Pegasus (constellation)

   Pegasus is a group of stars that seemed to ancient people to outline the shape of a horse. This constellation covers a large area of the sky. It can be found by locating the Square of Pegasus. Four bright stars mark the corners of this large square. The square represents the body of the horse. A line of stars ending in a triangle composes his neck and head. The horse is usually upside down. The stars that represent its forefeet usually point upward in the sky. Pegasus does not have any hind legs marked by stars.
   Pegasus can be found most easily in autumn and winter. It is near the royal family of constellations—Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Andromeda, and Perseus. In fact, one of the stars of the square is part of the constellation of Andromeda.

MYTHOLOGY

   According to legend, Pegasus was the winged horse which sprang from the head of Medusa when Perseus killed Medusa. Either Minerva or Neptune tamed Pegasus and gave him to Bellerophon. Pegasus carried his master to Lycia, where Bellerophon slew Chimera, a monster. Jupiter was displeased and sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus. The horse threw Bellerophon and flew up into the sky.