In
Greek mythology, Eridanus ("the river") was considered one of the rivers of
Hades by
Virgil VI, 659.
Herodotus III, 115 associated it with the river
Po because the Po was located near the end of the
Amber Trail.
Amber originated from the tears of the
Heliades shed when their brother,
Phaeton, died and fell from the sky into the Eridanus.
Eridanus (the river) is the sixth largest of the 88 modern
constellations. It was also one of
Ptolemy's 48 constellations. At its southern end is the
first magnitude star Achernar (α Eri).
Another well-known star in Eridanus is Epsilon Eridani, which has been popular in science fiction because it is relatively close and relatively sun-like. It is now known to have at least one planet (see Extrasolar planet).
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