Discussion
Vampires become more or less dangerous when the sun rises or sets. Werewolves appear when the moon is full.
Are there other fantasy creatures tied to different celestial bodies? Like Venus, the morning star, is a very visible feature in the sky that ordinary people would be aware of, and could make myths about.
@skyfaller If we are talking about The Great Pumpkin? More research is needed.
@skyfaller None that immediately spring to mind, although there's the Lovecraft bit about the Great Old Ones returning "when the stars are right".
@skyfaller serious oversight if there's not a Venus based incubus tale out there. I'd read it.
@skyfaller Orion and the Pleiades are other ones that seem to have been noticed by many ancient cultures. I don't know of beings tied to them but that doesn't mean there aren't any.
@nancywisser I feel like a constellation might be too complicated. Suppose you turn into an emu when Orion is in the sky. What if only part of the constellation peeks over the horizon? Do you just get an emu beak and skip the rest of the transformation? Awkward.
Also there's a huge advantage for celestial bodies that are visible during the day, even at dawn or dusk like Venus, because otherwise it's just the sun with extra steps.
@skyfaller You might enjoy "Venus Rising on Water" by Tanith Lee. (Sometimes the term "vampire" is stretched, canvas-like, to include it; but it's really a cosmic horror, second contact type story.)