Conon of Samos (Greek:Κόνων ὁ Σάμιος,Konōn ho Samios; c. 280 – c. 220 BC) was aGreek astronomer andmathematician. He is primarily remembered for naming the constellationComa Berenices.
Conon was born onSamos,Ionia, and possibly died inAlexandria,Ptolemaic Egypt, where he was court astronomer toPtolemy III Euergetes. He named the constellationComa Berenices ("Berenice's Hair") after Ptolemy's wifeBerenice II. She sacrificed her hair in exchange for her husband's safe return from theThird Syrian War, which began in 246 BC. When the lock of hair disappeared, Conon explained that the goddess had shown her favor by placing it in the sky. Not all Greek astronomers accepted the designation. InPtolemy'sAlmagest, Coma Berenices is not listed as a distinct constellation. However, Ptolemy does attribute several seasonal indications (parapegma) to Conon. Conon was a friend of the mathematicianArchimedes whom he probably met in Alexandria.
In astronomy, Conon wrote in seven books hisDe astrologia, including observations on solar eclipses. Ptolemy further attributes seventeen "signs of the seasons" to Conon, although this may not have been given inDe astrologia. Seneca writes that "Conon was a careful observer" and that he "recorded solar eclipses observed by the Egyptians",[1] although the accuracy of this statement is doubted. The RomanCatullus writes that Conon "discerned all the lights of the vast universe, and disclosed the risings and settings of the stars, how the fiery brightness of the sun is darkened, and how the stars retreat at fixed times."[2]
Pappus states that thespiral of Archimedes was discovered by Conon.Apollonius of Perga reported that Conon worked onconic sections, and his work became the basis for Apollonius' fourth book of theConics. Apollonius further reports that Conon sent some of his work toThrasydaeus, but that it was incorrect. Since this work has not survived it is impossible to assess the accuracy of Apollonius' comment.
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