History: Mythology of the Winter Sky

You can probably spot the Plough (or Saucepan) in the sky so as to find North, and may know that it's also called the Great Bear, but do you know the story behind that Bear, and what her name is? Maybe you see Orion in the winter sky, and know he was a Hunter, but what did he hunt? Who was Cassiopia, other than "that W-shaped one", and why is Andromeda near her in the sky?

We will be looking primarily at the Greek mythology versions of these stories, but there are others, some much older, and we will look at those as well when they're startlingly similar though from very different parts of the globe.

We may also take a look at that Star that led people to Bethlehem, though I’m afraid it’s not visible at the moment. So, take a break from the chaos of the Festive season and join us on this fascinating insight to the skies above. This one-off session will be delivered online through our virtual classroom-Canvas. It is open to all, particularly those who find the Festive season a challenging or lonely time. Places fill fast, so sign up quickly!