Lions and tigers and – goats? – oh, boy
Posted in Current Events, General, Stargazing on January 25th, 2010 by Peter LipscombAll kinds of critters roam the night sky including fanciful beasts like dragons, sea monsters, centaurs, a unicorn and a winged horse. Other constellations depict creatures you are likely to encounter on a trip to the local zoo or aquarium. But, did you know that one of the best represented animals is the goat?
In the ancient world, goats were popular livestock. Their hardy constitution and scrappy nature made them the animal of choice to survive rocky, arid and bleak conditions. Goats provided sustenance in the form of meat, milk and cheese. A sea-faring goat is the subject of the zodiacal constellation, Capricornus. But, there are stars named after goats too. To find them we need to turn to the constellation Auriga in the northern sky.
