The constellations are well armed. Several of the star patterns that depict people or gods are carrying weapons. And some of them are in good view at this time of year.

As darkness falls, look low in the west for the brilliant star Arcturus. It stands at the base of Boštes the herdsman. Like many of the ancient star figures,

Boštes has different stories, and is drawn in different ways. In most depictions, he’s holding something long and straight against his right side. In some cases, it’s a staff. But in others, it’s a spear.

Well above Boštes is Hercules, marked by a lopsided box of four stars. He’s wrestling the multi-headed hydra. And in some depictions, he’s holding up a club.

In the south, look for Sagittarius. To modern eyes, it forms the outline of a teapot. But to the ancients, those stars formed an archer. The star at the outer edge of the spout is the point where he’s gripping both bow and arrow.

And low in the northeast there’s a figure with a unique weapon. Perseus the hero is holding the head of Medusa. In mythology, anyone looking at Medusa was turned to stone. Perseus managed to sever the head, then used it to save the princess Andromeda from a monster.

And if you’re stargazing before dawn, there’s another armed figure, well up in the south: Orion the hunter. He has two weapons. He’s holding a club in an upraised arm, with a sword strapped to his belt – a heavily armed figure in the stars.

Script by Damond Benningfield