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Introduction
Corona Borealis, or the Northern Crown, is a small constellation visible in the northern hemisphere. How did it get its name?
The History and Mythology behind the Name
The name Corona Borealis is derived from Latin, with “corona” meaning crown and “borealis” meaning northern. First cataloged by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD, this constellation has been recognized by its name since ancient times.
In Greek mythology, the Corona Borealis constellation symbolizes the crown worn by Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete. Legend says Ariadne helped Theseus, a prince from Athens, slay the Minotaur, a monster with a bull’s head and a man’s body that lived in a labyrinth on Crete. In gratitude, Theseus married Ariadne and took her away with him on his ship.
However, during the voyage, Theseus abandoned Ariadne on Naxos, where the god Dionysus later found her. In some stories, Dionysus marries Ariadne and places her crown in the sky to symbolize their love.
In Roman mythology, the Corona Borealis constellation symbolizes the crown of the god Bacchus, also known as Dionysus in Greek mythology. Bacchus, the god of wine, wore a crown made of grape vines.
The Stars in the Corona Borealis Constellation
The Corona Borealis constellation features six main stars in a semi-circle shape. Alphecca is the brightest star, named from the Arabic word “al-fakka,” meaning “the broken one,” due to its former association with the nearby Bootes constellation.
Another notable star, T Coronae Borealis, is famous for its unpredictable brightness changes, sometimes dropping to just 10% of its normal level. This star is believed to be a carbon star nearing the end of its life.
| Corona Borealis Constellation | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Semi-circle |
| Main Stars | Six |
| Brightest Star | Alphecca |
| Alphecca Origin | Arabic “al-fakka” (“the broken one”) |
| Historical Connection | Part of nearby Bootes |
| T Coronae Borealis | Irregular variability |
| Brightness | Drops to 10% |
| Type | Carbon star |
| Life Stage | End of life |
The Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall
The Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall spans about 10 billion light-years, making it one of the universe’s largest structures. This vast galaxy superstructure, made up of dozens of galaxy clusters and superclusters, was discovered in 2013 through the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Its existence challenges current models of the universe’s structure and evolution, sparking key questions about the forces shaping the cosmos.