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Remote yet familiar, stars have fascinated people throughout history and are part of many myths and legends. Although the sun and the moon usually have the leading roles in mythology, often appearing as deities,god or goddess the stars also appear in many stories. In some cultures, the stars represent part of the cosmosthe universe, especially as an orderly and harmonious system, such as the heavens or the home of the gods, or a path between the earth and another world. In many myths and legends, individual stars or constellations, groups of stars, have special significance.

Explaining the Stars. People who lived before electric lights and air pollution dimmed the night skies saw the heavens glittering with thousands of stars. They developed various stories to explain their brilliant...