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 widely recognised or are not officially recognised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).[1] Prior to 1930, many of these defunct constellations were traditional in one or more countries or cultures. Some only lasted decades but others were referred to over many centuries. All are now recognised only for having classical or historical value.[2] Many former constellations had complex Latinised names after objects, people, or mythological or zoological creatures.[2] Others with unwieldy names were shortened for convenience. For example, Scutum Sobiescianum was reduced to Scutum, Mons Mensae to Mensa, and Apparatus Sculptoris to Sculptor.

Some of the Northern Sky's former constellations were placed in the less populated regions between the traditional brighter constellations just to fill gaps. In the Southern Sky, 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, different constellations occupied overlapping areas and included the same stars. These former constellations are often found in older books, star charts, or star catalogues.

The 88 modern constellation names and boundaries were standardised by Eugene Delporte for the IAU in 1930, under an international agreement, removing any possible astronomical ambiguities between astronomers from different countries.[3] Nearly all former or defunct constellations differ in their designated boundaries in as much as they have outlines that do not follow the exact 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] The new constellations were 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, placed in the northern skies between the still-accepted constellations Boötes and Draco. The Quadrantids meteor shower is named after this former constellation.

Remnant nomenclature

List of former constellations

Name Pronunciation Genitive Meaning Date created Created by
Anguilla/æŋˈɡwɪlə/AnguillaeEel1754John Hill
Antinous/ænˈtɪnoʊəs/AntinoiAntinous132Emperor Hadrian[8]
ApesApiumBees (renamed to Vespa, then Lilium, then to Musca Borealis)1612Petrus Plancius
Apis/ˈeɪpɪs/ApisBee (obsolete name and renamed to Musca Australis, and then shortened to Musca)1598Petrus Plancius
Aranea/əˈreɪniə/AraneaeLong-Legged Spider1754John Hill
Argo Navis/ˈɑːrɡoʊ ˈneɪvɪs/Argus NavisThe Ship Argo (now divided into Carina, Puppis, and Vela)2nd centuryClaudius Ptolemy
Asselli and PraesepeAssellorum, PraesepisDionysus's Asses (Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis) and Manger (Beehive Cluster)3rd century BCAratus[9][10]
Asterion and CharaNorthern and Southern Dogs in Canes Venatici1690Johannes Hevelius.[11]
Battery of VoltaBattery1807Thomas Young
Bufo/ˈbjuːfoʊ/BufonisToad1754John Hill
Cancer Minor/ˈkænsərˈmaɪnər/Cancri MinorisLesser Crab1613Petrus Plancius
Capra and HaediCaprae, HaedorumGoat Amalthea (stars surrounding Capella) and the Kids (Haedus I and Haedus II)3rd century BCAratus[12]
Cerberus/ˈsɜːrbərəs/CerberiCerberus (guardian dog of Hades)1690Johannes Hevelius
Cor Caroli Regis MartyrisCordis CaroliCharles's Heart1673Charles Scarborough[13]
Corona FirmianaCoronae FirmianaeCorona Borealis renamed to honor Count Leopold Anton von Firmian1730Corbinianus Thomas
Custos Messium/ˈkʌstɒs ˈmɛʃiəm/Custodis MessiumKeeper of harvests1775Jérôme Lalande[14]
DeltotonDelta (obsolete name for Triangulum Boreale)1540Petrus Apianus[15]
Dentalium/dɛnˈteɪliəm/DentaliiTooth Shell1754John Hill
Felis/ˈfiːlɪs/FelisCat1799Jérôme Lalande
Frederici Honores/frɛdəˈraɪsaɪ hɒˈnɔːriːz/Frederici HonorumFrederick's Honors1787Johann Elert Bode[16]
Gallus/ˈɡæləs/GalliRooster1613Petrus Plancius
Gladii Electorales SaxoniciGladiorum Electoralium SaxonicorumCrossed Swords of the Electorate of Saxony1684Gottfried Kirch
Globus Aerostaticus/ˈɡloʊbəs ˌɛərəˈstætɪkəs/Globi AerostaticiHot air balloon1798Jérôme Lalande[17]
Gryphites/ɡrɪˈfaɪtiːz/GryphitisGryphaea shellfish1754John Hill
Hippocampus/hɪpəˈkæmpəs/HippocampiSea Horse1754John Hill
Hirudo/hɪˈruːdoʊ/HirudinisLeech1754John Hill
Jordanus/dʒɔːrˈdeɪnəs/JordaniRiver Jordan1613Petrus Plancius
Leo PalatinusLeonis PalatiniLion to honor the Elector Palatine Charles Theodore and his wife Elisabeth Auguste1785Karl-Joseph König
Lilium/ˈlɪliəm/LiliiFleur de Lys (renamed Musca Borealis)1679Augustin Royer/P. Anthelme
Limax/ˈlaɪmæks/LimacisSlug1754John Hill
Linum PisciumLini PisciumThe line connecting the fish (renamed by Bode in 1801 from Hevelius's Linum Austrinum and Linum Boreum; known as Lineola too)1590Thomas Hood
Lochium Funis/ˈlɒkiəm ˈfjuːnɪs/Lochii FunisLog line (renamed Linea Nautica in 1888 by Eliza A. Bowen[18])1801Johann Elert Bode[19]
Lumbricus/lʌmˈbraɪkəs/LumbriciEarthworm1754John Hill
Machina Electrica/ˈmækɪnə ɪˈlɛktrɪkə/Machinae ElectricaeElectricity generator1800Johann Elert Bode[20]
Malus/ˈmeɪləs/MaliMast1844John Herschel
Manis/ˈmeɪnɪs/ManisPangolin1754John Hill
Marmor SculptileMarmoris SculptilisBust of Columbus1810William Croswell
Mons Maenalus/ˈmɒnz ˈmɛnələs/Montis MaenaliMount Mainalo1690Johannes Hevelius[21]
Musca Borealis/ˈmʌskə bɔːriˈeɪlɪs/Muscae BorealisNorthern Fly1690Johannes Hevelius
Noctua/ˈnɒktjuə/NoctuaeOwl1822Alexander Jamieson
Nubecula Major and Nubecula MinorNubeculae Majoris, Nubeculae MinorisMagellanic Clouds1603Johann Bayer
Officina Typographica/ˌɒfɪˈsaɪnə taɪpəˈɡræfɪkə/Officinae TypographicaePrintshop1801Johann Elert Bode[22]
Patella/pəˈtɛlə/PatellaeLimpet1754John Hill
PhaethonPhaethontisPhaethonMiddle AgesAratus/Hyginus
Phoenicopterus/ˌfɛnəˈkɒptərəs/PhoenicopteriFlamingo (an obsolete name for Grus)early 17th century[23]Petrus Plancius/Paul Merula
Pinna Marina/ˈpɪnə məˈraɪnə/Pinnae MarinaeMussel1754John Hill
Piscis NotusPiscis NotiSouthern Fish (obsolete name for Piscis Austrinus)3rd century BCAratus
PluteumPluteiParapet (obsolete for Pictor)1881Richard Andree
Polophylax/pəˈlɒfɪlæks/PolophylacisGuardian of the Pole1592Petrus Plancius
Pomum ImperialePomi ImperialisLeopold's orb1688Gottfried Kirch
Psalterium Georgii/sælˈtɪəriəm ˈdʒɔːrdʒiaɪ/Psalterii GeorgiiGeorge's Psaltery (renamed to Harp Georgii by Lalande)1781Maximilian Hell[24]
Quadrans Muralis/ˈkweɪdrænz mjʊəˈreɪlɪs/Quadrantis MuralisMural Quadrant1795Jérôme Lalande[25]
QuadratumQuadratiRhombus (obsolete name for Reticulum Rhomboidalis)1706Carel Allard
Ramus Pomifer/ˈreɪməs ˈpɒmɪfər/Rami PomiferiApple-bearing Branch1690Johannes Hevelius[26]
Robur Carolinum/ˈroʊbər kærəˈlaɪnəm/Roboris CaroliniCharles' Oak1679Edmund Halley[27]
RosaRosaeRose1536Petrus Apianus
Sagitta AustralisSagittae AustralisSouthern Arrow1613Petrus Plancius
Scarabaeus/skærəˈbiːəs/ScarabaeiRhinoceros Beetle1754John Hill
Sceptrum Brandenburgicum/ˈsɛptrəm ˌbrændənˈbɜːrdʒɪkəm/Sceptri BrandenburgiciScepter of Brandenburg1688Gottfried Kirch[28]
Sceptrum et Manus Iustitiae/ˈsɛptrəm ɛt ˈmeɪnəs dʒəˈstɪʃii/Sceptri et Manus IustitiaeScepter and Hand of Justice1679Augustin Royer
Sciurus VolansSciuri VolantisFlying Squirrel (now part of Camelopardalis)1810William Croswell[29]
Sextans UraniaeSextantis UraniaeUrania's Sextant (obsolete name for Sextans)1690Johannes Hevelius
Siren, Ceneus and LangSiren, Lapith Caeneus and Toucanearly 17th century[30]Unknown/Willem Jansz Blaeu
Solarium/səˈlɛəriəm/SolariiSundial1822Alexander Jamieson
Sudarium VeronicaeSudarii VeronicaeSudarium of Veronica1643Antoine Marie Schyrle de Rheita[31]
Tarabellum and VexillumTarabelli, VexilliDrill and flag-like Standard12th centuryMichael Scot[32]
Tarandus or Rangifer/təˈrændəs, ˈrændʒɪfər/Tarandi, RangiferiReindeer1736Pierre Charles Lemonnier[33]
Taurus Poniatovii/ˈtɔːrəs pɒniəˈtoʊviaɪ/Tauri PoniatoviiPoniatowski's Bull1777Martin Poczobut[34]
Telescopium Herschelii/tɛlɪˈskoʊpiəm hərˈʃiːliaɪ/Telescopii HerscheliiHerschel's Telescope (renamed from Tubus Herschelii Major by Bode in 1801)1781Maximilian Hell[35]
Testudo/tɛsˈtjuːdoʊ/TestudinisTortoise1754John Hill
Tigris/ˈtaɪɡrɪs/TigridisTigris River1613Petrus Plancius
Triangulum MajusTrianguli MajorisLarge Triangle (obsolete name for Triangulum)1690Johannes Hevelius
Triangulum Minus/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ˈmaɪnəs/Trianguli MinorisSmall Triangle1690Johannes Hevelius[36]
Triangulus AntarcticusTrianguli AntarcticiObsolete name for Triangulum Australe1589Petrus Plancius
Tubus Herschelii MinorTubi Herschelii MinorisHerschel's Reflector1781Maximilian Hell
Turdus Solitarius/ˈtɜːrdəs sɒlɪˈtɛəriəs/Turdi SolitariiSolitary 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[37]
Uranoscopus/jʊərəˈnɒskəpəs/UranoscopiStar-Gazer fish1754John Hill
UrnaUrnaeUrn of Aquarius1596Zacharias Bornmann
Vespa/ˈvɛspə/VespaeWasp (an obsolete name for Musca Borealis)1624Jakob Bartsch[38]
Triangula, Triangulum, Catuli, Corona, Corolla, Piscis, Camelus, Vulpes, Equus, Delphin, Ursa Minor, Canis, Felis, Leaena and CervusTriangulae, Trianguli, Catulorum, Coronae, Corollae, Piscis, Cameli, Vulpis, Equi, Delphinis, Ursae Minoris, Canis, Felis, Leaenae, CerviObsolete 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[39]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Former constellations.

References

  1. ↑ "The Constellations". 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. ↑ "Star Tales – Sceptrum Brandenburgicum".
  7. ↑ "Star Tales – Felis".
  8. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 40.
  9. ↑ "Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 30.djvu/774 - Wikisource, the free online library". en.wikisource.org.
  10. ↑ "Star Tales – Cancer". www.ianridpath.com.
  11. ↑ Ridpath, Ian. "Canes Venatici". Star Tales. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "AMALTHEA (Amaltheia) - Goat Nurse of Zeus in Greek Mythology". www.theoi.com.
  13. ↑ Ridpath, Ian. "Canes Venatici". Star Tales.
  14. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 191.
  15. ↑ "Astrocultura UAI - Unione Astrofili Italiani- Sezione Mitologia Costellazioni estinte obsolete". astrocultura.uai.it.
  16. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 221.
  17. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 237.
  18. ↑ "Astrocultura UAI - Unione Astrofili Italiani- Sezione Mitologia Costellazioni estinte obsolete". astrocultura.uai.it.
  19. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 65.
  20. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 289.
  21. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 290.
  22. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 297.
  23. ↑ "Star Tales – Grus". www.ianridpath.com.
  24. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 347.
  25. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 348.
  26. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 242.
  27. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 349.
  28. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 360.
  29. ↑ Kanas, Nick (2007). Star maps: history, artistry, and cartography. New York, New York: Springer. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-387-71668-8.
  30. ↑ Gent, R.H. van. "A Pair of Puzzling Star Maps and Two Unknown Constellations". webspace.science.uu.nl.
  31. ↑ "Astrocultura UAI - Unione Astrofili Italiani- Sezione Mitologia Costellazioni estinte obsolete". astrocultura.uai.it.
  32. ↑ "Nuova pagina 1". Atlascoelestis.com. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  33. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 377.
  34. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 413.
  35. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 414.
  36. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 417.
  37. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 418.
  38. ↑ Allen 1963, p. 292.
  39. ↑ "Nuova pagina 1". Atlascoelestis.com. Retrieved 2018-08-05.

Further reading

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