Summer Constellations Song

See below for LYRICS (copyright David Ault). From Thinktank Planetarium's show "Stars & Stories of Summer" : highlights of the summer night sky sung to music from "The Pirates of Penzance" by Gilbert and Sullivan. Written by David Ault (www.davidault.co.uk). Performed by David Ault and singers from Enchant (www.enchant.org.uk)

We are the constellations of the so-called Summer Triangle,
You'll see us in the heavens when you look up for the right angle,
We're up there every evening from the solstice to the equinox
And even through December which we think is quite a paradox;
We're constellations listed by the Ancient Greek P-tolemy,
Or stars that form the magpie bridge in Old Chinese mythology,
When lovers kept apart would rain unnumbered tears of fiery orbs,
But now our science tells us that these streaks of light are meteors!

But now our science tells us that these streaks of light are meteors!
But now our science tells us that these streaks of light are meteors!
But now our science tells us that these streaks of light are me-te, meteors!

We're bordered by the dragon Draco and the fox Vulpecula;
But even more than Hercules, we think we're quite spectacular:
In short if you look overhead, you'll see us in that right angle -
We are the constellations of the so-called Summer Triangle.

In short if you look overhead, you'll see us in that right angle -
We are the constellations of the so-called Summer Triangle.

Aquila is the eagle who transports the child Ganymede
A servant, who on Mount Olympus helps the gods to drink and feed,
The Hindus see Garuda whos an eagle-human deity;
The Romans saw a vulture flying through the sky quite gracefully!
But Lyra, so they said, was then a vulture falling down on us,
When now we think its just the lyre of the singer Orpheus
That played so well it could relax the terrors - man or bestial
And now enchants the heavens with its music so celestial.

And now enchants the heavens with its music so celestial
And now enchants the heavens with its music so celestial
And now enchants the heavens with its music, music so, so celestial

Vega is the star that is the benchmark astronomical:
Defined there as the zero point for measures categorical
And so if you look overhead, youll see that perfect right angle -
We are the constellations of the so-called Summer Triangle.

And so if you look overhead, youll see that perfect right angle -
We are the constellations of the so-called Summer Triangle

If beauty you are after and you've access to a telescope,
Or even if you've only got binoculars then there is hope,
You see the cross above you? Well the bottom is Albireo
A double star quite clearly seen with colours blue and pale yellow.
The other end of Cygnus is a star that's very luminous -

The Sun, at Deneb's size, would take no time in just consuming us -
And elsewhere you will find a host of gorgeous gassy nebulae
And also all the stars behind it in the milky galaxy!

And also all the stars behind it in the milky galaxy!
And also all the stars behind it in the milky galaxy!
And also all the stars behind it in the milky, milky galaxy!

So there we are, the swan, the eagle and the harp so magical,
And if you dont look up for us well think it very tragical;
But if you do look overhead, you'll see us in that right angle -
We are the constellations of the so-called Summer Triangle.

But if you do look overhead, you'll see us in that right angle
We are the constellations of the so-called Summer Triangle"

Category:

Education

Tags:

• david
• ault;
• thinktank;
• planetarium;
• summer;
• constellations;
• song;
• pirates
• of
• penzance;
• gilbert
• and
• sullivan;
• birmingham

[audreyfischer]

: ) lots of fun!

[Truffelz222]

@Mithriflames- Toooottttaaaalllllllllllllllyy­yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy­yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[mithrilflames]

that is very cool