Flag of Hydra the Water Serpent and Hydrus the Little Water Serpent

Hydra & Hydrus

The Water Serpent and The Little Water Serpent

Hydra and Hydrus are water snakes: the Greater and Lesser.  The Greater Water Snake Hydra is a mystical beast that had the ability to regrow a severed head.  Hydrus is a relatively new constellation invented by a French Astronomer -Nicolas Louis de Lacaille.

Out of the thousands of other mythical animals they could have chosen for the 'new' stars of the Southern Skies they chose to repeat themes that were already there.  Why couldn't have they chosen a Griffin, Tiger, or Zebra?  Nope, they had to stay in their comfort zone and went for the duality-yin yang balance theme: two lions, two water snakes, two triangles, two crowns, two bears, two centaurs, mostly just two 'similar whatevers.'

Note, both Serpent Icons face 'Sinister' since snakes are considered the master species of 'Sinister Behavior.'

 The flag of Hydrus the Great Sea Serpent, also called a water snake, spans wide and deep.  It crosses the equator unto the 30s degrees South Celestial Band.  Although most of the constellation is in the Southern Skies, it is rooted to the Northern Galactic Team. 

The flag of Hydra the Lesser Sea Serpent, also called a water snake, spans on the pole in stark contrast to the larger equatorial serpent.  But it effectively counters the Great Sea Serpent by swimming into the Celestial South Polar 80s, giving it a black stripe in its field and Navy Blue longitudinal band. 

Flag of Hercules the Strong Man and Ophiuchus the Healer

Hercules & Ophiuchus

The Strong Man and The Medicine Man 

Hercules and Ophiuchus are the proverbial match of Brawn and Brains.  They are men who have traveled far and accomplished much.  Both are miracle workers in their own right, have wrested with serpents, and fought the good fight with Death.

Their constellations are fairly big and their Celestial Longitudes match, since they are best visible during June and July - thus their individual Astrological symbols are Gemini and Cancer.  Coincidentally both are rooted to the Northern Galactic Faction and dip into the Milky Way.

 The flag of Hercules is nearly a perfect rainbow.  It is missing indigo and violet. 

 Ophiuchus the Healer is a quasi zodiac sign since the planets pass through him.  Additionally the Celestial Equator runs past his legs. 

. 

Flag of Andromeda the Princess in Peril and Perseus the Hero of High Heaven

Andromeda & Perseus 

The Princess in Peril and The Hero of High Heaven 

The romantic tale of the hero coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress has been told in all cultures and civilizations.  It is a timeless story form long, long ago and far, far away.  Retold for countless millennia as night follows day.  From Mario and Princess Peach unto Superman and Lois Lane, the list is endless and surely more heroes are sure to come.

 Andromeda the Princess in Peril is seen in the Northern Skies, bur ironically she is grounded to the Southern Galactic Team.  Furthermore, the Princess is the home to our nearest galactic neighbor - the Andromeda Galaxy.  

Perseus the Hero of High Heaven completely crosses the Milky Way.  This makes senses as a hero must be willing to travel far and away, to find his path. 

Flag for Orion the Hunter and Bootes the Herdsman

Orion & Bootes

The Hunter & The Herdsman

The Hunter and Herdsman are ancient occupations, before the rise of any written word.  These occupations are the economic forefathers of modern man whence Astrology and Astronomy were one in the same.

So too, once upon a time was the Wall Street Trader and Family Farmer united as one occupation.  Business traders and shepherds are still united in manipulating the matter of the universe for maximum profit, but have changed much in the manner of doing so.      

But in the conventional sense comparing these constellations, the Hunter must track his free and wild prey using stealth, patience, and wit to gain his prize.   While the herdsman must use love and vigilance to keep his domesticated and imprisoned prey safe.  

 The flag for Bootes the Herdsman is colourful due its wide range from the equatorial 00s region unto the 50s.   The Herdsman fills up the Northern Sky and is rooted to the Northern Galactic Region. 

The flag of Orion the Hunter has the equatorial stripe, since he crosses the Celestial Equator.  Orion is rooted to the Southern Galactic Region but dips his arm into the Milky Way Galaxy.

Flag of Cepheus the King and Cassiopeia the Queen

Cepheus and Cassiopeia 

The King and The Queen

Like a good hand in a game of cards, it's good have a King or Queen.  Likewise the Night Sky must have King and Queen in the pantheon.  In this case Cepheus the King matches up with Cassiopeia the Queen.  The purpose of this post is to show that each constellation has a cosmic harmonious partner.  In this case the Northern Skies is where the King meets his Queen.

 The flag of Cassiopeia is similar to the king via a violet, indigo, and blue band.  The Queen of the Heavens completely crosses the Milky Way to earn a 'traffic light' colouration on her longitudinal axis, which means she is best viewed during the months of Libra to Sagittarius - October to December. 

The flag of Cepheus the King crosses in the northern polar 80s celestial latitude.  Subsequently the flag has a black stripe along the top, which causes his longitudinal band to shift from black to navy blue.  The King also touches the Milky Way but does not cross it completely.  The King of the Cosmic Sphere is best viewed during the months of Leo to Pisces. 

Constellation flags of Lacerta the Lizard and Chamaeleon the Shapeshifter

Lacerta & Chamaeleon

The Normal Lizard and The Strange Lizard

Only two reptiles were able to gain official IAU recognition as one of the Elite 88 Official Constellations. 

Funny thing is that every constellation has a harmonious partner.  Like something of Noah's Ark, we have two crowns, two triangles, two lions, two bears, two snakes, two centaurs, and two lizards.  However the lizards are different species.  Nonetheless a plain lizard matches effectively with the hardly shape shifting chameleon of Madagascar.

The chameleon is not really Earth's best 'chameleon;'  rather the octopus is the best of the best Earthly Chameleons, that happens to live in water.  Unfortunately the octopus's ability to change colours and its shape has not enchanted any storytellers.  Maybe because their ability is so good, consequently it has been undetected to mainstream consciousness?  Instead its eight arms is what gets artists and storytellers buzzing.  


Both types of lizards are rooted to the Southern Galactic Team, but Lacerta the Lizard crosses into the Milky Way in the Northern Skies. The colours of Lacerta's Flag includes blue, green and yellow. 

Chamaeleon the Shapeshifter crosses in the lowest of low in the southern 80s so its celestial longitudinal band is navy blue, since it has black in the field.  The Astrological Icon coincidentally has a 'shape shifting ability' as it can be read two ways: either as the body of this lizard looking towards the hoist with its tail curled under, or as an open mouth with its long tongue stretched in curl.   

Flag for Cygnus the Swan and Grus the Crane

Cygnus & Grus

The Swan and The Crane

The two most graceful birds of the Constellations that exude an elegance are linked and revealed to the public for the first time as 'Fraternal Constellations.'  Some birds are noisy, loud, annoying, or fearsome.  But the presence put forth by these birds illustrates that elegance is not just a human quality.

The Swan and Crane are water foul, but yet reflect the docile spirit of heaven.  They are something more than a humble duck, but of free flowing avian royalty.

 Cygnus the Swan is a double agent that touches base with the Northern and Southern Galactic factions, completely crossing the Milky Way.  Thus it has the traffic light pattern on its Celestial Longitude axis.  The Swan is best seen in August and September.

Grus the Crane is attached to the Southern Skies and Southern Galactic Pole.