32. CONSTELLATIONS

The constellations are totally imaginary things that poets, farmers and astronomers have made up over the past 6,000 years and probably even more! In Mesopotania an inscription of the Assyrians has been found showing about 20 names of constellations, one of it is the name: Ursa Major or the BIG DIPPER. Excavations learn us that there existed more than 30.000 years ago already a real bear cult!
The real purpose of constellations is to help us to tell which stars are where, nothing more. On a really dark night, you can see about 1000 to 1500 stars. Trying to tell which is it, is hard. The constellations help by breaking up the sky into more managable bits. They are used as mnemonics, or memory aids. For example, if you spot three bright stars in a row in the winter evening, you might realize, "Oh! That's part of Orion!" Suddenly, the rest of the constellation falls into place and you can declare: "There's Betelgeuse in Orion's left shoulder and Rigel is his foot." And once you recognize Orion, you can remember that Orion's Hunting Dogs are always nearby.
It seems likely that the Greek constellations originated with the Sumerians and Babylonians. From there, knowledge of the constellations somehow made its way to Egypt (perhaps through the Minoans on Crete who had contact with the Babylonians and settled in Egypt after an explosive volcanic eruption destroyed the original civilization)

The constellation CETAURUS represents Chiron who is frequently mentioned in Greek mythology. Chiron was one of the Centaurs, barbarous beasts which were said to be half-horse and half-human. But unlike the others, Chiron was extremely wise and tutored Hercules and Jason. Unfortunately, Hercules accidentally wounded Chiron. The immortal centaur, in great pain, pleaded with the gods to end his suffering. Zeus mercifully let him die and gave him a place among the stars.
The hoofs indicate two stars, the left one being ALPHA CENTAURI, the most nearest star to the sun at a distance of 4.3 ly.

Traveling to Proxima Centauri:
Proxima Centauri (part of the Alpha Centauri star system) has been suggested as a logical first destination for interstellar travel, although as a flare star it would not be particularly hospitable. The current standard spaceship, the Space Shuttle, travels in orbit at 7.8 km/s. At that speed, it would take 160,000 years to reach Proxima. The fastest man-made spacecraft, the HELIOS II - deep space probe, has set a speed record of 70.2 km/s. Even at that speed, the journey to Proxima Centauri would take 18,000 years. The proposed VASIMIR propulsion system, possibly able to achieve speeds up to 300 km/s, would shorten the journey to a "mere" 4,200 years —still firmly beyond the current lifespan of both man and machine. It follows that interstellar travel would require significant development of radical ideas to become feasible, such as the hypothetical generation of ships: laser-pushed solar sails, nuclear fusion powered Bussard ramjets, nuclear pulse drives or warp drives.


The images shown here above and below give two Greek constellations based on old myths together with their modern indications by just connecting the stars composing them.