Cosmic Tales is a show about the stories written into the night sky. Every constellation has a myth behind it, a culture that named it, and a science that explains it — and most of them are stranger and more compelling than you might expect. Host Diana explores one corner of the sky at a time, moving through Greek tragedy, Indigenous oral tradition, Babylonian astronomy, medieval star catalogs, and the genuinely extreme physics of dying stars, all in the same episode. No telescope required. Just curiosity and a willingness to look up.
Episode 16: Cetus vs. Arabian Star Lore
In Greek mythology, Cetus was a terrifying sea monster sent to destroy a kingdom, until Perseus arrived to save Andromeda.
But in traditional Arabian star lore, the same region of the sky told a very different story — one involving an ostrich, a collection of frogs, and some rather unexpected celestial characters.
And the astronomy is just as strange. Meet Mira, a star that brightens and fades dramatically, and explore the galaxies hiding within the boundaries of this enormous constellation.
One constellation. Very different stories. And a universe that's considerably stranger than it looks.
Join us for Episode 16 of Cosmic Tales, where mythology meets astronomy — and the stars have stories to tell.
Sources:
https://www.planetary.org/articles/whose-stars-arabian-astronomy (https://www.planetary.org/articles/whose-stars-arabian-astronomy)
https://ase.exopla.net/index.php/Al-Na%CA%BF%C4%81m%C4%81t (https://ase.exopla.net/index.php/Al-Na%CA%BF%C4%81m%C4%81t)http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/cetus.html (http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/cetus.html)
https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/cetus-constellation/ (https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/cetus-constellation/)
Music: Distant Galaxy by SP Music
Sound Engineer: Ian Evans
26 Oct 2026
Episode 15: Perseus vs Enmesarra
Episode 15: Perseus — A Greek Hero, a Mesopotamian God, and the Demon Star
A hero armed with a deadly gift. An ancient god stripped of his power. And a star that appears to blink in the night sky.
In Greek mythology, Perseus sets out on a seemingly impossible mission: to kill Medusa, the Gorgon whose gaze turns living creatures to stone. But his adventures don't end there. Along the way, he'll rescue a princess, confront a king, and discover that a severed head can be remarkably useful.
Then we travel to ancient Mesopotamia, where we encounter Enmešarra, a primordial deity whose power and fate reveal a very different side of the divine world.
In the astronomy portion, we'll explore Algol, the famous Demon Star whose changing brightness has fascinated observers for centuries. We'll also discover the Perseids, one of the best-known annual meteor showers, and the remarkable Double Cluster, two brilliant collections of stars nestled near Perseus.
Gods, monsters, ancient rivalries, and a demon that blinks.
Cosmic Tales — where mythology meets astronomy.
Sources:
https://www.eatthefruit.com/the-defeat-of-enmesharra/ (https://www.eatthefruit.com/the-defeat-of-enmesharra/)http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/perseus.html (http://www.ianrihttp://www.ianridpath.com/startales/perseus.html)https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/perseus-constellation/ (https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/perseus-constellation/)
Music: Distant Galaxy by SP Music
Sound Engineer: Ian Evans
19 Oct 2026
Episode 14: Andromeda vs Kui Mulang
Episode 14: Andromeda — A Princess, a Celestial Demon, and a Galaxy Beyond Our Own
A princess chained to a rock. A celestial being who abandons the heavens for love. And a discovery that forever changed humanity's understanding of the universe.
In Greek mythology, Andromeda becomes the unwilling sacrifice for her mother's arrogance, until Perseus arrives to rescue her. In Chinese mythology, we encounter Kui Mulang, a star deity whose complicated romance leads to a kidnapped princess, a transformed monk, and some rather unfortunate consequences.
Then we turn from mythology to astronomy to explore one of the most remarkable objects in our night sky: the Andromeda Galaxy. We'll discover how Edwin Hubble helped prove that our Milky Way wasn't the entire universe, examine the interacting galaxies of Arp 65, and consider what the future might hold for our galactic neighbor.
Ancient stories, celestial troublemakers, and a universe much larger than anyone once imagined.
Sources:
http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/contents.html (http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/contents.html)
https://libokang.com/en/classics/zhanbu/the-bird-stars-made-easy-to-see (https://libokang.com/en/classics/zhanbu/the-bird-stars-made-easy-to-see)
Journey to the West, Wu Cheng'en
https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/andromeda-constellation/ (https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/andromeda-constellation/)
Music: Distant Galaxy by SP Music
Sound Engineer: Ian Evans
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
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