Cygnus

Thân thiện

Definition

Proper noun 1. A constellation in the northern hemisphere: Cygnus is a prominent constellation located in the Milky Way, between the constellations Pegasus and Draco. It is notable for containing the Cygnus X-1 system, a well-known source of X-rays believed to be a black hole. 2. A genus of birds in the family Anatidae: In taxonomy, Cygnus is the genus that includes most swans, large, long-necked waterfowl.

Usage Examples

• As a constellation:
  • On a clear summer night, you can see Cygnus, also called the Northern Cross, high in the sky.
  • Astronomers study the black hole in Cygnus X-1 to learn about high-energy physics.
• As a genus name:
  • The mute swan, common in parks, belongs to the genus Cygnus.
  • The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest native waterfowl in North America.

Advanced Usage

• In mythology: In Greek and Roman mythology, the constellation Cygnus is often identified with the transformed shape of Zeus/Jupiter or other figures like the musician Orpheus or the youth Cygnus, a friend of Phaethon.
  • The myth explains how Cygnus was placed among the stars as a swan.

Variants and Related Words

• Cygnian (adj): Pertaining to the constellation Cygnus or to swans.
  • Cygnian stars are a target for many amateur astronomers.
• Cygnus X-1 (n): A specific X-ray source in the constellation Cygnus, the first widely accepted astronomical discovery of a black hole candidate.

Synonyms

• For the constellation: The Northern Cross, The Swan.
• For the genus: Swan (as a common name for birds within the genus).

Related Phrases

• The Swan (Neck): A descriptive term sometimes used for the constellation's shape or for specific nebulas within it (e.g., the North America Nebula lies in Cygnus).
  • We observed the Veil Nebula, which is in the "wing" of Cygnus.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a genus of Anatidae
2. a constellation in the northern hemisphere between Pegasus and Draco in the Milky Way; contains a black hole

Từ đồng nghĩa

• Cygnus
• genus Cygnus