573) Celestial Dome - Two Coin Series - Southern Sky and Northern Sky Gold Proof Domed Coins issued by the Royal Australian Mint on 03.02.2017 & 28.08.2017 respectively:
Dreamers, philosophers, poets and astronomers alike have always been enamoured with the stars. Artwork, song lyrics, popular sayings and famous quotes have often utilised these celestial wonders, from Vincent Van Gogh stating "For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream" to Galileo Galilei's declaration that " I have been moved by the stars too much to be fearful of the night".
Gold has been coveted through time, often evoked as a point of reference when discussing value, quality and class or desirability.
Since 1965, the Royal Australian Mint has been known throughout Australia and the world for its technological innovation, creativity and craftsmanship in creating minted treasures.
In combining these three entities, the resulting creation is highly desired by coin collectors and those interested in the night sky.
In combining these three entities, the resulting creation is highly desired by coin collectors and those interested in the night sky.
The Royal Australian Mint has released only 750 (each) of the Celestial Dome - Southern Sky Gold Proof Domed Coins (on 03.02.2017) and Northern Golf Proof Domed Coins (on 28.08.2017).
"Celestial Dome - Two Coin Series" The Southern Sky Gold Proof Domed Coins (issued on 03.02.2017):
"Celestial Dome - Two Coin Series" The Southern Sky Gold Proof Domed Coins (issued on 03.02.2017):
The first release of the two coin Celestial Dome series portrays the Southern sky and is the first Royal Australian gold coin to utilise the dome shape.
This breath-taking 1 Oz Gold coin features the mystical beauty of the night sky with some of the world's most famous constellations. The coin has a beautiful combination of reliefs and engravings, a Proof quality and an innovative dome shape. The coin comes in a beautiful blue themed case, along with the Certificate of Authenticity.
This first of a two coin Series titled "Celestial Dome two coin series" is a true representation of innovative craftsmanship which sees the mystique of the Southern Hemisphere's cosmic wonders struck in this highly creative design. The second coin in the Series represents the Northern Hemisphere's cosmic display.
This coin has utilises modern minting techniques and the astounding glamour of Gold to accentuate the mystique of the night sky.
The Southern Sky has inspired people for generations and is full of beautiful and complex constellations such as Crux, Pavo, Orion, Fornax, Cetus, Phoenix, Piscis Austrinus, Grus, Indus, Capricorn, Ophiuchus etc. These constellations have helped ships navigate across the seas, inspired astronomers and created beautiful patterns across the heavens.
The Reverse of the $100 Southern Sky Gold Proof Domed Coin shows the Southern Night Sky, with the major Constellations - Aquarius, Ophiucus, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Serpens, Austrinus, Pisces, Grus, Indus, Scorpio, Cetus, Phoenix, Tucana, Pavo, Ara, Libra, Australe, Fornax, Dorado, Reticulum, Hydrus, Bridanus, Caleum, Pictor, Centaurus, Virgo, Corvus, Crater, Sextams, Hydra, Pyxis, Puppis, Canis Major, Orion, Lepus, Columba etc. displayed in their actual positions.
On the outer periphery is depicted time zones from "0 Hrs to 23 Hrs". On the lower to roght periphery is inscribed "SOUTHERN SKY" and the weight of the coin "1 Oz" and ".9999 Au" (Gold fineness).
The Obverse of the $100 Southern Sky Gold Proof Domed Coin depicts an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right. The peripheral inscriptions are "ELIZABETH II. AUSTRALIA. 100 DOLLARS AND 2017".
The curved Celestial Dome effect presented by this coin
The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: $100; Metallic Composition: 99.99% Au (Gold); Diameter/Size: 38.51 mm; Weight/Mass: 1 Oz; Shape: convex/concave; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 750 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Royal Australian Mint. Designer: Bronwyn King.
The elegant blue themed box in which the Southern Sky coin is housed
"Celestial Dome - Two Coin Series" The Northern Sky Gold Proof Domed Coins (issued on 28.08.2017):
The Northern Sky is part of a rotating astronomical region in the sky. It is the northern hemisphere of the celestial sphere. The Northern Sky is that half of the starry sky, which is North of the sky equator. It can be overlooked from the North Pole. The farther South, the less is visible to the observer. In good visibility conditions, the observer can see around 2,000 freely visible fixed stars and with the use of a field glass about 20,000 to 40,000 stars.
The Reverse of the $100 Northern Sky Gold Proof Domed Coin shows the Northern Night Sky, with the major Constellations which are displayed in their actual positions.
On the outer periphery of this face of the coin is depicted time zones from "0 Hrs to 23 Hrs". On the lower to right periphery is inscribed "NORTHERN SKY" and the weight of the coin "1 Oz" and ".9999 Au" (Gold fineness).
Brief particulars of the Northern Sky constellations included on this face are:
Auriga: (The Charioteer): Auriga is easily identified in the Northern Sky by the presence of Capella, the most Northerly first-magnitude star. Auriga lies in the Milky Way between Gemini and Perseus, to the North of Orion. Auriga's outstanding feature is a chain of 3 large and bright open star clusters.
The constellation represents a charioteer.
Lynx: This is a fair-sized but faint constellation in the Northern Sky. It was introduced in the late 17th Century by Johannes Hevelius, who wanted to fill the gap between Ursa Major and Auriga. Hevelius named this constellation Lynx because only the "lynx-eyed" would be able to see it. The animal he drew on his star chart looked little like a real lynx. Lynx contains many interesting double and multiple stars.
Camelopardalis: (The Giraffe): This dim constellation of the far Northern Sky representing a giraffe was introduced in the early 17th Century on a celestial globe created by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius. The giraffe's long neck can be visualised as stretching around the North celestial pole towards Ursa Minor and Draco. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to relate to the figure of a giraffe to the stars of Camelopardalis.
Cygnus: (The Swan)- Situated in a rich area of the Milky Way, Cygnus is one of the most prominent constellations on the Northern Sky and contains numerous objects of interest. The relatively large constellation depicts a swan in flight, but its main stars are arranged in the shape of a giant cross, hence its alternative popular name is the "Northern Cross". Among the stars of Cygnus, it is comparatively easy to visualise a swan with its wings outstretched, as it flies along the Milky Way.
The Swan represents the disguise adopted by Zeus for an illicit love tryst with a nymph called Nemesis or Queen Leda of Sparta. After her union with Zeus, Leda gave birth to two eggs, from which hatched Castor, Pollux and Helen of Troy. Pollux is separately believed to have been the son of Leda's husband King Tyndareus, while Castor & Helen were Zeus's children.
Lyra: (The Harp): dominated by dazzling Vega, this constellation represents the harp played by Orpheus, the musician of Greek myth. Arab astronomers visualised the constellation as an eagle or vulture. Lyra lies on the edge of the Milky Way, next to Cygnus and is a compact constellation of the Northern Sky. It includes Vega or Alpha Lyrae which is the fifth-brightest star in the sky and one of the Summer Triangle of stars - the other two being Deneb (in Cygnus) and Altair (in Aquila).
Canis Venatici: (The Hunting Hounds/Dogs on a leash): lies in the Northern Sky between Bootes and Ursa Major. This constellation represents two hunting dogs held on a leash by the herdsman Bootes. It was formed by Johannes Hevelius at the end of the 17th Century from stars that had previously been part of the Ursa Major.
Lacerta: (The Lizard): This constellation consists of a zig-zag of faint stars in the Northern Sky, squeezed between Andromeda and Cygnus, like a lizard between rocks. It is one of the seven constellations "invented" by Johannes Hevelius during the late 17th Century.
Ursa Major: (The Great Bear): This is one of the best-known constellations and a prominent feature of the Northern Sky. Seven of its stars form the familiarshape of the Plough, also known as the Big Dipper as a whole. The Plough is one of the oldest and most recognised patterns in the sky. In Greek mythology, it represents the rump and long tail of the Great Bear. Two different characters are identified with it - Callisto, who was one of Zeus's lovers and Adrastea, a nymph who nursed the infant Zeus and was later placed in the sky as the Great Bear.
Ursa Major is the third largest constellation in the sky.
Cassiopeia: (The Vain Ethiopian Queen) named after the wife and mother of Andromeda. Queen Cassiopeia was notoriously vain. She enraged the Nereids - daughters of Poseidon by boasting she was more beautiful. In punishment, Poseidon sent a sea-monster to ravage her kingdom, which eventually led to the rescue of Andromeda by Perseus. In the sky, she is depicted sitting in a chair fussing with her hair. Cassiopeia was condemned to circle the celestial pole, sometimes appearing to hang upside down in an undignified manner.
On the outer periphery of this face of the coin is depicted time zones from "0 Hrs to 23 Hrs". On the lower to right periphery is inscribed "NORTHERN SKY" and the weight of the coin "1 Oz" and ".9999 Au" (Gold fineness).
Brief particulars of the Northern Sky constellations included on this face are:
Auriga: (The Charioteer): Auriga is easily identified in the Northern Sky by the presence of Capella, the most Northerly first-magnitude star. Auriga lies in the Milky Way between Gemini and Perseus, to the North of Orion. Auriga's outstanding feature is a chain of 3 large and bright open star clusters.
The constellation represents a charioteer.
Lynx: This is a fair-sized but faint constellation in the Northern Sky. It was introduced in the late 17th Century by Johannes Hevelius, who wanted to fill the gap between Ursa Major and Auriga. Hevelius named this constellation Lynx because only the "lynx-eyed" would be able to see it. The animal he drew on his star chart looked little like a real lynx. Lynx contains many interesting double and multiple stars.
Camelopardalis: (The Giraffe): This dim constellation of the far Northern Sky representing a giraffe was introduced in the early 17th Century on a celestial globe created by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius. The giraffe's long neck can be visualised as stretching around the North celestial pole towards Ursa Minor and Draco. Nevertheless, it can be difficult to relate to the figure of a giraffe to the stars of Camelopardalis.
Cygnus: (The Swan)- Situated in a rich area of the Milky Way, Cygnus is one of the most prominent constellations on the Northern Sky and contains numerous objects of interest. The relatively large constellation depicts a swan in flight, but its main stars are arranged in the shape of a giant cross, hence its alternative popular name is the "Northern Cross". Among the stars of Cygnus, it is comparatively easy to visualise a swan with its wings outstretched, as it flies along the Milky Way.
The Swan represents the disguise adopted by Zeus for an illicit love tryst with a nymph called Nemesis or Queen Leda of Sparta. After her union with Zeus, Leda gave birth to two eggs, from which hatched Castor, Pollux and Helen of Troy. Pollux is separately believed to have been the son of Leda's husband King Tyndareus, while Castor & Helen were Zeus's children.
Lyra: (The Harp): dominated by dazzling Vega, this constellation represents the harp played by Orpheus, the musician of Greek myth. Arab astronomers visualised the constellation as an eagle or vulture. Lyra lies on the edge of the Milky Way, next to Cygnus and is a compact constellation of the Northern Sky. It includes Vega or Alpha Lyrae which is the fifth-brightest star in the sky and one of the Summer Triangle of stars - the other two being Deneb (in Cygnus) and Altair (in Aquila).
Canis Venatici: (The Hunting Hounds/Dogs on a leash): lies in the Northern Sky between Bootes and Ursa Major. This constellation represents two hunting dogs held on a leash by the herdsman Bootes. It was formed by Johannes Hevelius at the end of the 17th Century from stars that had previously been part of the Ursa Major.
Lacerta: (The Lizard): This constellation consists of a zig-zag of faint stars in the Northern Sky, squeezed between Andromeda and Cygnus, like a lizard between rocks. It is one of the seven constellations "invented" by Johannes Hevelius during the late 17th Century.
Ursa Major: (The Great Bear): This is one of the best-known constellations and a prominent feature of the Northern Sky. Seven of its stars form the familiarshape of the Plough, also known as the Big Dipper as a whole. The Plough is one of the oldest and most recognised patterns in the sky. In Greek mythology, it represents the rump and long tail of the Great Bear. Two different characters are identified with it - Callisto, who was one of Zeus's lovers and Adrastea, a nymph who nursed the infant Zeus and was later placed in the sky as the Great Bear.
Ursa Major is the third largest constellation in the sky.
Cassiopeia: (The Vain Ethiopian Queen) named after the wife and mother of Andromeda. Queen Cassiopeia was notoriously vain. She enraged the Nereids - daughters of Poseidon by boasting she was more beautiful. In punishment, Poseidon sent a sea-monster to ravage her kingdom, which eventually led to the rescue of Andromeda by Perseus. In the sky, she is depicted sitting in a chair fussing with her hair. Cassiopeia was condemned to circle the celestial pole, sometimes appearing to hang upside down in an undignified manner.
This distinctive constellation of the Northern sky is found within the Milky Way between Perseus and Cepheus and North of Andromeda. The large "W" shape formed by its five main stars is easily recognisable.
Cepheus: Cepheus lies in the far Northern Sky between Cassiopeia and Draco. Its main satrs form a distorted tower or steeple shape, yet this ancient Greek constellation in fact represents the mythical King Cepheus of Ethiopia, who was the husband of Queen Cassiopeia and father of Andromeda.
Shaped like a Bishop's mitre, Cepheus is not easy to pick out in the sky.
Andromeda: .Andromeda is one of the original Greek constellations. Its brightest star (Alpheratz) represents the Princess's head, while other stars represent her pelvis and her left foot.
According to Greek mythology, Andromeda was chained to a rock on the sea-shore and offered to a sea-monster in atonement for the boastfulness of her mother Queen Cassiopeia. The Greek hero Perseus, flying home after slaying Medusa the Gorgon, noticed the maiden's plight. He responded by swooping down in his winged sandals and killed the monster. He then took Andromeda away & married her.
Triangulum: This small Northern constellation lies between Andromeda and Aries. It consists of little more than a triangle of 3 stars. The 3 stars which make up the shape of the Triangulum, also include the planet Mars, passing through neighbouring Pisces.
Triangulum is one of the constellations known to the ancient Greeks, who visualised it as the Nile Delta or the Island of Sicily.
Perseus: This is a prominent Northern Sky constellation lying in the Milky Way between Cassiopeia and Auriga. It is an original Greek constellation and represents Perseus, who was sent to bring back the head of Medusa - the Gorgon - whose evil gaze turned everything to stone. Perseus was given a bronze shield by the goddess Athene, a sword of diamond by Hephaestus (the Smith of the Gods) and winged sandals by the god Hermes. Looking only at Medusa's reflection in his shield, Perseus managed to decapitate the Gorgon.
Cepheus: Cepheus lies in the far Northern Sky between Cassiopeia and Draco. Its main satrs form a distorted tower or steeple shape, yet this ancient Greek constellation in fact represents the mythical King Cepheus of Ethiopia, who was the husband of Queen Cassiopeia and father of Andromeda.
Shaped like a Bishop's mitre, Cepheus is not easy to pick out in the sky.
Andromeda: .Andromeda is one of the original Greek constellations. Its brightest star (Alpheratz) represents the Princess's head, while other stars represent her pelvis and her left foot.
According to Greek mythology, Andromeda was chained to a rock on the sea-shore and offered to a sea-monster in atonement for the boastfulness of her mother Queen Cassiopeia. The Greek hero Perseus, flying home after slaying Medusa the Gorgon, noticed the maiden's plight. He responded by swooping down in his winged sandals and killed the monster. He then took Andromeda away & married her.
Triangulum: This small Northern constellation lies between Andromeda and Aries. It consists of little more than a triangle of 3 stars. The 3 stars which make up the shape of the Triangulum, also include the planet Mars, passing through neighbouring Pisces.
Triangulum is one of the constellations known to the ancient Greeks, who visualised it as the Nile Delta or the Island of Sicily.
Perseus: This is a prominent Northern Sky constellation lying in the Milky Way between Cassiopeia and Auriga. It is an original Greek constellation and represents Perseus, who was sent to bring back the head of Medusa - the Gorgon - whose evil gaze turned everything to stone. Perseus was given a bronze shield by the goddess Athene, a sword of diamond by Hephaestus (the Smith of the Gods) and winged sandals by the god Hermes. Looking only at Medusa's reflection in his shield, Perseus managed to decapitate the Gorgon.
In the sky, Perseus is depicted with his left hand holding the Gorgon's head, which is marked by Algol - Beta Persei - a famous variable star. His right hand brandishes his sword, marked by the twin clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884.
Aries: Aries represents the ram whose golden fleece hung on a tree in Colchis on the Black Sea. Jason and the Argonauts undertook an epic voyage to bring this fleece back to Greece. Jason was aided in his task by Medea, the sorceress, who had fallen in love with him. She was the daughter of King Aeetes, who owned the fleece. Medea bewitched the serpent guarding the fleece so that Jason could steal it. Taking Medea and the fleece, Jason then sailed away in the Argo.
This not particularly conspicuous constellation of the Zodiac is found between Pisces and Taurus. Its most recognisable features are 3 stars near the border with Pisces - Alpha, Beta & Gamma Arietis - of 2nd, 3rd & 4th magnitude.
Taurus: Taurus is a large and prominent Northern constellation of the Zodiac. It contains a wealth of objects including the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters and MI,the Crab Nebula. Its stars represent the head and fore-quarters of a mythical Greek bull. The Hyades cluster is centred on the bull's face, while the constellation's brightest star Aldebaran - Alpha Tauri - is its glinting eye . Alnath or Elnath - Beta Tauri - and Zeta Tauri - mark the tips of the bull's long horns.
This not particularly conspicuous constellation of the Zodiac is found between Pisces and Taurus. Its most recognisable features are 3 stars near the border with Pisces - Alpha, Beta & Gamma Arietis - of 2nd, 3rd & 4th magnitude.
Taurus: Taurus is a large and prominent Northern constellation of the Zodiac. It contains a wealth of objects including the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters and MI,the Crab Nebula. Its stars represent the head and fore-quarters of a mythical Greek bull. The Hyades cluster is centred on the bull's face, while the constellation's brightest star Aldebaran - Alpha Tauri - is its glinting eye . Alnath or Elnath - Beta Tauri - and Zeta Tauri - mark the tips of the bull's long horns.
Gemini: This prominent Zodiacal constellation represents the mythical twins Castor and Pollux, who were the sons of Queen Leda of Sparta and the brothers of Helen of Troy. The constellation is easily identifiable within the Northern Sky because of its two brightest stars which are named after the twins.
Even though it is named Beta Geminorum, Pollux is brighter than Castor or Alpha Geminorum. The two stars mark the heads of the twins, while their feet lie bathed in the Milky Way. The twins of Greek myth stand side by side in the sky between Taurus and Cancer.
Although the two stars Castor and Pollux are named after the twins, they are themselves far from identical. Being an orange giant, Pollux is noticeably warmer-toned than Castor. It is also closer to Earth lying only 34 light years away compared to Castor's 52 light-years.
Ursa Minor: This is an ancient Greek constellation, which represents the nymph Ida, one of the two nymphs who nursed the God Zeus when he was an infant hiding him from his murderous father Cronus and taking care of him in a cave on the island of Crete.
Zeus later placed the nymphs in the sky as the "Great Bear" (Adrastea - one of the two nymphs) and the Little Bear (Ida) respectively.
Ursa Minor contains the North Celestial Pole and also its nearest naked-eye star - Polaris or Alpha Ursae Minoris, which is very near the Celestial North Pole and the distance between them is 1 degree which is steadily decreasing due to precession. They will be losest around the year 2100, when the separation will be around 0.5 degrees. The main stars of the Ursa Minor form a shape known as the "Little Dipper".
Draco: Draco is one of the oldest Greek constellations, representing the dragon of Greek Mythology that was slain by Hercules. This huge constellation winds for nearly 180 degrees around the North Celestial Pole. Despite its size, Draco is not particularly easy to identify apart from a lozenge shape marking the head. This is formed by four stars, including the constellation's brightest star - Gamma Draconis, popularly known as Etamin or Eltamin.
The myth holds that the dragon Ladon guarded the golden apples that grew on Mount Atlas in the garden of Hera, wife of Zeus. As his 12th labour, Hercules was required to steal some apples. To get to them, he killed the dragon with a poisoned arrow. Hera placed the dragon as the constellation Draco.
Hercules: This large, but not particularly prominent constellation of the Northern Sky represents Hercules, the strong man of Greek Myth. In the sky, Hercules is depicted clothed in a lion's pelt, brandishing a club and the severed head of the watchdog Cerberus and kneeling with one foot on the head of the celestial dragon - Draco - the tools and conquests of some of his 12 labours.
In the Sky, Hercules is positioned with his feet towards the Pole and his head pointing South, in an upside down position.
The most distinctive feature of this constellation is a quadrilateral of stars called the "Keystone" which is composed of Epsilon, Zeta, Eta and Pi Herculis. On one side of the Keystone lies M13, which is regarded as the finest globular cluster of the Northern Skies.
Cancer: (The Crab): This is the faintest of the 12 constellations, lying in the Northern Sky between Gemini and Leo and it represents the Crab of Greek Mythology. Cancer includes the major open star cluster M44, which is alternatively known as the Beehive Cluster, the Manger Cluster or Praesepe which stands for both "hive" and "manger" in Latin.
It also includes the stars Gamma and Delta - which represent two donkeys feeding at the manger. These two stars are also known as Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis - meaning the Northern & Southern asses.
According to the Greek legend, a Crab attacked Hercules during a fight with the multi-headed Hydra, but was crushed underfoot during the struggle.
Leo: Leo represents the mythical lion that lived in a cave near the Greek town of Nemea, terrorising the area and emerging to attack and devour local inhabitants. As the first of the 12 labours in his quest for immortality, Hercules was sent by his cousin Eurystheus to kill the lion. Finding that the Lion's hide was impervious to his arrows, Hercules instead wrestled with and strangled the beast. He then used the lion's own razor-sharp claws to cut off its pelt, which he wore victoriously as a cloak.
The outline stars of Leo bear a marked resemblance to a crouching lion, in this large constellation of the Zodiac, located just North of the celestial equator. It is one of the easiest constellations to recognise. The pattern of six stars that marks the lion's head and chest is known as the "Sickle" and is shaped like a reversed question mark or a hook. The Leonid meteors radiate from the region of the Sickle every November.
Leo Minor: (The Little Lion): This small insignificant constellation, next to Leo in the Northern Sky, represents a lion cub, although this is not suggested by the pattern of its stars. It was introduced in the 17th Century by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius.
Unusually, this constellation has no star labelled Alpha due to an oversight by the naming English astronomer Francis Baily.
Even though it is named Beta Geminorum, Pollux is brighter than Castor or Alpha Geminorum. The two stars mark the heads of the twins, while their feet lie bathed in the Milky Way. The twins of Greek myth stand side by side in the sky between Taurus and Cancer.
Although the two stars Castor and Pollux are named after the twins, they are themselves far from identical. Being an orange giant, Pollux is noticeably warmer-toned than Castor. It is also closer to Earth lying only 34 light years away compared to Castor's 52 light-years.
Ursa Minor: This is an ancient Greek constellation, which represents the nymph Ida, one of the two nymphs who nursed the God Zeus when he was an infant hiding him from his murderous father Cronus and taking care of him in a cave on the island of Crete.
Zeus later placed the nymphs in the sky as the "Great Bear" (Adrastea - one of the two nymphs) and the Little Bear (Ida) respectively.
Ursa Minor contains the North Celestial Pole and also its nearest naked-eye star - Polaris or Alpha Ursae Minoris, which is very near the Celestial North Pole and the distance between them is 1 degree which is steadily decreasing due to precession. They will be losest around the year 2100, when the separation will be around 0.5 degrees. The main stars of the Ursa Minor form a shape known as the "Little Dipper".
Draco: Draco is one of the oldest Greek constellations, representing the dragon of Greek Mythology that was slain by Hercules. This huge constellation winds for nearly 180 degrees around the North Celestial Pole. Despite its size, Draco is not particularly easy to identify apart from a lozenge shape marking the head. This is formed by four stars, including the constellation's brightest star - Gamma Draconis, popularly known as Etamin or Eltamin.
The myth holds that the dragon Ladon guarded the golden apples that grew on Mount Atlas in the garden of Hera, wife of Zeus. As his 12th labour, Hercules was required to steal some apples. To get to them, he killed the dragon with a poisoned arrow. Hera placed the dragon as the constellation Draco.
Hercules: This large, but not particularly prominent constellation of the Northern Sky represents Hercules, the strong man of Greek Myth. In the sky, Hercules is depicted clothed in a lion's pelt, brandishing a club and the severed head of the watchdog Cerberus and kneeling with one foot on the head of the celestial dragon - Draco - the tools and conquests of some of his 12 labours.
In the Sky, Hercules is positioned with his feet towards the Pole and his head pointing South, in an upside down position.
The most distinctive feature of this constellation is a quadrilateral of stars called the "Keystone" which is composed of Epsilon, Zeta, Eta and Pi Herculis. On one side of the Keystone lies M13, which is regarded as the finest globular cluster of the Northern Skies.
Cancer: (The Crab): This is the faintest of the 12 constellations, lying in the Northern Sky between Gemini and Leo and it represents the Crab of Greek Mythology. Cancer includes the major open star cluster M44, which is alternatively known as the Beehive Cluster, the Manger Cluster or Praesepe which stands for both "hive" and "manger" in Latin.
It also includes the stars Gamma and Delta - which represent two donkeys feeding at the manger. These two stars are also known as Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis - meaning the Northern & Southern asses.
According to the Greek legend, a Crab attacked Hercules during a fight with the multi-headed Hydra, but was crushed underfoot during the struggle.
Leo: Leo represents the mythical lion that lived in a cave near the Greek town of Nemea, terrorising the area and emerging to attack and devour local inhabitants. As the first of the 12 labours in his quest for immortality, Hercules was sent by his cousin Eurystheus to kill the lion. Finding that the Lion's hide was impervious to his arrows, Hercules instead wrestled with and strangled the beast. He then used the lion's own razor-sharp claws to cut off its pelt, which he wore victoriously as a cloak.
The outline stars of Leo bear a marked resemblance to a crouching lion, in this large constellation of the Zodiac, located just North of the celestial equator. It is one of the easiest constellations to recognise. The pattern of six stars that marks the lion's head and chest is known as the "Sickle" and is shaped like a reversed question mark or a hook. The Leonid meteors radiate from the region of the Sickle every November.
Leo Minor: (The Little Lion): This small insignificant constellation, next to Leo in the Northern Sky, represents a lion cub, although this is not suggested by the pattern of its stars. It was introduced in the 17th Century by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius.
Unusually, this constellation has no star labelled Alpha due to an oversight by the naming English astronomer Francis Baily.
Coma Berenices: This constellation represents the flowing locks of Queen Bernice of Egypt, which she cut off as a tribute to the Gods after the safe return of her husband Ptolemy III from battle during the 3rd Century BC.
It is a faint but interesting Northern constellation lying between Leo and Bootes.
In the mid-16th Century, it was named as a constellation by the Dutch cartographer Gerardus Mercator. Before that , its stars were regarded as forming the tail of Leo. The Coma Star Cluster also known as Melotte III is the constellation's main feature.
Virgo: Virgo is usually identified as Dike, the Greek Goddess of Justice, who abandoned the Earth and flew up to heaven when human behaviour deteriorated. Neighbouring Libra represents her Scales of Justice. Virgo is also visualised as Demeter, the corn Goddess, who holds an ear of wheat, which is represented by the constellation's brightest star - Spica.
Virgo straddles the celestial Equator between Leo and Libra. It is the largest constellation of the Zodiac and the second-largest overall. The constellation depicts a Greek virgin goddess .
Virgo contains the Virgo Cluster the nearest cluster of galaxies to Earth, which is some 50 million light-years away and which extends over the border of Virgo into Coma Berenices. The Sun is in Virgo during the summer equinox each year.
Virgo: Virgo is usually identified as Dike, the Greek Goddess of Justice, who abandoned the Earth and flew up to heaven when human behaviour deteriorated. Neighbouring Libra represents her Scales of Justice. Virgo is also visualised as Demeter, the corn Goddess, who holds an ear of wheat, which is represented by the constellation's brightest star - Spica.
Virgo straddles the celestial Equator between Leo and Libra. It is the largest constellation of the Zodiac and the second-largest overall. The constellation depicts a Greek virgin goddess .
Virgo contains the Virgo Cluster the nearest cluster of galaxies to Earth, which is some 50 million light-years away and which extends over the border of Virgo into Coma Berenices. The Sun is in Virgo during the summer equinox each year.
Ophiuchus: (The Serpent Holder): Ophiuchus is identified with Asclepius, the Greek God of Medicine, who was well-versed in the science of reviving the dead. Hades, the God of the Underworld, feared that this ability endangered his trade in dead souls and asked Zeus to strike Asclepius down. Zeus then placed the great healer among the stars.
This is the largest constellation straddling the celestial Equator and depicts a man holding a snake. The head of Ophiuchus adjoins Hercules in the North while his feet rest on Scorpius in the South. The Sun passes through Ophiuchus in the first half of December, but despite this, the constellation is not regarded as a true member of the Zodiac.
Ophiuchus was the site of the last supernova explosion seen in our Galaxy which appeared in 1604. It far outshone all the other stars and is known as Kepler's star after Johannes Kepler who wrote about it in "De stella nova".
Aquila: (The Eagle): The eagle has at least two identifications on Greek Mythology. It was the bird that carried thunderbolts for the God Zeus and in one of the Myths, Zeus sent an eagle or took the form of an eagle to carry the shepherd boy Ganymede up to Mount Olympus, where he was made a serpent of the Gods. Zeus had spied the boy tending sheep in a field and had liked him very much. Ganymede is represented by the neighbouring Aquarius.
Aquila, the constellation, depicts an eagle in flight. It lies on the celestial equator in a rich area of the Milky Way near Cygnus. Yet, there are no deep-sky objects of particular note within it. Aquila's brightest star "Altair" or "Alpha Aquilae" forms one corner of the Northern Summer Triangle of stars, completed by Vega (in Lyra) and Deneb (in Cygnus).
Delphinus: (The Dolphin): The small but distinctive constellation is situated between Aquila and Pegasus. The kite-shaped Delphinus on the edge of the Milky Way, near Cygnus, brings to mind a dolphin jumping from ocean waters.
According to a Greek Myth, Dolphinus represents the dolphin that saved the poet and musician Arion from drowning after he leapt into the sea to escape robbers on board a ship.
Alternatively, the constellation is said to depict one of the dolphins sent by Poseidon to bring the sea nymph Amphitrite to him to be his wife.
It is one of the constellations listed by the astronomer Ptolemy. The whole constellation was once popularly known as Job's coffin, presumably because of the box-like shape of its area, although sometimes this name is restricted to the diamond asterism formed by the four brightest stars - Sualocin, Rotanev, Gamma and Delta.
Equuleus: (The Foal): The second smallest constellation in the sky represents the head of a young horse or foal and lies next to the larger celestial horse - Pegasus. No myths or legends are associated with Equuleus, which was added to the Sky chart by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in his 2nd Century compendium of the original Greek constellations.
Pegasus: Pegasus, the winged horse was born from the body of Medusa, the Gorgon, when she was decapitated by Perseus. He flew to Mount Helicon, home of the nine Muses, where he stamped on the ground and brought forth a spring called "Hippocrene" - the horse's fountain. With the aid of a golden bridle from Athena, the hero Bellerophon tamed Pegasus and rode the horse on his successful mission to kill the fire-breathing monster- Chimaera. Bellerophon later attempted to ride Pegasus up to Olympus to join the Gods, but he fell off, while the horse arrived safely at Mount Olympus.
Pegasus lies North of the Zodiacal constellations Aquarius and Pisces, in the low Northern declinations and it adjoins Andromeda. It was one of the original 48 Greek constellations. Pegasus represents the flying horse, ridden by Bellerophon, although he is sometimes wrongly identified as the steed of Perseus. Although only the forequarters of the horse are indicated by stars, the constellation is still the seventh-largest in the sky.
Delphinus: (The Dolphin): The small but distinctive constellation is situated between Aquila and Pegasus. The kite-shaped Delphinus on the edge of the Milky Way, near Cygnus, brings to mind a dolphin jumping from ocean waters.
According to a Greek Myth, Dolphinus represents the dolphin that saved the poet and musician Arion from drowning after he leapt into the sea to escape robbers on board a ship.
Alternatively, the constellation is said to depict one of the dolphins sent by Poseidon to bring the sea nymph Amphitrite to him to be his wife.
It is one of the constellations listed by the astronomer Ptolemy. The whole constellation was once popularly known as Job's coffin, presumably because of the box-like shape of its area, although sometimes this name is restricted to the diamond asterism formed by the four brightest stars - Sualocin, Rotanev, Gamma and Delta.
Equuleus: (The Foal): The second smallest constellation in the sky represents the head of a young horse or foal and lies next to the larger celestial horse - Pegasus. No myths or legends are associated with Equuleus, which was added to the Sky chart by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in his 2nd Century compendium of the original Greek constellations.
Pegasus: Pegasus, the winged horse was born from the body of Medusa, the Gorgon, when she was decapitated by Perseus. He flew to Mount Helicon, home of the nine Muses, where he stamped on the ground and brought forth a spring called "Hippocrene" - the horse's fountain. With the aid of a golden bridle from Athena, the hero Bellerophon tamed Pegasus and rode the horse on his successful mission to kill the fire-breathing monster- Chimaera. Bellerophon later attempted to ride Pegasus up to Olympus to join the Gods, but he fell off, while the horse arrived safely at Mount Olympus.
Pegasus lies North of the Zodiacal constellations Aquarius and Pisces, in the low Northern declinations and it adjoins Andromeda. It was one of the original 48 Greek constellations. Pegasus represents the flying horse, ridden by Bellerophon, although he is sometimes wrongly identified as the steed of Perseus. Although only the forequarters of the horse are indicated by stars, the constellation is still the seventh-largest in the sky.
Sagitta: (The Arrow): Sagitta was known to the Greeks, who believed that it represented an arrow shot by either Apollo, Hercules or Eros. It is the third smallest constellation lying in the Milky Way between Vulpecula and Aquila in the Northern Sky. It is faint and can be easily overlooked.
The small arrow Sagitta flies over the stars of Aquila, the eagle and towards Delphinus, the dolphin.
Pisces: (The Fishes): Ancient Greek Myths about the origins of the constellation of Pisces are rather obscure. One Myth has it that Aphrodite and her son Eros transformed themselves into fishes and plunged into the Euphrates to escape the fearsome monster Typhon. Another version of the same story holds that two fishes swam up and carried Aphrodite and Eros to safety on their backs.
This Zodiacal constellation represents two mythical fishes tied together by their tails with ribbons. The point where the two ribbons are knotted together is marked by the star Alpha Piscium. This constellation contains the vernal equinox, which is the point where the Sun crosses the celestial Equator into the Northern Hemisphere each year in March.
The most distinctive feature of Pisces is the ring of seven stars lying South of the Great Square of Pegasus, known as the Circlet, this ring marks the body of one of the fishes.
Cetus: (The Sea Monster): Cetus was a sea monster sent to devour the princess Andromeda in the famous Greek Myth. The monster was repeatedly stabbed and killed by Perseus returning from killing Medusa, the Gorgon.
Old star charts depict Cetus with enormous jaws and a coiled tail, its flippers dipped in the neighbouring constellation, the River Eridanus. He thus looks quite comical, more like a hybrid sea monster bordering on a whale. It is one of the original 48 Greek constellations listed by Ptolemy in his "Almagest".
It is a large but not very obvious constellation found in the Equatorial region of the Sky and it lies South of the Zodiacal constellations Pisces and Aries. Cetus is home to the celebrated variable star Mira (o), as well as a peculiar spiral galaxy - M 77.
Orion: (The Hunter): In Greek Mythology, Orion was a tall and handsome man and the son of Poseidon, the God of the Sea. The Greek Poet Homer in his Odyssey has described Orion as a great hunter, who brandished a club of bronze. Despite his hunting prowess, Orion was killed by a scorpion. In the sky, Orion is placed opposite the constellation of Scorpius and each night the hunter flees below the horizon as the scorpion rises.
Orion is one of the most glorious constellations in the sky, representing a giant hunter or warrior followed by his dogs - Canis Major and Canis Minor. Its most distinctive feature is the Orion belt, formed by a line of three 2nd magnitude stars almost exactly on the Celestial Equator. A complex of stars and nebulosity represents the sword that hangs from Orion's belt and contains the great star-forming region of M 42, the Orion Nebula.
In October each year, the Orionid meteors seem to radiate from a point near Orion's border with Gemini.
Canis Minor: (The Little Dog): Canis Minor is one of the original Greek constellations and lies virtually on the Celestial Equator. It is usually identified as the smaller of Orion's two hunting dogs.
The constellation is easily identified as the smaller of Orion's two hunting dogs. It is easily identified by its brightest star - Procyon or Alpha (a) Canis Minoris which forms a large sparkling triangle with two other stars - Betlegeuse (in Orion) and Sirius (in Canis Major).
The small arrow Sagitta flies over the stars of Aquila, the eagle and towards Delphinus, the dolphin.
Pisces: (The Fishes): Ancient Greek Myths about the origins of the constellation of Pisces are rather obscure. One Myth has it that Aphrodite and her son Eros transformed themselves into fishes and plunged into the Euphrates to escape the fearsome monster Typhon. Another version of the same story holds that two fishes swam up and carried Aphrodite and Eros to safety on their backs.
This Zodiacal constellation represents two mythical fishes tied together by their tails with ribbons. The point where the two ribbons are knotted together is marked by the star Alpha Piscium. This constellation contains the vernal equinox, which is the point where the Sun crosses the celestial Equator into the Northern Hemisphere each year in March.
The most distinctive feature of Pisces is the ring of seven stars lying South of the Great Square of Pegasus, known as the Circlet, this ring marks the body of one of the fishes.
Cetus: (The Sea Monster): Cetus was a sea monster sent to devour the princess Andromeda in the famous Greek Myth. The monster was repeatedly stabbed and killed by Perseus returning from killing Medusa, the Gorgon.
Old star charts depict Cetus with enormous jaws and a coiled tail, its flippers dipped in the neighbouring constellation, the River Eridanus. He thus looks quite comical, more like a hybrid sea monster bordering on a whale. It is one of the original 48 Greek constellations listed by Ptolemy in his "Almagest".
It is a large but not very obvious constellation found in the Equatorial region of the Sky and it lies South of the Zodiacal constellations Pisces and Aries. Cetus is home to the celebrated variable star Mira (o), as well as a peculiar spiral galaxy - M 77.
Orion: (The Hunter): In Greek Mythology, Orion was a tall and handsome man and the son of Poseidon, the God of the Sea. The Greek Poet Homer in his Odyssey has described Orion as a great hunter, who brandished a club of bronze. Despite his hunting prowess, Orion was killed by a scorpion. In the sky, Orion is placed opposite the constellation of Scorpius and each night the hunter flees below the horizon as the scorpion rises.
Orion is one of the most glorious constellations in the sky, representing a giant hunter or warrior followed by his dogs - Canis Major and Canis Minor. Its most distinctive feature is the Orion belt, formed by a line of three 2nd magnitude stars almost exactly on the Celestial Equator. A complex of stars and nebulosity represents the sword that hangs from Orion's belt and contains the great star-forming region of M 42, the Orion Nebula.
In October each year, the Orionid meteors seem to radiate from a point near Orion's border with Gemini.
Canis Minor: (The Little Dog): Canis Minor is one of the original Greek constellations and lies virtually on the Celestial Equator. It is usually identified as the smaller of Orion's two hunting dogs.
The constellation is easily identified as the smaller of Orion's two hunting dogs. It is easily identified by its brightest star - Procyon or Alpha (a) Canis Minoris which forms a large sparkling triangle with two other stars - Betlegeuse (in Orion) and Sirius (in Canis Major).
The curved Celestial Dome effect presented by this coin
The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: $100; Metallic Composition: 99.99% Au (Gold); Diameter/Size: 38.51 mm; Weight/Mass: 1 Oz; Shape: convex/concave; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 750 pieces; Year of issue: 2017; Issuer: Royal Australian Mint. Designer: Bronwyn King.
Links to Posts on Australia, New Zealand and countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific on this blog:
1) Bank of Papua New Guinea: 36th Anniversary Celebrations (1973-2008): A Commemorative Uncirulated Coin Set consisting of a 2 Kina Banknote & a 2 Kina Coin
2) Papua New Guinea: An uncirculated coin set brought out in 1995 commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Independence
3) Currency & Coinage of the Soloman Islands: Dollars and Cents
4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards
5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc
6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)
7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene
8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji
9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979
10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents
11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms
12) The story of the Australian Penny
13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009
14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman
15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues
16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017
17) Currency & coinage of the Kingdom of Tonga : Pa'anga & Seniti
18) Postage Stamps & Coin: Commemorating the Centenary of the Trans-Australian Railway Line stamps issued by Australia Post & coins by Perth Mint on 04.07.2017
19) The Collared Lory: National Bird of Fiji: featured on a $1 Titanium Coin and a $2 Sterling silver coin, minted by Pobjoy Mint UK
1) Bank of Papua New Guinea: 36th Anniversary Celebrations (1973-2008): A Commemorative Uncirulated Coin Set consisting of a 2 Kina Banknote & a 2 Kina Coin
2) Papua New Guinea: An uncirculated coin set brought out in 1995 commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Independence
3) Currency & Coinage of the Soloman Islands: Dollars and Cents
4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards
5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc
6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)
7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene
8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji
9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979
10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents
11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms
12) The story of the Australian Penny
13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009
14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman
15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues
16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017
17) Currency & coinage of the Kingdom of Tonga : Pa'anga & Seniti
18) Postage Stamps & Coin: Commemorating the Centenary of the Trans-Australian Railway Line stamps issued by Australia Post & coins by Perth Mint on 04.07.2017
19) The Collared Lory: National Bird of Fiji: featured on a $1 Titanium Coin and a $2 Sterling silver coin, minted by Pobjoy Mint UK
Links to interesting posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands:
1)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean :2) Edward Teach or "BlackBeard"
2)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean: 3)Bartholomew Roberts or Black Bart Roberts
3)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean:4)Jack Rackham
4)Famous-pirates-of- the Caribbean : 5) Henry Avery
5)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean : 6) Sir Henry Morgan
6) Norse Goddess Freya - a Silver 2 Dollars High Relief antiquated Coin , the first in the Series titled "Norse Goddesses" (2017)
7) Diwali Festival 2017: 1 Dollar 1 Oz Silver coin issued by Perth Mint on behalf of the Island of Tuvalu
1)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean :2) Edward Teach or "BlackBeard"
2)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean: 3)Bartholomew Roberts or Black Bart Roberts
3)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean:4)Jack Rackham
4)Famous-pirates-of- the Caribbean : 5) Henry Avery
5)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean : 6) Sir Henry Morgan
6) Norse Goddess Freya - a Silver 2 Dollars High Relief antiquated Coin , the first in the Series titled "Norse Goddesses" (2017)
7) Diwali Festival 2017: 1 Dollar 1 Oz Silver coin issued by Perth Mint on behalf of the Island of Tuvalu
Other interesting links to posts from Cook Islands minted by Coin Invest Trust:
1) Brexit : Britain's exit from the EEC : Coins issued by the Cook islands in the denomination of $1, $5 and $ 20 in 2016
2) 150th Anniversary of "The Great Tea Race - 1866": Commemorative Coins in the denomination of 10 and 2 Dollars issued by Cook Islands in 2016
3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series".
4) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series".
5) Quilling Art: Silver 2 Dollars coins issued - Flowers (2016) & Bird (2017)
Links to posts on issues from the Republic of Palau:
5) Republic of Palau issues "Sand Dollars": Silver & Gold 1$ coins
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Nice".
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
DeleteRamchandra Lalingkar has commented:
ReplyDelete"Beautiful coins (with the curved Celestial Dome effect)."
They are, indeed, Rambhau. The detailing on each coin is exquisite, with the constellations being placed in their "actual" positions on the night skies.
Delete