A small hare hides beneath the feet of one of the most famous hunters in the night sky. But the story of Lepus, the Hare constellation, is not just one tale—it is a reminder that the same stars can inspire completely different legends across cultures.

In this episode of Cosmic Tales, we begin with the Greek mythology surrounding Lepus, the celestial hare forever placed among the stars near Orion the Hunter. Discover the legends connected to this elusive creature and why ancient skywatchers imagined a rabbit racing across the heavens.

Then we travel to Japan, where the stars of Lepus connect with the tradition of Sakka, the celestial rabbit. Explore how the image of a rabbit in the sky became linked with stories of the Moon, devotion, and transformation in Japanese folklore.

Finally, we uncover the astronomy behind the constellation Lepus:
- Arneb, a massive aging star shining from the feet of Orion
- The red giant stars that reveal the life cycles of stars
- Messier 79, an ancient globular cluster containing some of the oldest stars in the Milky Way
- How astronomers study these distant treasures hidden in the night sky

One constellation. Two hares. Countless stories.

Join Cosmic Tales as we explore the mythology, history, and science written among the stars.

Sources:

https://www.brelief.org/jataka/sasa/sasa.html

https://rebelstargazer.substack.com/p/lepus-the-hare

https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/lepus-constellation/

Music: Distant Galaxy by SP Music

Sound Engineer: Ian Evans