Pegasus

Origin

Pegasus, often depicted as a winged horse flying across the night sky, has its origins in Greek mythology. In Greek legend, Pegasus was born from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa after the hero Perseus decapitated her. Pegasus was tamed and ridden by the hero Bellerophon, who used the majestic creature to slay the Chimera and accomplish other heroic feats. In honor of Pegasus's significance in Greek mythology, it was immortalized as a constellation, a collection of stars in the northern hemisphere, typically associated with the autumn night sky. Pegasus is known for its distinctive square-shaped asterism, which marks its body, and it remains a prominent and easily recognizable feature of the celestial tapestry.

Bright Stars

Markab (Alpha Pegasi): Markab is the brightest star in Pegasus. It is a giant star in the late stages of its evolution and has moved off the main sequence. Markab is located at a distance of approximately 140 light-years from Earth.

Scheat (Beta Pegasi): Scheat is the second-brightest in the constellation. Scheat is a red giant and is cooler and more luminous than the Sun. Scheat is located at a distance of approximately 196 light-years from Earth.

Algenib (Gamma Pegasi): Algenib is the third-brightest star in the constellation. Algenib is a hot, blue-white subgiant star, and is relatively close to Earth, at a distance of approximately 331 light-years.

Enif (Epsilon Pegasi): Enif serves as the ‘nose’ of the mythical winged horse Pegasus when seen in the night sky. Enif is a massive orange-red giant star and one of the largest known supergiants. It is approximately 670 light-years away from Earth.