Several star clusters and nebulae are found in Cygnus due to its position on the Milky Way. NGC 7000, the North America Nebula, is found a bit to the east of Deneb. Its resemblance to the continent is best appreciated in photographs. The Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) is nearby.
History and mythology
Drawing of Cygnus by Hevelius, 1690
The constellation bears a resemblance to a wide winged, long necked bird, in graceful flight [link]. In Greek mythology, the constellation represents several different legendary swans. Zeus disguised himself as a swan to rape Leda, who gave birth to the Gemini, Helen of Troy, and Clytemnestra.
Orpheus was transformed into a swan after his murder, and was said to have been placed in the sky next to his lyre (Lyra).
Finally, it is said that a youth named Cygnus was the boyfriend of the ill-fated Phaethon. After Phaethon was killed trying to drive the chariot of the sun, Cygnus searched desperately for his body in the river Eridanus where it had fallen. He dove so many times into the river that Zeus took pity on him and changed him into the waterbird that has since borne his name.
Cygnus, together with other constellations in the Zodiac sign of Sagittarius (specifically Lyra and Aquila, together with Sagittarius itself), may be a significant part of the origin of the myth of the Stymphalian Birds, one of The Twelve Labours of Herakles.
In Chinese mythology, the constellation Cygnus is the site of the once-a-year magpie bridge which connects the lovers Niu Lang and Zhi Nu (see Qi Xi).
Stars
- Stars with proper names:
- * (50/α Cyg) 1.25 Deneb [Deneb el Adige] or Deneb Cygni or Arided [Aridif, Arrioph] or Gallina
- *: Deneb, Deneb el Adige < ذنب الدجاجة ðanab ad-dajāja[h] Tail of the hen
- *: Gallina < gallīna hen
- * (6/β Cyg) – double 3.05, 5.12 Albireo or Al Minhar al Dajajah
- *: Albireo < ab ireo is a mistranslation of Al Minhar al Dajajah. See the article for the history.
- *: Al Minhar al Dajajah < منقار الدجاجة minqār ad-dajāja[h] Beak (lit. peak) of the hen
- * (37/γ Cyg) 2.23 Sadr [Sador, Sadir]
- *: < الصدر الدجاجة aş-şadr ad-dajājah The breast of the hen
- * (53/ε Cyg) 2.48 Gienah [Gienah Cygni]
- *: < جناح janāħ wing
- * (80/π1 Cyg) 4.69 Azelfafage
- *: < ? Tortoise
- * (45/ω1 Cyg) 4.94 (or Ruchba, see ω2 Cyg)
- * (46/ω2 Cyg) 5.44 Ruchba [Rukbat al Dajajah, Al Rukbah al Dajajah]
- *: < ركبة الدجاجة rukbat[u] ad-dajāja[h] Knee of the hen
- Stars with Bayer designations:
- : 18/δ Cyg 2.86; 64/ζ Cyg 3.21; 13/θ Cyg 4.49; 21/η Cyg 3.89; 10/ι Cyg 3.76; 1/κ Cyg 3.80; 54/λ Cyg 4.53; 78/μ1 Cyg 4.49; 78/μ2 Cyg 6.08; 58/ν Cyg 3.94; 62/ξ Cyg 3.72; 31/ο1 Cyg 3.80; 32/ο2 Cyg 3.96; 81/π2 Cyg 4.23; 73/ρ Cyg 3.98; 67/σ Cyg 4.22; 65/τ Cyg 3.74; 66/υ Cyg 4.41; χ Cyg 10.5; 12/φ Cyg 4.68; 24/ψ Cyg 4.91; 27/b1 Cyg 5.38; 28/b2 Cyg 4.93; 29/b3 Cyg 4.93; 16/c Cyg – double 5.99, 6.25; comp. B has a planet; 20/d Cyg 5.03; 26/e Cyg 5.06; 59/f1 Cyg 4.74; 63/f2 Cyg 4.56; 71/g Cyg 5.22; 68/A Cyg 5.04; 34/P Cyg 4.77 – hypergiant; P Cyg variable prototype
- Stars with Flamsteed designations:
- : 2 Cyg 4.99; 4 Cyg 5.17; 7 Cyg 5.73; 8 Cyg 4.74; 9 Cyg 5.39; 11 Cyg 6.03; 14 Cyg 5.41; 15 Cyg 4.89; 17 Cyg 5.00; 19 Cyg 5.18; 22 Cyg 4.95; 23 Cyg 5.14; 25 Cyg 5.15; 30 Cyg 4.80; 33 Cyg 4.28; 35 Cyg 5.14; 36 Cyg 5.58; 39 Cyg 4.43; 40 Cyg 5.63; 41 Cyg 4.01; 42 Cyg 5.90; 43 Cyg 5.73; 44 Cyg 6.21; 47 Cyg 4.61; 48 Cyg 6.32; 49 Cyg 5.53; 51 Cyg 5.41; 52 Cyg 4.22; 55 Cyg 4.81; 56 Cyg 5.06; 57 Cyg 4.80; 60 Cyg 5.38; 61 Cyg – double 5.20, 6.05; nearby; 69 Cyg 5.93; 70 Cyg 5.30; 72 Cyg 4.87; 74 Cyg 5.04; 75 Cyg 5.09; 76 Cyg 6.07; 77 Cyg 5.73; 79 Cyg 5.69
- Other notable stars:
- * Cygnus X-1 – black hole
- * HD 187123 7.89 – has a planet
