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This book is for amateur astronomers who would like to know the mythology behind the names of astronomical objects in the night sky. It covers the lore and legend behind Ptolemy’s 48 constellations, along with significant asterisms, the planets and their moons, the brightest named asteroids and dwarf planets. The revised second edition includes a host of new moons and dwarf planets discovered since 2011. In addition, it now features a new section on major asteroids and their associated myths. While still primarily focused on Greco-Roman mythology, the book now branches out to cover more recently named objects from other cultures, such as Hawaiian, Rapanui, Tongva and Inuit. To assist practical observers, the book gives the location and description of each constellation, including named stars and deep-sky objects. A host of helpful astronomy tips and techniques, as well as a brief introduction to astrophotography, is included to encourage direct observation and imaging of these mythical objects in the night sky.

Astronomy. --- Astrophysics. --- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology. --- Popular Science in Astronomy. --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Physics --- Astronomy, Greek --- Astronomy, Roman --- Constellations. --- Mythology. --- Sky --- Roman astronomy --- Greek astronomy

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This book explores the insights that Cultural Astronomy provides into the classical Roman world by unveiling the ways in which the Romans made use of their knowledge concerning the heavens, and by shedding new light on the interactions between astronomy and heritage in ancient Roman culture. Leading experts in the field present fascinating information on how and why the Romans referred to the sky when deciding upon the orientation of particular monuments, temples, tombs and even urban layouts. Attention is also devoted to questions of broader interest, such as the contribution that religious interpretation of the sky made in the assimilation of conquered peoples. When one considers astronomy in the Roman world it is customary to think of the work and models of Ptolemy, and perhaps the Julian calendar or even the sighting of the Star of Bethlehem. However, like many other peoples in antiquity, the Romans interacted with the heavens in deeper ways that exerted a profound influence on their culture. This book highlights the need to take this complexity into account in various areas of research and will appeal to all those who wish to learn more about the application of astronomy in the lives and architecture of the Romans.

Astronomy, Roman. --- Astronomy, Ancient. --- Archaeoastronomy. --- Archeoastronomy --- Astroarchaeology --- Astronomy, Prehistoric --- Prehistoric astronomy --- Astronomy --- Ancient astronomy --- Roman astronomy --- Astronomy. --- Philology. --- Cultural heritage. --- Archaeology. --- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology. --- Classical Studies. --- Cultural Heritage. --- Urban Geography / Urbanism (inc. megacities, cities, towns). --- Archeology --- Anthropology --- Auxiliary sciences of history --- History --- Antiquities --- Cultural heritage --- Cultural patrimony --- Cultural resources --- Heritage property --- National heritage --- National patrimony --- National treasure --- Patrimony, Cultural --- Treasure, National --- Property --- World Heritage areas --- Astrophysics. --- Urban geography. --- Geography --- Astronomical physics --- Cosmic physics --- Physics