CYGNUS

Swan Schwan Hattyú

Cygnus is a northern constellation on the plane of our galaxy, the Milky Way, deriving its name from the Latinized Greek word for swan. Cygnus is one of the most recognizable constellations of summer and autumn in the northern hemisphere, and it is easy to find due to its large size. Many deep-sky objects, like open clusters, nebulae of various types and supernova remnants can be found in Cygnus due to its position on the plane of the Milky Way.

The constellation was already well-known throughout history, and can be found in many mythologies, like in Arabic, Roman or Greek legends, where it was identified first as bird, then later as swan. In Greek mythology, Cygnus has been identified with several different legendary swans. Zeus disguised himself as a swan to seduce Leda, Spartan king Tyndareus's wife, who gave birth to the Gemini, Castor and Pollux. Orpheus was transformed into a swan after his murder, and was said to have been placed in the sky next to his lyre (Lyra). Later Romans also associated this constellation with the tragic story of Phaethon, the son of Helios the sun god, who demanded to ride his father's sun chariot for a day. Phaethon, however, was unable to control the reins, forcing Zeus to destroy the chariot (and Phaethon) with a thunderbolt, causing it to plummet to the earth into the river Eridanus. According to the myth, Phaethon's close friend or lover, Cygnus, grieved bitterly and spent many days diving into the river to collect Phaethon's bones to give him a proper burial. The gods were so touched by Cygnus's devotion that they turned him into a swan and placed him among the stars.
Cygnus also appeared in other cultures, like in Hindu and Native American legends, or the mythology of New Zealand and Tonga.