"Both the Chinese and the Indians thought a snake attacked the sun during an eclipse. Noise making was an effort to scare the creature away. The earliest recorded eclipse was in China on October 22, 2134 (BC). Then two court astrologers, Hsi and Ho, lost their heads because, since they failed to predict it, the Emperor had been caught unprepared to make the necessary dragon-scaring noise. Almost a millenium later, in the fourteenth century BC, and eclipse was described by a Chinese seer as 3 flames eating the sun." (Source: Ancient History.)

Indians would immerse themselves in water to avoid the sky-dragon (comet).

Comets were often mistaken for dragons since both were fiery, flew through the air and the comet's tail would sometimes look like wings. And, if the comet struck the earth, destruction ensued.

• "Spenser described the hideous appearance of the Dragon ravaging the land of Una's parents" where the dragon is a meteor and might show how some stories get their start. (pg. 93)
• "One fantastic fiery meteor of the lower Air [per Aristotle], reported to resemble a dragon breathing fire, was called draco volans, in the vernacular a 'flying-dragon' or 'firedrake'." (pg. 95)
• One meteor in 1547 over London scared the people into thinking it was the devil "But [Fulke] the Cambridge don assured his readers that the apparition was only a flying-dragon, 'nothing else but clouds and smoke.'" (pg 95).

• 8th largest of all constellations for a total of 1,083 sq degrees and winds it's way through and around other constellations.
• Never really sets, although it is best seen in the summer
• Thuban is the brightest star and used to be the North star
• Related to the Bronze Saint Shiryu and ancient Greece

• The Sea Serpent, although it is sometimes called the female water snake
• Largest and longest of the constellations at 1,3030 square degrees
• Appears near Cancer and Centaurus in both North and South Hemispheres
• Takes 6 hours to rise over the horizon
• It's Latin name is feminine
• Associated with the Bronze Saint Ichi and originates in ancient Greece
• Also is related to the Hydra / Hercules story

• The male water snake
• First appeared in Johann Bayer's star atlas circa 1603
• Appears near Achernar, near the south pole and encompasses approximately 243 square degrees
• Is meant to be the southern Hydra
• No associated myths.

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