Centaurus

Centaurus is one of the two constellations said to represent Centaurs. Centaurs were mythological creatures with the upper body of a human and the body of a horse on the lower body. They were vulgar, dishonest, violent, and deceptive and they were drunks. The constellation is mainly associated with Chiron, who, unlike most centaurs, was kind, gentle, and wise. Chiron was King of the Centaurs. He was said to be skilled in the healing arts, and was a scholar and a prophet. From his cave on Mount Pelion, he is said to have raised several persons famous in Greek mythology, including Jason, Heracles and Asclepius.

There are several stories which explain Chiron's association with this constellation. One legend says that Chiron was the first to identify the constellations and teach them to humans. He placed an image of himself in the sky to help guide Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece. A different story says that Chiron was placed in the sky by Zeus. There lots of versions to the story, but the one that is most well known is when Chiron was accidentally wounded by a poisonous arrow and was in such continuous pain that he offered to give up his immortality. In one version, Heracles was attacked by a group of Centaurs who were enraged that he drank from their communal wine jar. An arrow fired at the attackers hit Chiron instead.

Other thoughts propose that the constellation represents the Centaur Pholus who was honored by Zeus for his proficiency in telling prophecies.

The bright constellation of Centaurus can be located in the southern hemisphere. Stars that can be found within the constellation include Proxima Centauri, which is a red dwarf star that is the nearest known star, with the exception of the Sun, to Earth. Also in Centaurus is Alpha Centauri, which is a binary star to which Proxima Centauri is apparently gravitationally bound to form a triple star system. Centaurus also contains BPM 37093,