Former constellations

The former constellation Argo Navis
Gladii Saxonici from 1684 Acta Eruditorum

Former constellations are old historical western constellations that for various reasons are no longer recognized or adopted as official constellations by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).[1] Prior to 1930, many of these defunct constellations were traditionally identified by one or more countries or cultures. Some only lasted several decades but others continued over many centuries. All are now only recognised for having classical or historical value.[2] Many former constellations have had complex Latinised names assigned as objects, people, or as mythological or zoological creatures.[2] Others with unwieldy names were foreshortened for the sake of practical convenience. e.g. Scutum Sobiescianum reduced to Scutum, Mons Mensae to Mensa or Apparatus Sculptoris to Sculptor.

Some of the northern sky's former constellations were often placed in the less populated stellar regions between the traditional brighter constellations just to fill any unassigned gaps. In the southern skies, new constellations were often created from about the 15th Century by voyagers who began journeying south of the equator. European countries like England, France, the Netherlands, German or Italian states, etc., often supported and popularised their own constellation outlines. In some cases, differing constellations occupied areas using the same shared stars. Most of these former constellations can often be found mentioned in older books, star charts or star catalogues.

Standardisation of all the modern eighty-eight constellations names and boundaries was finally made by Eugene Delporte for the IAU in 1930, under a ratified international agreement, successfully removing any possible astronomical ambiguities between the nations.[3] Nearly all former or defunct constellations mostly differ in their designated boundaries inasmuch as they have outlines that do not follow the exacting defined lines of right ascension and declination.[4]

Noteworthy former constellations

Argo Navis

Argo Navis is the only constellation from Ptolemy's original list of 48 constellations that is no longer officially recognized. Due to its large size, it was split into three constellations by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille: Carina (the keel), Puppis (the poop deck), and Vela (the sails).[5] This new version was introduced in the 1763 star catalog Coelum Australe Stelliferum, which was published soon after de Lacaille's death.

Quadrans Muralis

Quadrans Muralis was originally created in 1795, being placed in the northern skies between the now modern accepted constellations Boötes and Draco. The Quadrantids meteor shower is still named after this former constellation.

Remnant nomenclature

List of former constellations

Name Pronunciation Meaning Date created Created by
Anguilla/æŋˈɡwɪlə/Eel1754John Hill
Antinous/ænˈtɪnoʊəs/Antinous132Emperor Hadrian[7]
ApesBees (renamed to Vespa, then Lilium, then to Musca Borealis)1612Petrus Plancius
Apis/ˈeɪpɪs/Bee (obsolete name and renamed to Musca Australis, and then shortened to Musca)1598Petrus Plancius
Aranea/əˈreɪniə/Long-Legged Spider1754John Hill
Argo Navis/ˈɑːrɡoʊ ˈneɪvɪs/The Ship Argo (now divided into Carina, Puppis, and Vela)2nd centuryClaudius Ptolemy
Asselli and PraesepeDionysus's Asses (Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis) and Manger (Beehive Cluster)3rd century BCAratus[8][9]
Asterion and CharaNorthern and Southern Dogs in Canes Venatici1690Johannes Hevelius.[10]
Battery of VoltaBattery1807Thomas Young
Bufo/ˈbjuːfoʊ/Toad1754John Hill
Cancer Minor/ˈkænsərˈmaɪnər/Lesser Crab1613Petrus Plancius
Capra and HaediGoat Amalthea (stars surrounding Capella) and the Kids (Haedus I and Haedus II)3rd century BCAratus[11]
Cerberus/ˈsɜːrbərəs/Cerberus (guardian dog of Hades)1690Johannes Hevelius
Cor Caroli Regis MartyrisCharles's Heart1673Charles Scarborough
Corona FirmianaCorona Borealis renamed to honor Count Leopold Anton von Firmian1730Corbinianus Thomas
Custos Messium/ˈkʌstɒs ˈmɛʃiəm/Keeper of harvests1775Jérôme Lalande[12]
DeltotonDelta (obsolete name for Triangulum Boreale)1540Petrus Apianus[13]
Dentalium/dɛnˈteɪliəm/Tooth Shell1754John Hill
Felis/ˈfiːlɪs/Cat1799Jérôme Lalande
Frederici Honores/frɛdəˈraɪsaɪ hɒˈnɔːriːz/Frederick's Honors1787Johann Elert Bode[14]
Gallus/ˈɡæləs/Rooster1613Petrus Plancius
Gladii Electorales SaxoniciCrossed Swords of the Electorate of Saxony1684Gottfried Kirch
Globus Aerostaticus/ˈɡloʊbəs ˌɛərəˈstætɪkəs/Hot air balloon1798Jérôme Lalande[15]
Gryphites/ɡrɪˈfaɪtiːz/Gryphaea shellfish1754John Hill
Hippocampus/hɪpəˈkæmpəs/Sea Horse1754John Hill
Hirudo/hɪˈruːdoʊ/Leech1754John Hill
Jordanus/dʒɔːrˈdeɪnəs/River Jordan1613Petrus Plancius
Leo PalatinusLion to honor the Elector Palatine Charles Theodore and his wife Elisabeth Auguste1785Karl-Joseph König
Lochium Funis/ˈlɒkiəm ˈfjuːnɪs/Log line (renamed to Linea Nautica in 1888 by Eliza A. Bowen[16])1801Johann Elert Bode[17]
Lilium/ˈlɪliəm/Fleur de Lys (renamed Musca Borealis)1679Augustin Royer/P. Anthelme
Limax/ˈlaɪmæks/Slug1754John Hill
Linum PisciumThe line connecting the fish (renamed from Linum Austrinum and Linum Boreum by Bode in 1801; known as Lineola too)1590Thomas Hood
Lumbricus/lʌmˈbraɪkəs/Earthworm1754John Hill
Machina Electrica/ˈmækɪnə ɪˈlɛktrɪkə/Electricity generator1800Johann Elert Bode[18]
Malus/ˈmeɪləs/Mast1844John Herschel
Manis/ˈmeɪnɪs/Pangolin1754John Hill
Marmor SculptileBust of Columbus1810William Croswell
Mons Maenalus/ˈmɒnz ˈmɛnələs/Mount Mainalo1690Johannes Hevelius[19]
Musca Borealis/ˈmʌskə bɔːriˈeɪlɪs/Northern Fly1690Johannes Hevelius
Noctua/ˈnɒktjuə/Owl1822Alexander Jamieson
Nubecula Major and Nubecula MinorMagellanic Clouds1603Johann Bayer
Officina Typographica/ˌɒfɪˈsaɪnə taɪpəˈɡræfɪkə/Printshop1801Johann Elert Bode[20]
Patella/pəˈtɛlə/Limpet1754John Hill
Phoenicopterus/ˌfɛnəˈkɒptərəs/Flamingo (an obsolete name for Grus)early 17th century[21]Petrus Plancius/Paul Merula
Pinna Marina/ˈpɪnə məˈraɪnə/Mussel1754John Hill
Piscis NotusSouthern Fish (obsolete name for Piscis Austrinus)3rd century BCAratus
Polophylax/pəˈlɒfɪlæks/Guardian of the Pole1592Petrus Plancius
Pomum ImperialeLeopold's orb1688Gottfried Kirch
PhaethonPhaethonMiddle AgesAratus/Hyginus
PluteumParapet (obsolete for Pictor)1881Richard Andree
Psalterium Georgii/sælˈtɪəriəm ˈdʒɔːrdʒiaɪ/George's Psaltery (renamed to Harp Georgii by Lalande)1781Maximilian Hell[22]
Quadrans Muralis/ˈkweɪdrænz mjʊəˈreɪlɪs/Mural Quadrant1795Jérôme Lalande[23]
QuadratumRhombus (obsolete name for Reticulum Rhomboidalis)1706Carel Allard
Ramus Pomifer/ˈreɪməs ˈpɒmɪfər/Apple-bearing Branch1690Johannes Hevelius[24]
Robur Carolinum/ˈroʊbər kærəˈlaɪnəm/Charles' Oak1679Edmund Halley[25]
RosaRose1536Petrus Apianus
Sagitta AustralisSouthern Arrow1613Petrus Plancius
Scarabaeus/skærəˈbiːəs/Rhinoceros Beetle1754John Hill
Sceptrum Brandenburgicum/ˈsɛptrəm ˌbrændənˈbɜːrdʒɪkəm/Scepter of Brandenburg1688Gottfried Kirch[26]
Sceptrum et Manus Iustitiae/ˈsɛptrəm ɛt ˈmeɪnəs dʒəˈstɪʃii/Scepter and Hand of Justice1679Augustin Royer
Sciurus VolansFlying Squirrel (now part of Camelopardalis)1810William Croswell[27]
Sextants UraniaeUrania's Sextant (obsolete name for Sextans)1690Johannes Hevelius
Siren, Ceneus and LangSiren, Lapith Caeneus and Toucanearly 17th century[28]Unknown/Willem Jansz Blaeu
Solarium/səˈlɛəriəm/Sundial1822Alexander Jamieson
Sudarium VeronicaeSudarium of Veronica1643Antoine Marie Schyrle de Rheita[29]
Tarandus or Rangifer/təˈrændəs, ˈrændʒɪfər/Reindeer1736Pierre Charles Lemonnier[30]
Taurus Poniatovii/ˈtɔːrəs pɒniəˈtoʊviaɪ/Poniatowski's Bull1777Martin Poczobut[31]
Tarabellum and VexillumDrill and flag-like Standard12th centuryMichael Scot[32]
Telescopium Herschelii/tɛlɪˈskoʊpiəm hərˈʃiːliaɪ/Herschel's Telescope (renamed from Tubus Herschelii Major by Bode in 1801)1781Maximilian Hell[33]
Tubus Herschelii MinorHerschel's Reflector1781Maximilian Hell
Testudo/tɛsˈtjuːdoʊ/Tortoise1754John Hill
Tigris/ˈtaɪɡrɪs/Tigris River1613Petrus Plancius
Triangulus AntarcticusObsolete name for Triangulum Australe1589Peter Plancius
Triangulum MajusLarge Triangle (obsolete name for Triangulum)1690Johannes Hevelius
Triangulum Minus/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ˈmaɪnəs/Small Triangle1690Johannes Hevelius[34]
Turdus Solitarius/ˈtɜːrdəs sɒlɪˈtɛəriəs/Solitary Thrush (renamed to Mocking Bird and then to Noctua). Named in honor of the Rodrigues solitaire, an extinct flightless bird related to the dodo.1776Pierre Charles Lemonnier[35]
Uranoscopus/jʊərəˈnɒskəpəs/Star-Gazer fish1754John Hill
UrnaUrn of Aquarius1596Zacharias Bornmann
Vespa/ˈvɛspə/Wasp (an obsolete name for Musca Borealis)1624Jakob Bartsch[36]
Triangula, Triangulum, Catuli, Corona, Corolla, Piscis, Camelus, Vulpes, Equus, Delphin, Ursa Minor, Canis, Felis, Leaena and CervusObsolete names for Triangulum Boreale, Triangulum Australe, Canes Venatici, Corona Borealis, Corona Australis, Piscis Australis, Cameleopardalis, Vulpecula et Anser, Equuleus, Delphinus, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Leo Minor and Monoceros1873Richard Proctor[37]

References

  1. ↑ "The Constellations". IAU—International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  2. 1 2 Ian Ridpath. "Constellation names, abbreviations and sizes". Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  3. ↑ Marc Lachièze-Rey; Jean-Pierre Luminet; Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Paris (16 July 2001). Celestial Treasury: From the Music of the Spheres to the Conquest of Space. Cambridge University Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-521-80040-2.
  4. ↑ "Constellation boundaries". Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  5. ↑ "Star Tales – Argo Navis". www.ianridpath.com.
  6. ↑ Barentine, John C. (2015). The Lost Constellations: A History of Obsolete, Extinct, or Forgotten Star Lore. New York, New York: Springer. p. 365.
  7. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 40.
  8. ↑ "Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 30.djvu/774 - Wikisource, the free online library". en.wikisource.org.
  9. ↑ "Star Tales – Cancer". www.ianridpath.com.
  10. ↑ Ridpath, Ian. "Canes Venatici". Star Tales. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "AMALTHEA (Amaltheia) - Goat Nurse of Zeus in Greek Mythology". www.theoi.com.
  12. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 191.
  13. ↑ "Astrocultura UAI - Unione Astrofili Italiani- Sezione Mitologia Costellazioni estinte obsolete". astrocultura.uai.it.
  14. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 221.
  15. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 237.
  16. ↑ "Astrocultura UAI - Unione Astrofili Italiani- Sezione Mitologia Costellazioni estinte obsolete". astrocultura.uai.it.
  17. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 65.
  18. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 289.
  19. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 290.
  20. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 297.
  21. ↑ "Star Tales – Grus". www.ianridpath.com.
  22. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 347.
  23. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 348.
  24. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 242.
  25. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 349.
  26. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 360.
  27. ↑ Kanas, Nick (2007). Star maps: history, artistry, and cartography. New York, New York: Springer. p. 131. ISBN 0-387-71668-8.
  28. ↑ Gent, R.H. van. "A Pair of Puzzling Star Maps and Two Unknown Constellations". www.staff.science.uu.nl.
  29. ↑ "Astrocultura UAI - Unione Astrofili Italiani- Sezione Mitologia Costellazioni estinte obsolete". astrocultura.uai.it.
  30. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 377.
  31. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 413.
  32. ↑ "Nuova pagina 1". Atlascoelestis.com. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  33. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 414.
  34. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 417.
  35. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 418.
  36. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 292.
  37. ↑ "Nuova pagina 1". Atlascoelestis.com. Retrieved 2018-08-05.

See also

Other References

  • Allen, Richard Hinckley (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning New York: Dover. (Original work published 1899)
  • Nick Kanas. Star Maps: History, Artistry, and Cartography. Springer; 5 June 2012. ISBN 978-1-4614-0917-5.
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