Position in the Sky
Pavo was named by Johann Bayer. His
inspiration to name this constellation as such, may have come from the
mythological peacock that was sacred to Hera. Zeus' wife Hera, had
suspected that her husband had fallen in love with the mortal Io and
had changed his lover in a white heifer as disguise. Hera then asked
Argus Panoptes, a giant with 100 eyes, to guard the disguised
heifer. When Zeus found out the his lover was being guarded, he sent
Hermes to kill Argus. After Hera found out of Argus' death, she
distribuited his eyes all over the tail of the peacock.
Pavo borders on Apus, Telescopium, Indus and Octans.
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