Arrow and the constellation Eagle with the fate of Prometheus. For children, many books are being published today in which you can read a retelling of the myth of Prometheus. This story is really interesting, and not only for children. Recall it briefly.
When Zeus matured, he began to fight against Kronos, his father, in order to gain power over Earth and Heaven. This struggle was stubborn and long, as the mighty titans were on the side of Kronos. In them, Zeus threw deafening thunders and fiery lightning. Calling for help hekatoncheirs, hundred-armed, huge as mountains, he nevertheless defeated the titans, sending them to gloomy Tartarus. Only one of them - Prometheus - did not fight against Zeus. On the contrary, he helped him in the fight, and also convinced Themis, his mother, and the goddess Gaia to go over to his side. Prometheus could therefore live among the gods on Olympus. He was allowed to descend to Earth whenever he wanted.
Prometheus' decision to help people
However, the continuous feasts of the gods on Olympus and their carefree life did not attract Prometheus. He descended to Earth and decided to stay among people and help them. At the sight of how unhappy the inhabitants of the planet were, his heart broke with pain - they froze in holes and caves, they had no fire, they died from numerous diseases and were forced to defend themselves from wild animals. Prometheus decided that if people had fire, they would not be so unhappy. However, Zeus forbade him to give fire to people, as he was afraid that people would take awaythe gods have power over the world.
Prometheus changes people's lives for the better
Prometheus was aware of what awaits him in case of violation of the prohibition of Zeus. However, he could not calmly observe the suffering and distress of people. He decided to steal fire from the forge of Hephaestus, then gave it to the people. Prometheus taught them how to use fire.
People's lives quickly changed for the better. They stopped freezing in the caves, no longer ate raw meat, but began to cook their own food. However, not only fire gave Prometheus to people. He taught them to extract ores in the bowels of the earth, melt them on fire and obtain various metals, from which they then make plows and tools. Prometheus taught to tame wild horses and bulls, harness them and work the land with their help. He also tamed wild goats and sheep and gave them to people so that they could use meat and milk for food, and animal skins for clothing. In addition, Prometheus taught people to heal diseases.
Wrath of Zeus
Zeus, of course, was angry with the naughty titan. The servants of this god Prometheus were chained in heavy chains. They took him to the Caucasus - to the very edge of the Earth. Rocky peaks rose from here to the clouds, and not a tree or a blade of grass grew on the seashore. Only formidable rocks were everywhere, on which the sea waves rained down their fury with a deafening roar.
Hephaestus came here on the orders of Zeus and chained Prometheus to a cliff with an iron hammer. He drove an iron point into his chest. So many centuries have passed.
Oceanids visit Prometheus
One day the sea waves subsided. On golden chariots, with a breath of breeze, oceanids, the daughters of the Ocean, were brought to Prometheus. Hesiona, one of them, was the wife of this titan. The wise Ocean himself appeared on a winged chariot behind them. He wanted to persuade Prometheus to make peace with the angry god, but he did not want to hear about it. Only Prometheus knew the secret of what exactly threatened his power on the planet.
Titan is plunged into darkness
One day Hermes, the messenger of the gods, rushed to find out the secret of the fate of Zeus. However, Prometheus was adamant. Then Zeus brought down thunder and lightning on the rock with Prometheus, and it collapsed into eternal darkness. Millennia later, God decided to raise the disobedient titan from the darkness and subject him to severe suffering. The rays of Helios burned his body, the rock was white-hot in the summer heat. Rain and hail lashed his emaciated body, and snow fell in flakes in winter.
Eagle pecking at the liver of Prometheus
Zeus every day, when Helios appeared in the sky on a fiery chariot, sent his huge eagle to Prometheus. The eagle, rustling with powerful wings, flew up to the rock. He sat down on Prometheus' chest. With his sharp claws, he tore open the chest of the titan and pecked at his liver. Blood flowed in torrents, staining the rock. The eagle flew away only when Helios descended on his knee to the Ocean in the west. The wounds of Prometheus healed overnight, the liver grew, but the next morning everything was repeated. This torment continued for 30 thousand years.
Hercules frees Prometheus
KTitan once came Themis, his mother. She begged Prometheus to reconcile with Zeus and tell him her secret. However, the titan remained adamant. He knew that the hero meant to end his torment had already been born. It was Hercules, who traveled around many countries, saving people from many monsters and disasters. He finally came to the far end of the Earth. Hercules, standing in front of the rock, looked at Prometheus, chained to it, and listened to his story.
Suddenly there was a sound of wings, a huge eagle appeared in the sky above. He was already preparing to pounce on the titan. Hercules took the bow and lowered the string. The arrow whistled and pierced the eagle. He fell like a stone into the sea. Hermes, the messenger of Zeus, rushed from Olympus. He turned to Prometheus and promised the titan liberation if he agreed to reveal the secret of how Zeus could avoid an evil fate. Finally, Prometheus agreed and said that the god of thunder should not marry Thetis, the sea goddess, since the gods of fate decided that she would give birth to a son who would be more powerful than her father.
Hercules broke the chains of Prometheus and tore the iron point out of his chest. On summer nights and today, Hercules is visible in the sky. He looks at the bloodthirsty Eagle, and the Arrow is above him. There is only Prometheus in the sky, but people will never forget the one who gave them knowledge and fire - weapons against the power of the gods.
The legend of Prometheus in art and literature
It is with this story that mythology connects the constellation Eagle. The legend above andvery famous today. It is especially popular in art and literature. Aeschylus, for example, created a number of tragedies associated with the name of the great titan: "Prometheus chained", "Prometheus the fire-bearer", "Prometheus liberated". Aristophanes wrote the comedy "Birds", Actions - the tragedy "Prometheus". The humanistic features of this image of a rebel-martyr were developed in poetry (Shelley, Byron, Ogarev, Gauthier, Shevchenko and others), in music (Scriabin, Liszt, and others), and in the visual arts (Gordeev, Titian, and others). In the drama "Enlightenment" by Calderon, as well as in the works of Beethoven and Goethe, the Late Antique version of this myth was reflected. Prometheus in it acts as the creator of the people he fashioned from the earth.
Eagle Constellation Festival
In the city of Orel, annually, in November, a festival is held, named after this amazing constellation. Performers and creative teams from Russia and abroad take part in it. "Constellation of the Eagle" - a competition of pop vocals, variety and fashion theaters, choreography for young talented people from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Indonesia. There are 4 age groups - under 6 years old, from 7 to 11 years old, from 12 to 15 years old and from 16 to 25 years old. This competition over the past years has come a long way of becoming and has become a real exciting show. It gathers more and more spectators and participants, including thanks to its bright, memorable name.
