Eridanus: The River
Pronunciation: ih-RID-un-us
| Eridanus Constellation Profile | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Eri | Genitive: Eridani |
| Origin: Ancient | Location: Celestial Equator |
| Best View (North): Winter | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Hydrus, Horologium, Caelum, Lepus, Orion, Taurus, Cetus, Fornax, Phoenix, Tucana | |
The Myth Behind the Constellation Eridanus
Eridanus is the river that the body of Phaethon fell into when he was struck down by a thunderbolt from Zeus. Phaethon was foolhardy enough to think he could drive the blazing chariot of his father, Helios the Sun god, across the sky. But only his father was capable of controlling the powerful horses that pulled it. He careened out of control, getting too close to the earth and scorching the lands of Africa, creating the deserts. Zeus killed him when it looked like he would destroy the world.Eridanus Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting stars and objects.Bright Stars in Eridanus
These are the stars in Eridanus with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.
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| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achernar | Alpha Eridani | 0.45 | Blue-White | 3,150 suns | 144 ly |
| Cursa | Beta Eridani | 2.78 | White | 54 suns | 89 ly |
| Acamar | Theta Eridani | 2.88 | White | 163 suns | 161 ly |
| Zaurak | Gamma Eradani | 2.97 | Orange | 2,172suns | 221 ly |