Perseus (constellation) may be derived from the Babylonian Old Man (MUL.SHU.GI) constellation, then associated with East in the MUL.APINan astronomical compilation dating to around 1000 BCE. In Greek mythology, Perseus was the son of Danaë, who was sent by King Polydectes to bring the head of Medusa the Gorgon — whose visage caused all who gazed upon her to turn to stone. Perseus slew Medusa in her sleep, and Pegasus and Chrysaor appeared from her body. Perseus continued to the realm of Cepheus whose daughter Andromeda was to be sacrificed to Cetus the sea monster. Perseus rescued Andromeda from the monster by
Bert van Sprang in February 1976. The main-belt asteroid 3098 van Sprang was named after him. Bert van Sprang Bernardus Wilhelmus Maria "Bert" van Sprang (20 June 1944 in Tilburg – 17 November 2015 in Pijnacker) was the founder of the Dutch youth division ("JWG", or "Jongerenwerkgroep") of the Dutch association of meteorology and astronomy ("NVWS", or "Nederlandse Vereniging voor Weer- en Sterrenkunde") in 1967. Activities carried out by Van Sprang for the JWG included the organization of astro camps, the setting up of a program to build telescopes cheaply, and the writing of many booklets on astronomy topics. He was also program