Star Gazing

[Ken Hutchinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 154108


> > Ken:
> > I've looked at solar system moons and asteroids and I still don't
> find
> > Narcissa. I think she is one of the Blacks with non-astro names.
>
> Potioncat:
> Actually, I think I once found a star named for Narcissus, but I
> couldn't begin to remember where or how I did it. Of more importance
> is this quote. I found this at Quick Quotes, from an interview in
> March 2004:
> >>>>
> queenmarion: I noticed in the Black Family tree that everyone is
> named after a constellation. Is this intentional? Does this have any
> bearing on the plot?
> JK Rowling replies -> It's just one of those family traditions,
> although Narcissa breaks the trend. I had always thought of her
> as 'Narcissa' so I decided not to change her to match the others when
> I came up with their names. There's been a lot of speculation that
> she is in some way linked to Lily and Petunia, because of the flower
> theme, but I can put that rumour to rest here: she isn't related to
> them.<<<<
>

Ken:

I was able to find a crater on the asteroid Eros that is named
Narcissus. There is a web site where you can search for feature names
on solar system objects:

http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/index.html

It is interesting that Rowling, in the reply you quote above, does not
seem to distinguish between stars and constellations. At least she
does not correct queenmarion's failure to distinguish between them.
This may be an indication that we are giving this a lot more thought
than JKR has.

Ken