Draco is the eighth largest constellation in the sky. Occupying an area of 1038 square degrees, it is home to nine stars and one Messier object. Draco represents Ladon in Greek mythology, the guardian in the gardens of Hesperides. Gamma Draconis, Etamin, is the brightest star in the constellation. It is sometimes known as the “Zenith Star” as it lies close to the zenith point directly overhead in London. The star’s traditional name comes from the Arabic At-Tinnin‎ meaning “the great serpent.”

Hercules is found in the third quadrant of the northern sky, occupying an area of 1225 square degrees. But despite being the fifth largest constellation, it does not have a first magnitude star. The Keystone asterism contains four bright stars, which represent Hercules’ torso. Zeta Herculis, the brightest among the four, is only 35 light years distant from Earth. Beta Herculis, Kornephoros, is the brightest star in the Hercules constellation. Its name comes from Greek and means “the club bearer.”

The constellation dates back to ancient times. Its origin was unclear even to the Greeks. They knew it as Engonasin, or “the kneeling one.” It was Eratosthenes who identified the kneeler as Heracles, standing over the dragon that guards the golden apples.

Heracles was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, a mortal woman. When he was an infant, Zeus laid him at Hera’s breast while she slept to suckle her milk, which made him immortal. Enraged by this and her husband’s infidelity, the goddess made Heracles’ life difficult. She cast a spell that made him go insane and kill his children. Once he regained his senses, he visited the Oracle at Delphi to see how he could atone for his deed.

The Oracle sent him to serve Eurystheus of Mycenae for a period of 12 years. King Eurystheus gave Heracles a series of tasks, known as the Labours of Heracles. The tasks ranged from cleaning stables to killing creatures. Despite finishing all ten, the king refused to release him from service. Eurystheus gave two more tasks for Heracles to do.

The golden apple tree was a present to Hera when she got married to Zeus. It was planted on Mount Atlas and guarded by Atlas’ daughters, the Hesperides. The goddess also placed the dragon Ladon so that the Hesperides would not get from the tree. Heracles’ first additional task was to steal golden apples from her garden. He killed Ladon with his poisoned arrows and took the apples. Saddened by the dragon’s death, Hera placed its image in the sky among the constellations. And so, in the northern sky, the constellation Draco is found.

The 26th largest constellation, Orion is one of the brightest and best known in the sky. Alpha Orionis, Betelgeuse, is the eighth brightest and one of the largest stars known in the sky. It is believed to be 10 billions old and evolves rapidly due to its enormous mass. Beta Orionis, Rigel, is the brightest star in the constellation and the sixth in the sky. Its name comes from Riǧl Ǧawza al-Yusra meaning “the left foot of the central one,” marking its position in the constellation.

Opposite to Orion is Scorpius, found in the southern sky. Also catalogued by Ptolemy, it belongs to the zodiac group and is one of the oldest constellations. It is easy to find as it is located near the center of the Milky Way. Alpha Scorpii, Antares, is the 16th brightest star in the sky and marks the heart of the constellation. Beta Scorpii, Shaula, is approximately 700 light years distant from the solar system. Its name comes from the Arabic al-šawlā´, which means “the raised (tail).”

There are several myths on the origin and the death of Orion. However, the oldest version says that he was the son of Poseidon and Euryale, the daughter of King Minos of Crate. Since his father was the sea god, Orion was able to reach the island of Chios by walking on water. After drinking so much, he made sexual advances to the local king’s daughter, Merope. This leads to him being blind by King Oenopion’s order and going to the island of Lemnos. There he met Hephaestus who helped him get to the East, where Helios restored his eyesight.

Orion then went to Crete and hunted with Artemis and her mother Leto. He declared that he would kill every animal in the world, which made Gaea furious. She sent a giant scorpion, represented by the constellation Scorpius, that successfully killed Orion. Upon hearing the news, Artemis asked Zeus to put their fellow hunter in the sky; the god agreed and put Orion and the scorpion in opposite parts of the sky.

However, in another myth, Orion died due to falling in love with Artemis. The twin of the goddess, Apollo, was against this love affair. One day, when Orion was swimming in a lake, Apollo challenged her sister. Wanting to prove her skills as an archer, she shot the barely recognizable head of Orion. Artemis hit the target, unknowingly killing her potential lover.

First catalogued by Ptolemy in the 2nd century, Andromeda is one of the most known constellations at present. Being the 19th largest constellation, it occupies an area of 722 square degrees. Andromeda is found between Cassiopeia and the Great Square of Pegasus in the northern sky.

Alpha Andromedae, Alpheratz, is the brightest star found in the constellation. Other astronomers call the star al ras al mar’ah al musalsalah, which means “the head of the chained woman.” Also known as Sirrah, its name is derived from the Arabic phrase al surrat al-faras meaning “the navel of the horse.” Alpheratz connects the constellation Andromeda to Pegasus, which is the horse Perseus rode to Andromeda’s rescue.

Found beside Andromeda, Perseus is the 24th largest constellation with an area of 615 square degrees. Alpha Persei is one of the brightest stars in the sky. Its traditional names, Mirfak and Algenib, mean “elbow” and “side” respectively. Additionally, the constellation is home to the Demon Star. Algol is one of the most known stars in the sky as it was the first eclipsing binary star ever discovered. The star’s name is derived from the Arabic phrase ra’s al-ghul meaning “the demon’s head.” It was associated with a ghoul in Arabic tradition and with the head of the Medusa in mythology.

The constellations represent figures in Greek mythology, Andromeda and Perseus. King Acrisius, ruler of Argos, was told by an oracle that he would die at the hand of his own grandchild. And so, he locked away his daughter, Danaë, in a dungeon. Zeus fell in love with her and took the form of golden rain to visit her. When the rain fell into her lap, Danaë got pregnant. Acrisius found out and once Perseus was born, the king locked both his daughter and grandson into a wooden chest and cast them out to sea.

Danaë prayed to Zeus and the god heard her. The chest washed ashore within a few days, and Perseus and his mother found themselves on the island of Seriphos. Dictys, a fisherman, found them and took them home with him. He raised Perseus as his own son.

However, Dictys had a brother, King Polydectes, who wanted Danaë for himself. Perseus defended her from the king’s advances and Polydectes came up with a plan that would put Perseus out of the picture. He made up a story about being engaged to another woman, Hippodameia, who was the daughter of King Oenomaus of Elis. He asked everyone to give him and his bride horses as a wedding present, which Perseus do not have nor afford.

The king sent the youngster to bring him the head of the Gorgon Medusa as he expects Perseus to die in attempt. Polydectes underestimated Perseus’ allies on Olympus. Athena gave the hero a bronze shield and Hephaestus made him a sword of diamond. Hades gave him a helmet that made him invisible, and Hermes gifted him with winged sandals.

Following the trail of people turned to stone by Medusa and her sisters, Perseus found the Gorgons. Once they had fallen asleep, Perseus decapitated Medusa using his shield to see her reflection, as he could not look at her directly without turning into stone. When Medusa died, the winged horse Pegasus and the warrior Chrysaor sprang fully grown from her body. They were the offsprings of the Gorgon and the Poseidon.

On the way home, Perseus came across the princess Andromeda, chained to a rock and left to die by her parents, King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia, to appease the sea monster Cetus. Perseus rescued Andromeda and took her home with him.

In Seriphos, Perseus found his mother and Dictys hiding from Polydectes in a temple. Perseus went to see the king and, greeted with hostility, he used the Gorgon’s head to turn Polydectes and his followers to stone. He appointed Dictys king of Seriphos.

Andromeda and Perseus were later married and had many children.

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On November evenings, Cassiopeia appears in the northern sky opposite of Ursa Major. Consisting several Deep Sky objects, it is the 25th largest constellation occupying 598 square degrees. The constellation was included in Claudius Ptolemaeus’ the Almagest, which later served as basis for other astronomers. It is now recognized by the International Astronomical Union as one of the 88 modern constellations.

Cassiopeia has a distinctive W shape formed by five bright stars. Alpha Cassiopeiae, the Schedar, is an orange giant positioned at the bottom right. Its name, derived from the Arabic şadr, refers to its position as the heart of the constellation. Beta Cassiopeiae, Caph is a subgiant derived from the Arabic kaf meaning “palm.” Known to be one of the Three Guides, it marks the point the Sun crosses during every spring and autumn equinox.

Also found in the Perseus family and northern sky, Cepheus is the 27th largest constellation occupying 588 square degrees. Alpha Cephei, Alderamin, is the brightest star in the constellation. Its name is derived from the Arabic phrase að-ðirā‘ al-yamīn meaning “the right arm.” Beta Cephei, Alfirk, comes from the Arabic al-firqah meaning “the flock.”

In mythology, Cassiopeia was the wife of Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia. Her name in Greek means “she whose words excel” and she was known for her beauty. However, along with it would be her vanity and arrogance. This eventually led to her downfall as she once boasted that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the Nereids.

Upon hearing this, the nymphs and the god of the sea were angered. Poseidon unleashed their wrath by either flooding the city or sending a monster. He directed a sea monster, often represented by the constellation of Cetus, to destroy Ethiopia. Trying to save their kingdom, Cepheus and Cassiopeia consulted a wise oracle. They were advised that the only way to appease Poseidon was to offer their daughter to the sea monster.

Desperate, they sacrificed their daughter, leaving her chained to a rock for Cetus to find.