I suspect that after the hundredth time saying “no, not that one, look more to the right”, someone drew the star pattern in the sand to highlight where they were looking. Than a calendar maker decided to name the clusters so they could be referred to without being redrawn each time.
In Aries defense, it wasn’t formally “canonized” as a constellation until around the 1920s, and up until then had been subject to various changes, depending on who was doing the recording, so no doubt it’s appearance varied slightly over those years.
Supposedly, the original constellation was seen as part of the ram’s horns.
Some of the more vague constellations were named because of their physical closeness in the sky to more obvious mythic constellation names or when they appear in the sky. Aries was originally called “The Farm Hand/Worker” because it appears at the beginning of the planting season. Wikipedia has more details under “Aries.”
eromlig about 3 years ago
Same kind of imagination that thinks the glob of stars we call Cancer resembles a crab.
stillfickled Premium Member about 3 years ago
You do have that kind of imagination, Horace.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member about 3 years ago
I imagine it was partly the boredom of spending night after night after night staring at sheep, and maybe some good drugs.
in-dubio-pro-rainbow about 3 years ago
My imagination always produces chocolate cakes so realistic that I suffer from dental cAries
Doug K about 3 years ago
They used to use a few more stars.
It was also easier before the numbers were erased
– it’s harder to connect the “dots” now.
Doctor Toon about 3 years ago
Perhaps ancient astronomers were also into experimenting with mushrooms
Chris about 3 years ago
don’t we all…
Gent about 3 years ago
Maybe originally it meant something else and then was retconned into acting the goat later on.
Egrayjames about 3 years ago
My imagination ends with the Big Dipper and Orion’s belt…..not the rest of him, just the belt!
Mighty Phavahg about 3 years ago
It should have been called “Air-eez.”
Nyckname about 3 years ago
It’s called magic mushrooms.
They’re also how John of Patmos came up with Revelations.
Plods with ...™ about 3 years ago
Daily toon=imagination. Grats
Zebrastripes about 3 years ago
Wait till Leo comes out…
Alberta Oil Premium Member about 3 years ago
They.. had some good drugs and a big sky to look at
P51Strega about 3 years ago
I suspect that after the hundredth time saying “no, not that one, look more to the right”, someone drew the star pattern in the sand to highlight where they were looking. Than a calendar maker decided to name the clusters so they could be referred to without being redrawn each time.
Droptma Styx about 3 years ago
Back when staring at the night sky was your evening’s entertainment EVERY NIGHT FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE.
rshive about 3 years ago
Would that there be those dotted lines in the sky so that constellations made sense.
scyphi26 about 3 years ago
In Aries defense, it wasn’t formally “canonized” as a constellation until around the 1920s, and up until then had been subject to various changes, depending on who was doing the recording, so no doubt it’s appearance varied slightly over those years.
Supposedly, the original constellation was seen as part of the ram’s horns.
InTraining about 3 years ago
it’s easy Horace… just wish upon a star….!
!!ǝlɐ⅁ Premium Member about 3 years ago
Well, that constellation shows part of the ram! Farther down from the horns, or even the legs, though! >B^D
6th Billiard Ball Student about 3 years ago
The wimpy constellation looks like a golf club bent out of shape after a bad slice displaced a Molitor Ram.
marilynnbyerly about 3 years ago
Some of the more vague constellations were named because of their physical closeness in the sky to more obvious mythic constellation names or when they appear in the sky. Aries was originally called “The Farm Hand/Worker” because it appears at the beginning of the planting season. Wikipedia has more details under “Aries.”
StephenRice about 3 years ago
“Do you take drugs, Horace?”
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 3 years ago
Sure you can Horace. But you must not be lazy about it.