Awhile ago we promised to insert some astronomy into every announcement, so that the missive won't be a complete waste of your time. First, the announcement: The DA has astral projected itself out into the aether and will re-materialize on Friday in time for the next "Brain of Portland" quiz. Second, the astronomy: CERBERUS: THE OBSOLETE CONSTELLATION Contrary to everything that those planetarium jokers have told you, constellations don't necessarily persist forever. Characters were often fashioned by one Uranographer, but then neglected by every subsequent Uranographer and therefore lapsed into obsolescence. Cereberus, the fearsome, triple headed hell hound who guarded the gates of the Underworld to prevent the infiltration of the precious few living beings who dared venture there, once adorned our skies. Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687) introduced Cerberus as one of the ten constellations he imprinted onto the star charts. (Seven still remain.) We only see Cerberus's head as three serpents gripped tightly by Hercules. *"Cereberus et Ramus," a hybrid constellation crafted by John Senex in his 1721 star map. This constellation combined Cerberus, created by Hevelius and Ramus Ponifer (an apple branch). Both Cerberus and the branch represented the last two of Hercules' twelve labors: During the 11th labor, he had to retrieve the apples of the Hesperides, and during the 12th, he had to abduct Cerberus and convey him to King Eurystheus. Image: Sidney Hall, Urania's Mirror * Having Hercules hold this head aloft was sensible from a mythological standpoint. Hercules' abduction of Cerberus constituted the last of his twelve labors. Less than a century after the introduction of Cerberus, 18th century Uranographer John Senex combined Cerberus with Ramus Ponifer, an apple tree branch, to create "Cerberus et Ramus." The apple branch was also associated with Hercules, who had to capture the apples of the Hesperides to complete his 11th labor. Both the apple branch and the hell hound have long since vanished. The stars that once represented them are now merely part of Hercules. While stalwart constellations such as Orion, Cassiopeia and Leo have remained in our skies and imaginations for millennia, some constellations are as transitory as cloud forms and just as soon forgotten (c) Edward Gleason Southworth Planetarium 2016