"Berenice's Hair"
Mythology: This constellation represents the hair of the Egyptian Queen Berenice. What makes this constellation so unusual is that she was an actual person (246 - 221 BC). She was married to her brother (a common Egyptian tradition, at the time -- Ewwww!): Ptolemy III. There came a time when Ptolemy went off to fight the war in Asia. Berenice, who was very proud of her luscious hair, made a deal with the Goddess Venus: She would sacrifice her hair in exchange for the safe return of her husband. Ptolemy did return from battle safely, and Berenice cut her hair and placed it the temple at Zephyrium. The next day, Ptolemy discovered that the hair was missing, and one of the court astronomers pointed to these stars near Leo and told Ptolemy that the Gods had placed the hair in the heavens.
Other Interesting
Sights: The Black Eye Galaxy, also called the
Sleeping Beauty Galaxy (M64), is an interesting sight in this constellation,
and is part of the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. This galaxy features
two counter-rotating systems of stars and gas in its disk. Another
galaxy part of the Virgo Cluster and within this constellation is the elliptical
galaxy M85. The globular star cluster M53 is also in this constellation.
The Back Eye Galaxy -- M64.
Elliptical Galaxy M85.
Globular Cluster M53.