Perseus, the hero:
Along with Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and Pegasus, Perseus
is involved in one of the oldest stories in history and is one of
the most ancient constellations. Perseus was a mortal son of the
god Zeus. He was destined for a life of adventure and after being
armed with mystical weapons made by the gods encountered his destiny.
He first slew the Gorgon, Medusa, and then rescued the princess
Andromeda from being sacrificed to the sea monster Cetus. The constellation
of Perseus can be found southeast of Cassiopeia. Within the constellation
is the star Algol, the "demon star". Algol is variable
star which changes its brightness every 2.87 days. To the ancients
this star was the head of Medusa, who even after death winked at
them.
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