Sagittarius represents those born from November 22—December 21.   Sagittarius is the ninth Zodiac sign of the year, right after Scorpio. Myth and Legend: Sagittarius the Archer is the Centaur Chiron from Greek Mythology.  Centaurs have the head and upper torso of a man and lower body of a horse.  Of all the centaurs, Chiron was the most respected.  He taught famous Greek heroes such as Jason, Hercules and Achilles and he was considered a superb musician, physician and of course archer! Unfortunately one day Chiron was shot by a poisoned arrow (from the Learnean Hydra) by one of his former students; the mighty Hercules himself.  The stray arrow was an accident, but as Chiron was immortal he could not die, but still suffered greatly from the poisoning.  Chiron went to the Gods and offered to give up his immortality, so that he could die.  He asked the Gods if he could replace Prometheus, who originally gave fire to man:  The Gods punished Prometheus for his gift to man and ever since he had been chained to rocks.  Zeus, ruler of the Greek Gods (Jupiter in Roman mythology) – touched by Chiron’s kindness in relieving Prometheus from his endless pain – put Chiron in the night sky as the Sagittarius constellation. Constellation: This constellation looks more like a dancing spider, than a mythological half man/half beast.  But that’s constellations for you! Probably the result of poor eyesight in the time before contacts! The best viewing time for the Sagittarius constellation is in August at around 9pm, between latitudes + 55° and – 90° in the northern hemisphere.  If you live in the southern hemisphere, you have the best view of this southerly constellation.  Your time to stargaze is in the middle of the winter, when Sagittarius is directly overhead in the night sky. As always use a star map as a guide and if possible a knowledgeable star gazer to assist you.

Extra Fun Fact: Sagittarius is Latin for The Archer.  It is usually depicted as a Centaur —mythological creature with the torso of a human and the body of a horse—pulling back a bow.

Next Post—Curious about Capricorn the Sea-Goat? (December 22 – January 19). The Story of Capricorn and How to spot this Constellation in the Night Sky. Evonne Blanchard is the author of Amelia, the Moochins and the Sapphire Palace, Amelia, the Venutons and the Golden Cage and Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon. These are the first three books in Amelia’s Amazing Space Adventures, an exciting series of ten books set in outer space; for children ages 6-10.

Ever wondered if aliens exist? What if one needed your help? Would you travel to outer space?  For the adventures… of a lifetime!

Now Available!

Book Three: Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon

Amelia and Uglesnoo land on Mercury.  They meet the Merballs, the friendly aliens that live there.  All goes well until an asteroid hits their planet.  Amelia and Uglesnoo find themselves in deep trouble.  How will they convince the Merballs of their innocence?  And how will they manage to collect the flying shoes, escape Mercury and continue their quest to save Uglesnoo’s sister?

To preview and/or buy the book, click below: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Amazon.co.uk “Adventure, inventiveness, and humor merge in this quirky, appealing tale.” —Kirkus Reviews.  “…This third book is even more original, fun and creative! With aliens, different planets, a good dose of humor and excellent storytelling that is age-appropriate, this is one of the best kids series out there. The illustrations are pretty fun too and fit the story well.” —I Heart Reading  

Book One: Amelia, the Moochins and the Sapphire Palace

When is a present not a present?  When it’s a friendly purple alien called Uglesnoo, from the planet Pluto!  Uglesnoo needs to leave right away for the Moon.  Uglesnoo also desperately needs Amelia’s help.  Should Amelia venture into outer space?

“Appealing Illustrations combine with lots of text to make this a great read for children transitioning from picture books to chapter books.” – Kirkus Reviews

“The story is imaginative and fun…and a perfect book to stretch my oldest in his independent reading with something fun to keep his attention.” —Beautiful Books for Children

Click below for a preview:

Amazon.com Or Amazon.co.uk

Book Two: Amelia, the Venutons and the Golden Cage

Uglesnoo needs Amelia’s help.  His sister is very sick.  The only cure is a repelling crystal from Neptune.  With his Earthling friend, Amelia, they must continue their quest.  More items are needed to buy the crystal.  But Venus is full of danger and angry aliens.  Are Uglesnoo and Amelia in over their heads?

“A lively sequel offers a sure-handed blend of fantasy, humor, adventure, and an ingenious heroine.” Kirkus Reviews

5/5 star rating!  “Amelia, the Venutons and the Golden Cage is a wonderful children’s book that will allow your kids to get started in the Sci-Fi genre… The story is intriguing and well thought out. All in all, the author did a great job of creating an engaging story that kept my kids interested. We are definitely looking forward to the next book!”- Examiner.com

Click below for a preview:

Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk