(, named after the mythological winged horse
Pegasus . It is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 constellations listed by
Ptolemy .
α Peg (Markab),
β Peg , and
γ Peg , together with
α Andromedae (Alpheratz or Sirrah) form the large
Asterism known as the ''Square of Pegasus''.
51 Pegasi , a star in this constellation, is the first Sun-like star known to have an
Extrasolar Planet .
IK Pegasi is the nearest
Supernova candidate. Spectroscopic analysis of
HD 209458 B , an extrasolar planet in this constellation has provided the first evidence of atmospheric water vapour beyond the solar system.
Pegasus was born from the blood of
Medusa when the latter was slain by
Perseus .
Pegasus has an appearance resembling a , one of
The Twelve Labours of
Herakles , together with another feature in the
Zodiac sign of
Aquarius , namely Aquarius itself, pouring out the waters.
The star formerly known as
Delta Pegasi (labeled "Sirrah" in the map), one of the 4 stars in Pegasus' square, is now considered to be part of
Andromeda , (α Andromedae) and is more usually called "Alpheratz." By moving the star, the square became a triangle attached to a stick body, thus resembling a wing. As a winged horse, Pegasus features in
Greek Mythology as its namesake,
Pegasus .
The body of the horse consists of a quadrilateral formed by the stars
α Peg ,
β Peg ,
γ Peg , and
α And .
The front legs of the winged horse are formed by two crooked lines of stars, one leading from
η Peg to
κ Peg and the other from
μ Peg to 1 Pegasi.
Another crooked line of stars from
α Peg via
θ Peg to
ε Peg forms the neck and head; ε is the snout.
- H. A. Rey, ''The Stars — A New Way To See Them''. Enlarged World-Wide Edition. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1997. ISBN 0-395-24830-2.
- Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). ''Collins Stars and Planets Guide'', HarperCollins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209.
