| Fixed star: AZMIDISKE | |
| Constellation: Xi (ξ) Puppis – the Ship Argo Navis | |
| Longitude 1900: 04LEO39 | Longitude 2000: 06LEO02 |
| Declination 1900: -24.37′ | Declination 2000: -24.52′ |
| Right ascension: 07h 49m | Latitude: -44.56′ |
| Spectral class: G6 | Magnitude: 3.5 |
The history of the star: Admidiske
Xi (ξ) Puppis, Admidiske, is the northern star above the Stern in the Ship, Argo Navis
This star was featured as “star of the week” on this webpage where they explain: “Given Greek letter Xi by Bayer, its proper name Asmidiske was both mis-spelled and improperly stolen from “Aspidiske” (from Greek, meaning “little shield”), which belongs to Iota Carinae (Tureis of Carina, Argo’s Hull). Asmidiske makes up for this minor insult by being a magnificent, rather rare, kind of supergiant of sunlike color.”
The astrological influences of the constellation Puppis
No myths or interpretations are associated with the constellation Puppis because the stars in this constellation had always been seen as part of the constellation Argo Navis, the Great Ship, until French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1752 subdivided Argo Navis into Carina (the keel of the ship), Puppis (the poop), and Vela (the sails), plus a subordinate division of Argo now called Pyxis Nautica. The constellation Argo Navis represents the ship in which Jason brought the Golden Fleece from Colchis, said to be the first ship ever built.
The astrological influences for the whole constellation of Argo Navis, the Great Ship: According to Ptolemy the bright stars are like Saturn and Jupiter. Argo is said to give prosperity in trade and voyages, and strength of mind and spirit, but it has been observed to accompany cases of drowning, a notable instance being furnished by the horoscope of Shelley, where Argo occupied the 8th house and contained the Sun, Venus and Uranus. Drowning is particularly to be feared when Saturn afflicts the Moon in or from Argo. It is probably on account of this constellation that Virgo, especially the first decanate, is frequently found to be connected with drowning. [Robson, p.30.]