David Falkner first became interested in Astronomy as a pre-teen when his father took him to a show at the Holcolm Planetarium in Indianapolis, IN.  He became hooked and has loved astronomy ever since.  When he was a teenager he inherited a home-made Newtonian telescope that needed the primary mirror.  He ground a 6" mirror and completed his first telescope, which gave him years of pleasure observing the heavens.  In 1973 David joined the US Navy and became an officer in 1980.  In 1986 as a Naval Officer stationed in Monterey, California he was involved with the Friends of MIRA (Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy) where he conducted outreach to local schools associated with the return of Halley's Comet.  David retired from the US Navy in 1993 and settled in Minnesota where he continues his love of astronomy. He has taught introductory Astronomy at a local community college and does extensive astronomy outreach both a NASA Solar System Ambassador and as President of the Minnesota Astronomical Society.

Contents

1 An Introduction to Greco-Roman Mythology

The Night Sky and Ancient Cultures

Greek or Roman?

The Creation of the World

Astronomical Family Trees

2 The Winter Constellations

Orion - The Hunter

Canis Major - The Great Dog

Canis Minor - The Little Dog

Lepus - The Hare

Scorpius - The Scorpion

Taurus - The Bull

The Hyades - The Daughters of Atlas

The Pleiades (M45) - The Seven Sisters

Auriga - The Charioteer

Eridanus - The River

Aries - The Ram

Gemini - The Twins

The Ship Argo

Puppis - The Stern

Pyxis - The Mariner's Compass

Vela - The Sails

Carina - The Keel

3 The Legend of Jason and the Argonauts

The Constellations

The Legend

4 The Spring Constellations

Ursa Major and Ursa Minor - The Greater Bear and the Lesser Bear

Ursa Major - The Great Bear and the Big Dipper

Ursa Minor

Boötes - The Herdsman (or the Plowman)

Virgo - The Virgin

Corvus - The Crow

Crater - The Cup

Centaurus - The Centaur

Lupus - The Wolf

Leo - The Lion

Hydra - The Watersnake

Cancer - The Crab

5 The Summer Constellations

Ophiuchus - The Serpent-Bearer

Serpens (Cauda and Caput) - The Serpents

Corona Borealis - The Northern Crown

Corona Australis - The Southern Crown

Draco - The Dragon

Aquila - The Eagle

Scorpius - The Scorpion

Libra - The Scales

Sagittarius - The Archer

Lyra - The Lyre

Cygnus - The Swan

Ara - The Altar

Hercules - The Hero

Sagitta - The Arrow

Equuleus - The Foal

6 The Legend of Hercules

The Constellations

The Legend

7 The Autumn Constellations

Delphinus - The Dolphin

Aquarius - The Water-Bearer

Capricornus - The Sea-Goat

Pisces - The Fishes  

Pisces Austrinus - The Southern Fish

Pegasus - The Flying Horse

Andromeda - The Princess

Cetus - The Sea-Monster (Whale)

Cassiopeia - The Queen

Cepheus - The King

Perseus - The Hero

Triangulum - The Triangle

8 The Legend of Perseus

The Constellations

The Legend

9 Introductions to Other Mythologies

Norse Mythology

Celtic Mythology

Inuit Mythology

Hawaiian Mythology

Rapa Nui Mythology

Tongva Mythology

10 Planets and Satellites

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Earth's Satellite - The Moon

Mars

Mars' Satellites

Jupiter

Jupiter's Satellites

Saturn

Saturn's Satellites

Uranus

Uranus' Satellites

Neptune

Neptune's Satellites

11 Dwarf Planets and Asteroids

The Dwarf Planets

Ceres

Pluto

Eris

Haumea

Makemake

Sedna

Quaoar

Orcus

The Asteroids

Vesta (4 Vesta)

Pallas (2 Pallas)

Ceres (1 Ceres)

Iris (7 Iris)

Eros (433 Eros)

Hebe (6 Hebe)

Juno (3 Juno)

Melpomene (18 Melpomene)

Eunomia (15 Eunomia)

Flora (8 Flora)

12 Astrophotography Using a Compact Digital Camera or Smartphone Camera

Introduction to Digital Cameras

Astrophotography Using a Compact Digital Camera

Astrophotography Using a Smartphone Camera

Author's Final Word

Appendices

Appendix A Names of the Greek and Roman Gods

Appendix B Ptolemy's Constellations

Appendix C The Messier Objects

Appendix D NGC/IC Objects by Constellation

Appendix E The Greek Alphabet

Bibliography  

Index