1. Hercules, whose name translates into "Glory of Hera," is also known as the "Kneeling One," because in the night sky he is kneeling on which constellation?
a. Andromeda the Constrained Princess (no comment)
b. Draco the Dragon
c. Cepheus the King
d. Corvus the Crow
2. Deneb, Vega and ____________ comprise the famous Summer Triangle.
a. Antares
b. Alnilam
c. Altair
d. Alnitak
3. This small constellation is nicknamed the "Jewel Box," as its pattern is a compact array of beautiful stars. Its official name is Delphinus the _____________.
a. Dragon
b. Dogwood Tree
c. Demon Eye
d. Dolphin
4. Which constellation marks the position of the galactic nucleus?
a. Scorpius the Scorpion
b. Sagittarius the Archer
c. Scutum the Shield
d. Vulpecula the Fox
5. Virgo the Maiden, associated with the Greek Persephone, was abducted by which God?
a. Zeus
b. Apollo
c. Vulcan
d. Hades
6. ___________________, known as the "Serpent Charmer," was a mortal who was a divinely gifted healer.
a. Ophiuchus
b. Corona Borealis
c. Bootes
d. Corvus
7. Lyra represents a harp that _______________ played to compose love songs for ________________.
a. Arion; Lilith
b. Orpheus; Eurydice
c. Pyramus; Thisbe
d. Bill; Hillary
8. Antares, the red supergiant star in Scorpius, is so large _______________ Suns could fit inside it
a. 100
b. 90,000
c. 2.2 million
d. 50 million
e. none of the above
9. Which queen spends the early summer evenings lurking low in the northern sky?
a. Cassiopeia
b. Cepheus
c. Andromeda
d. Lacerta
10. _________ the Scales is the only inanimate object included in the astronomical zodiac
a. Libra
b. Cancer
c. Corvus
d. Crater
ANSWERS
1. b. Draco the Dragon
Draco, like Camelopardalis, is a circumpolar constellation that few people have seen. Its stars are relatively faint and his pattern meanders all through the northern sky. However, one can easily observe his triangular head just north of Hercules.
2. c. Altair
Note: Alnilam and Alnitak are both stars within ORION's belt!
3. d. Dolphin
Delphinus the Dolphin rescued the musician Arion from his pirate captors and conveyed him to safety.
4. b. Sagittarius the Archer
At a distance of more than 23,000 light years, the galactic nucleus is not visible to us due to the obscuration of gas and dust.
5. d. Hades
Identified with the Roman Pluto. Just a brief note: the word "Hades" often signifies the Underworld, itself. However, originally, Hades was the God who presided over the Plains of Asphodel, Tartarus and other underworld regions.
6. a. Ophiuchus
After he resurrected ORION, Ophiuchus was struck down by a thunder bolt by Zeus, but then placed in the night sky as a tribute to his skill.
7. b. Orpheus; Eurydice
He used this Lyre when he went into the underworld to fetch Eurydice, who had been slain by a serpent at their wedding. It ultimately didn't end well, but at least he liberated her for awhile.
8. e. none of the above
330 million Suns could fit inside Antares Some purists will insist that each answer was technically correct.
Bully for them!
9. a. Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia is circumpolar, meaning that she never sets at our latitude. However, she is low in the northern summer sky in the early evenings.
10. a. Libra