Constellations

by Gypsy Fluff

Corona Australis is tucked into a little corner of the sky beside Scorpius, with Sagittarius adjacent. It shows at about 11 o'clock position.The little circlet of its brighter stars is readily noticed. The Milky Way runs through it, so objects for observing are those from our galaxy, with other galaxies greatly obscured. It contains a fine globular Cluster, NGC 6541, the interesting nebular region NGC 6726-7-9, and a number of good double stars. It is supposed to represent a cast-off garland once worn by Sagittarius, while others consider that it represents the wheel upon which Ixion was tormented because of his insult to Juno.  Although it seems quite small and un-noteworthy it was still included in the 48 ancient constellations listed by Ptolemy.  It was considered then not so much as a crown but a wreath, as centaurs were commonly represented as wearing these items in those times, and to be regarded as the wreath worn by the centaur depicted as Sagittarius.  Jung said that the radiant crown is the symbol par excellence of reaching the highest goal in evolution: for he who conquers himself wins the crown of eternal life. The crown is always an expression of majesty, power, consecration, or of a solemn, extraordinary status or condition. Some classical poets thought the stars of this graceful curve to mark a bunch of arrows held by The Archer.   It's brightest star, 4th magnitude alpha (a), is occasionally known as Alphecca meridiana, which translates roughly to mean "the middle of the bowl".