Pegasus Constellation Myths and Facts

Pegasus: The Winged Horse

Pronunciation: PEG-us-us
Pegasus, The Winged Horse
Pegasus as depicted by Johann Bayer in his Uranometria (1603). Source image provided by www.RareMaps.com — Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.
Pegasus Constellation Profile
Abbreviation: Peg Genitive: Pegasi
Origin: Ancient Location: Northern Hemisphere
Best View (North): Autumn Best View (South):
Bordering Constellations: Lacerta, Cygnus, Vulpecula, Delphinus, Equuleus, Aquarius, Pisces, Andromeda

The Myth Behind the Constelltion Pegasus

Pegasus was the winged-horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa when Perseus cut her head off. He served as Perseus’ steed and helped the hero defeat the sea-monster Cetus to save Princess Andromeda and the country of Aethiopia. Athena took Pegasus to Mount Helicon, the mountain of the muses, where with a single kick of his hoof started the flowing of the famous spring of Hippocrene, said to be the source of all poetic inspiration.

Pegasus Constellation Points of Interest

Interesting Objects in the Constellation Pegasus
Name Messier NGC Type Visibility
M15 NGC 7078 Globular Cluster Binoculars

Bright Stars in Pegasus

These are the stars in Pegasus with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.
Name Bayer Name Magnitude Color Luminosity Distance
Enif Epsilon Pegasi 2.38  Orange 26,203 suns 673 ly
Scheat Beta Pegasi 2.44  Red 3,878 suns 199 ly
Markab Alpha Pegasi 2.49  Blue-White 193 suns 140 ly
Algenib Gamma Pegasi 2.83  Blue 2,564 suns 333 ly
Matar Eta Pegasi 2.93  Yellow 327 suns 215 ly