images

Constellation of Pavo

by

A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

Reference

a-cst59-00002

Date

2008-11-04

Pavo, the Peacock, lies south of Sagittarius and Corona Australis, and is one of Johann Bayer's twelve constellations, introduced in 1603. It is one of several birds in the southern sky, including Apus, Grus, Phoenix and Tucanae. The legends say that the goddess of the heavens, Juno (the Greek Hera) ordered a hundred-eyed giant, Argos Panoptes, to keep his eyes on her errant husband, Jupiter. He ordered Argos slain and Juno transformed the 100 eyes into the Peacock's tail. These eyes are also meant to represent the starry sky.