Capricorn Characteristics: Capricorn represents those born from December 22—January 19. Capricorn is the tenth Zodiac sign of the year, right after Sagittarius.
Myth and Legend: The origin of Capricorn mythology is shrouded in mystery. Capricorn is often represented as either a goat or a sea-goat. As a sea-goat, it is shown with the tail of a fish. Ancient Greek myths often had sea-goats depicted in their art, but little is known about the origins of these drawings. One story that has been passed down through the ages begins with the sea-goat Pricus.
Pricus was the father of all the sea-goats; thought to be highly intelligent creatures that lived in the sea, but near the shoreline. This special race of goats had the gifts of speech, reason and were highly favored by the gods.
Pricus is associated with the God Chronos—the God of time— and he shares Chronos’s ability to manipulate time. Pricus’s children were drawn to the shore and began to spend more and more time out of the water. They would drag themselves to the beach and lay in the sun. Overtime their fish tails turned into hind legs and they lost their abilities to speak and think, becoming the simple goats that we know today.
The clever father sea-goat Pricus was very upset with this transformation. He feared that one day all his children would lose their intelligence and unique abilities and become mindless animals, who would not be able to return to the sea.
So Pricus hatched a plot. He used his ability to reverse time, so that the normal goats reverted back to sea-goats swimming in the sea, talking and thinking just as before. But no matter how many times Pricus reversed time, his children continued to be drawn to the shore. Time and time again their fish tails turned to legs and their special powers faded away.
Pricus finally realized he cannot control destiny and he allows his children to choose their future; that of becoming simple goats. Soon he is all alone and absolutely miserable. He asks Chronos to let him die. Instead Chronos allows him to continue his immortality in the night sky as the Capricorn constellation. From the stars, he can still see all his descendants running all over the mountain tops. And that concludes the strange, peculiar tale that is the Capricorn legend!
Constellation: So does anyone think the Capricorn constellation looks anything like a sea-goat? No of course not, it looks more like a bandana than any actual animal. Maybe a bandana that you’d put on a pet goat, if you’re into dressing up your smelly pet goat?
The best viewing time for the Capricorn constellation is in September at around 9pm; between latitudes + 60° and – 90° in the northern hemisphere. If you live in the southern hemisphere, look for the Capricorn constellation in the spring. As always use a star map as a guide and a knowledgeable star gazer to assist you.
Evonne Blanchard is the author of, ‘Amelia, the Moochins and the Sapphire Palace and ‘Amelia, the Venutons and the Golden Cage. These are the first two books in, ‘Amelia’s Amazing Space Adventures,’ an exciting series of ten books set in outer space (for children ages 5-9).
Coming soon! The third book in the series, Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon, is scheduled for publication February 2018.
Ever wondered if aliens exist? What if one needed your help? Would you travel to outer space?
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?
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“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
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
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A little space puzzle for you to solve with your child. Also, exciting news in that the third book in the Amelia’s Amazing Space Adventure Series is coming out very soon!
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.
Amelia's Amazing Space Adventures 
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