Skyscript Astrology Forum

Both Taurus and Pegasus are traditionally portrayed as missing their latter body halves. Equuleus is shown as just a head of foal floating directly in front of Pegasus' head. As far as I know, all the other constellations are depicted in their complete forms, missing no body parts.

So I wonder, WHY precisely these three constellations - bull-half, horse-half and foal head - that got cut off?

Is it due to a lack of "space" in the Sky because of neighboring constellations?
Did the body parts got left out simply because they're irrelevant, containing no significant fixed stars?
Or could there be a deeper meaning to this?

Hello Astrophilus and welcome!

"There are a few different definitions of constellations, but many people think of constellations as a group of stars. Often, it's a group of stars that looks like a particular shape in the sky and has been given a name. These stars are far away from Earth. They are not connected to each other at all. Some stars in a constellation might be close while others are very far away. But, if you were to draw lines in the sky between the stars like a dot-to-dot puzzle – and use lots of imagination – the picture would look like an object, animal, or person."
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/constellations/en/

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This is how the NASA is explaining it. And it is true that in astrology, we use a lot of our imagination!

Best to you,
Ouranos

Hello Ouranos,

still it's kind of mysterious. Personally, I'd rather re-imagine something entirely different than just the front half of a bull/horse. Granted a bull primarily attacks with its horns, but it can also kick its hooves, just like a horse!

Also, is Pegasus (traditionally a stallion, i.e. male horse) considered the father of foal Equuleus - or why are they placed in immediate proximity of each other? Taurus the Bull doesn't have a calf by his side.

Best wishes,
AP