Artistic Rendering of The Phoenix Constellation
The Phoenix Constellation
Scientific Origin
The Phoenix Constellation
Scientific Origin
“Woman! Where are those Theodori sketches?” Johann Bayer, though a very talented scientist was not very patient with his wife.
“Johann, it is 1603, and I will not have you talking to me that way, not here in Germany! Who’s Theordori anyway?” Mrs. Bayer knew very well that Petrus Theodori was a Dutch navigator, whose sketches of a few constellations in the Southern Hemisphere her husband was using.
“Oh for heaven’s sake, any other man would slap you for such insolence! But I haven’t the time. I must get this research done.”
“You poor man, here are your precious sketches. I was just playing with you a little. What are you working on tonight?” She knew exactly when to appease her eccentric husband.
“Finally you’ve come to your senses, wife. And, well…….since you asked, I am positioned at 38 degrees almost due South. It is a bird-shaped constellation, and I think I am going to call it Phoenix.” Johann was very proud of himself. “Now I just need to confer with Theodori’s sketches to create a sketch of my own.”
“You think all of your constellations look like birds. What does this make, eight, nine?” She also knew when to push Johann’s buttons.
“SIX! This makes six! And it’s not like I made them, I am just identifying God’s creations. Besides the Phoenix is the greatest bird of all. You see he lives around 500 years, and then…” He started to explain in a patronizing tone.
“What? Am I an idiot? I know the Phoenix myth.”
The Phoenix Constellation