Jessica Miskoff, age 14, of Hutchinson, Kan., for her question:

WHAT IS CYGNUS?

Cygnus is a constellation in the Northern Hemisphere. Its most prominent feature is the Northern Cross which is formed by its five brightest stars.

The brightest star in the constellation is named Deneb and it marks the upper end of the cross toward the northwest. The double star named Albireos marks the foot of the cross toward the southwest.

In mythology, Cygnus often stands for the swan into which Jupiter, who is also called Zeus, changed himself in order to court Leda.

In early times, every society developed its own myths which played important parts in the societies' religious life.