Lost constellations

Some constellations in the Western sky have been gone over time.

Until 1922, the year when astronomers agreed there were 88 constellations in the sky, the stars had been represented in several ways throughout centuries. In Western classic depictures, they were mentioned as being part of mythological figures, which became the usual way to allude to them during the following centuries.

Many cartographers considered Claude Ptolemy's stars catalogue Almagest from the middle I c. b.C. as the foundation for their works, a document that included observations made from the Greek Mediterranean Sea. Cartographies depicted stars mostly as seen from Earth, although Albrecht Dürer's charts (1515), Peter Apian's astrolabe (1540) and Johannes Hevelius' atlas (1690) were exceptions, since they represented them as seen from space, like celestial globes do. Dürer's works were also distinctive since were the first ones to display the Milky Way path, and even on charts seeming the current way to draw Western astrological charts: the Zodiac was placed around a rim (the center was the celestial pole on the maps), counter-clockwise, and dividing the whole area into 30° segments.

Albrecht Dürer' septentrional chart. He included his own referals in the four corners. From upper left and clockwise: Aratus from Sicyon, author of the astronomic poem Phaenomena; Ptolemy, author of the Almagest; al-Ṣūfī, Arabian astronomer author of The Book of Fixed Stars; and Marcus Manilius, Roman astrologer author of Astronomica.

Albrecht Dürer's meridional chart. In right corners, he wrote inscriptions. In the upper left corner, there's the coat of arms of Salzburgue's Archbishop, to whom the charts were dedicated to. In the lower corner, there's his own coat of arms next to those of the charts' co-authors, Stab and Heinfogel. Dürer himself registered the positions from Europe, so the Southern chart includes many fewer references.

Monoceros the unicorn was created by Petrus Plancius in the XVI c., South Canis Minor and North Canis Major, between Gemini and Cancer. The representation belongs to Johannes Hevelius (1690), who drew from the space perspective, in which the signs of the Zodiac progress counterclockwise, such as they're included on a birth chart. All of his plates were made from this perspective, firstly considering the planet's translational motion around the Sun (except the Southern hemisphere's planisphere).

Monoceros represented by John Flamsteed (1725). From the terrestrial perspective, the signs of the Zodiac follow a regressive ordering respect to the previous one, due to the clockwise rotation of the planet around its axis, and such as lunar karma is read on a birth chart. Johannes Honter from Transylvania was the first to include this perspective on maps, in the XVI c. However, plates were still introduced in atlases by following the sequence visualized from the space's point of view.

Catalogues were based on registries made from different locations on Earth, like the Mediterranean Sea, Greenwich (England), Shīrāz (ancient Persia in Iran), Madagascar and Cape Town (Africa), Sumatra (Asia) and Saint Helene islands (Atlantic Ocean). Astronomers didn't just update positions but also included more stars, which made them introduce new constellations to include them. However, not all of astronomers approved those created by others, and sometimes they didn't depict them in their atlases.

With or without recognition, the Earth's axis motion always changes the view of locations, which is better noticed the more centuries pass by from one observation until the next one. So it seems some stars are "getting closer to" or "moving away from" each other, a seeming change making cartographers move them from one constellation to another one, which made disappear some figures whereas new ones were created. Another reason to change their locations was to avoid overlaps as other ones were added.

Mythological drawings were the main reference although some cartographies progressively included elements that provided more accurate ways to identify stars. For instance, there were mentioned before Dürer's radial lines at 30° intervals, whereas Johann Bayer was the one who assigned Greek letters to stars in the XVII century to indicate brightness, as well as depicted them on grid plates with calibrated margins to allowing to specify degrees. In the following century, Alexander Ruelle was the one who connected them with lines. In the XIX century, Johann E. Bode registered by the naked eye over 17,000 stars in over 100 constellations, and also drew boundaries lines between them (although extremely soft). Finally, at the end of the same century, the Belgian Eugène Delporte traced zigzag boundaries for stars to stay inside the constellation they were assigned to, according to their passage across meridians and declination, leaving definitely behind mythical figures patterns as references, and now setting definite areas.

From ancient mythological narrations to current mappings based on brightness and mathematical calculations of exact locations, many centuries have passed by and many efforts have been made to take notes, transmit and preserve catalogues and representations. This article displays some of those that have remained along the way, not being part anymore of the now recognized 88 constellations. They are 17 constellations introduced in the order they were created, between the XVII and XIX centuries, related to myths and also to objects, animals and famous people in those ages. Cartographies belong to different authors (not necessarily to the constellation's inventor), so the work and year mentioned on each of them refer to the cartographer. To visualize them, use the horizontal scrollbar and place the mouse or finger (mobile view) on the blocks.

By Ptolemy (150 b.C.). It was the name given to Jason's and crew's ship for starting the epic journey towards the Black Sea in search of the golden fleece to recover the throne of Greece. Goddess Athenea supervised the construction and, when the ship returned to Greek coasts, was devoted to Poseidon. The oak beam in the prow was one of Zeus' oracles, calling to action (it was able to speak, and surrounded by a bank of misdt in Bayer's drawing). One of the greater obstacles to face was the Clashing Rocks, which slid and closed the entrance to the Sea to anything trying to pass through. Argo Navis was the first gallon succeeding and staying safe. After the adventure, the rocks remained apart.

Argo Navis by Johann Bayer (inUranometria, 1603)

By Ptolemy (150 B.C.). He was the Turkish lover of the Roman emperor Adrian in the I c. B.C. An oracle had forecasted the emperor would be saved by sacrificing what he loved the most. Antinous was found drowned in the Nyle river, and later considered as a god with a constellation of his own to the South of Aquila the eagle. Bode depicted him as being grabbed by the claws of the animal, although Ptolemy had specifically mentioned the bird should be looked at from below.

Antinous by Johann Elert Bode (inUranographia, plate IX, 1801)

By Petrus Plancius (XVI c.). It represented Tigris river (Iraq) according to registries made from Madagascar island (approximately at 23° S). It flowed from the neck of the winged horse Pegasus (upper left) and then between Cygnus the swan and Aquila until Ophiuchus the serpent bearer (lower right corner).

Tigris by Jacob Bartsch (inUsus Astronomicus Planisphaerii Stellati, 1624)

By Petrus Plancius (XVI c.). Initially called Apes, it was between Aries the ram and Medusa's head in Perseus (upper part). In the XVII c., Jacob Bartsch called it Vespa and Johannes Hevelius changed it to a fly and called it Musca. During the same century, some of the stars were also part of Lilium, although that figure doesn't exist anymore. Later, it was called Musca Borealis to set a difference from the homologous Southern constellation (the one that still remains).

Musca by Johannes Hevelius (inFirmamentum Sobiescianum, Fig. AA, 1690)

By Edmund Halley (XVII c.). It represented the oak tree inside of which king Charles II of England hid after being defeated by Cromwell in the battle of Worcester. It included stars from Argo Navis's oak although most astronomers didn't recognise it. Later, Boded did include it on his maps although called it Robur Caroli II. It can be appreciated in the right middle area in the image, crossing the ship in a transverse vertical section, with roots in the Southwestern area of Chamaleon and branches extended towards waters.

Robur Carolinum by Johann Elert Bode (inUranographia, plate XX, 1801)

By Johannes Hevelius (XVII c.). It was the mythical three-snake-headed dog at the gates of Hades, the realm of death. One of the 12 challenges Hercules had to face was capturing the dog and taking it to a luminous surface. Previously, Bayer had depicted the heroe holding an apple-tree in his hand although Hevelius changed it to Cerberus. In the following century, John Senex combined both drawings (Ramus Cerberus), whereas John Flamsteed straightly removed them, and his charts included Hercules just grasping thin air. Displayed here is Hevelius's depiction from the space perspective (as on all of his charts).

Cerberus by Johannes Hevelius (inFirmamentum Sobiescianum, Fig. H, 1690)

By Gottfried Kirch (XVII c.). It was created to homage to Frederic III of Brandenburg (Prussia). Made from North-South aligned stars, they composed a ceremony sceptre located at the foot of the hunter Orion, in one of Eridanus river's meanders. The newspaper where it was introduced especially remarked Rigel star in Orion.

Sceptrum Brandenburgicum by Gottfried Kirch (in the newspaperActa Eruditorum of 1688)

By Johannes Hevelius (XVII c.). It included stars from Boötes, the constellation representing the mythical Arcas, son of Callisto and grandson of the king of Arcadia (central Peloponnesus). Maenalus might have been Callisto's brother or son of Arcas. With a mount at the feet of the last character, then he stepped onto his uncle or his own son. The mount was a sacred place to Pan, and Diana's favorite zone (the hunting goddess).

Mons Maenalus by Johannes Hevelius (inFirmamentum Sobiescianum, Fig. F, 1690)

By Pièrre-Charles Le Monnier (XVIII c.). A reindeer represented the course of Halley comet in 1742, between Camelopardalis the giraffe and Cepheus the king (beyond the upper border). An expedition to Lapland had inspired the reindeer figure. In Jamieson's drawing, the tail pointed to the North pole and the head almost touched Custos Messium's arm (a constellation created 32 years later by Lalande). On some maps, it was called Tarandus like the scientific name of the animal (Rangifer tarandus).

Le Réene by Alexander Jamieson (enCelestial Atlas, plate II, 1822)

By Charles Le Monnier (XVIII c.). The astronomer described it as "a bird of India and Philipines", referring to a flightless Asian bird. But his drawing seemed to be a thrush, so during the next century it was called by different names: Turdus solitarius (Bode), Mockingbird (Thomas Young) and, finally, Noctua (Jamieson). Jamieson's depiction was quite different from the first representations: it looks like an owl, similar to those in Egyptian hieroglyphs, showing one side of its body and facing the watcher. The bird was on Hydra's tail, the aquatic serpent, with the head between Libra the scale and the South of Virgo the virgin.

Noctua by Alexander Jamieson (enCelestial Atlas, plate XXVII, 1822)

By Joseph Jérôme de Lalande (XVIII c.). It referred to his countryman, Charles Messier, the comet hunter, shown in the central vertical figure in the image, holding a shepherd stick and pointing with his right hand to Cassiopea's foot, the seated lady. The constellation was located where the comet of 1774 was first seen, between Le Réene the reindeer on the left and Cassiopea. Thomas Young called it The Vineyard Keeper.

Custos Messium by Johann Elert Bode (inUranographia, plate III, 1801)

By Joseph Jérôme de Lalande (XVIII c.). The name was related to the Quarantides, the shower of meteors visible in January. It was located to the North of Boötes, to the South of the body of Draco the dragon and next to the bowed leg of Hercules. Bode changed the name to Latin Quadrans Muralis.

Le Mural by Alexander Jamieson (inCelestial Atlas, plate II, 1822)

By Martin Poczobut (XVIII c.). It made homage to Stanisław August Poniatowski, king of Polony and Lithuania, mentor of arts and sciences, whose coat of arms included a bull. The constellation was located between Aquila and Ophiuchus, overlapping the tail of Serpens. The V-shape of stars in the face of the central bull had been part of the extinct Tigris.

Taurus Poniatovii by Johann Elert Bode (inUranographia, plate IX, 1801)

By Johann Elert Bode (XVIII c.). Invented in 1786, a year after the death of Frederic The Great, king of Prussia, who was remembered as a hero, sage and peacemaker. It was a ceremony sword surrounded by laurel leaves, a feather and a crown in the upper part. It lay next to Andromeda's extended arm, the chained woman, and Cepheus the king (upper right). Bode called it Honour and other names were Honores Friderici and Frederici Honores, although here it is displayed as Jamieson did, as Gloria Frederici.

Honour by Alexander Jamieson (enCelestial Atlas, plate III, 1822)

By Maximilian Hell (XVIII c.). They were two constellations: a telescope (Major) and a reflector (Minor) representing William Herschel's intruments at the time he discovered Uranus in 1781. The constellations were located where the planet had been discovered: the reflector was between Orion and the head of Taurus the bull, and the telescope was just above the arrow held by Castor in Gemini. Later, Bode gathered them in a single constellation, called it Telescopium Herschelii and placed it where the telescope (although drawn with the reflector's dimensions).

Tubus Herschelli by Maximilian Hell (in Monumenta, Aere Perenniora, Inter Astra Ponenda, 1789)

By Johann Elert Bode (XIX c.). To homage the invention of the Montgolfier brothers that had reached the skies to the South of Capricorn the goat-fish in 1780's decade. On the chart, the globe rises up with an empty basket, between the left foot of Aquarius the water-bearer and Capricorn, with Piscis Notius' tail on the left and Microscopium on the right. The constellation was introduced by Bode although Lalande suggested so.

Globus Aerostaticus by Johann Elert Bode (inUranographia, plate XVI, 1801)

By Johann Elert Bode (XIX c.). Again, another suggestion coming from Lalande and displayed on a chart by Bode, this time to make homage to another invention too: Gütenberg's printing press created 350 years before. It was located just below the legs of Monoceros the unicorn, to the North of Argo Navis' prow and to the West of Canis Major the greater dog.

Officina Typographica by Johann Elert Bode (inUranographia, plate XVIII, 1801)

Current constellations and main stars

#	name	creation	location	stars
1	Hydra water snake (female)	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S/Eq (South Cancer and Leo NH, and North Virgo, Libra and Scorpio SH)
2	Virgo virgin	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	Eq	Alphard the lonely one
3	Ursa Major great bear	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (North Leo)	Alioth black horse Dubhe bear Alkaid first mourner Mizar loincloth Merak loin Phecda thigh
4	Cetus sea monster	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	Eq (South Aries and Pisces)	Diphda Southern whale's tail Menkar nose
5	Hercules strong man	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (South Draco, in Sagittarius' parallel)	Kornephoros club's bearer
6	Eridanus river	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S/Eq (between Taurus NH and Fornax SH)	Achernar end of the river Cursa Orion's chair Akamar end of the river Zaurak ship
7	Pegasus winged horse	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (between Aquarius SH and Lacerta NH)	Enif horse's mouth Scheat leg Markab horse's shoulder Algenib side Matar lucky rain
8	Draco dragon	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (between the North Pole and Hercules, parallel to Scorpio)	Eltanin snake Athebyne two wolfes Rastaban snake's head
9	Centaurus .	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (between Hydra and Crux, in Virgo's parallel)	Rigil Kentaurus (Alpha Centauris A) Hadar (or Agena, knee) Toliman (Alpha Centauris B) Menkent shoulder
10	Aquarius water bearer	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S/Eq	Sadalsuud the luckiest among the luckiest ones Sadalmelik the King's luck
11	Ophiucus serpent bearer	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	Eq (between Scorpio SH and Serpens NH)	Rasalhague snake charmer's head Sabik the preceeding one Yed Prior hand ahead Cebalrai shepherd's dog
12	Leo lion	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N/Eq	Regulus little king Denebola lion's tail Zosma loincloth Algieba forehead
13	Boötes herdman	s. XVII (Hevelius)	N (North Virgo)	Arcturus bear's keeper Izar veil Muphrid spearer's lonely star
14	Pisces fishes	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N/Eq
15	Sagittarius archer	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S	Kaus Australis Southern arch Nunki (undefinite meaning) Ascella armpit Kaus Media middle arch Kaus Borealis Northern arch Albaldah (π Sagittarii) Alnasl arrowhead
16	Cygnus swan	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (between Vulpecula and Cepheus, in Capricorn's parallel)	Deneb Southern whale's tail Sadr chest Aljanah wing Fawaris riders
17	Taurus bull	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N/Eq	Aldebaran the follower Elnath the one who gives gorings Alcyone (one of the Pleiades or pigeons) Tianguan heavenly door
18	Camelopardalis giraffe	s. XVI (Plancius)	N (next Minor Bear, between Taurus and Gemini)
19	Andromeda chained woman	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (between Pisces and Cassiopeia)	Mirach loins Alpheratz horse's navel Almach (Gamma Andromedae)
20	Puppis keel	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (between North Volans and South Carina, between Gemini and Cancer NH)
21	Auriga charioteer	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (South Camelopardalis)	Al Rakib charioteer Menkalinan charioteer's shoulder Mahasim (Theta Aurigae) Hassaleh (Al Kab, Lambda Aurigae)
22	Aquila eagle	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	Eq (between Sagittarius SH and Sagitta NH)	Altair flying eagle Tarazed (N Velorum) Okab hawk's tail
23	Serpens serpentarium	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	Eq (South Hercules, parallel to Libra)	Unukalhai serpent's neck
24	Perseus hero	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (North Taurus)	Mirfak Pleiades' elbow Algol Medusa's head
25	Cassiopeia seated queen	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (North Andromeda, between Aries and Pisces)	Schedar chest Caph palm Ruchbah knee
26	Orion hunter	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	Eq (between Taurus and Gemini, to South)	Rigel the central one's left foot [Orion] Betelgeuse (linguistic distortion) Al Najid the conqueror Alnilam pearl necklace Alnitak belt Saiph giant's sword Mintaka belt Hatysa the brighest one of the sword
27	Cepheus king	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (next to the North Pole, in Leo's parallel NH)	Alderamin right arm
28	Lynx .	s. XVII (Hevelius)	N (between Gemini and Cancer, to North)
29	Libra balance	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S	Zubeneschamali Northern claw [of the scorpion] Zubenelgenubi Southern claw
30	Gemini twins	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N	Pollux second twin's head Alhena camel's mark Castor first twin's head Tejat back side of the twin's mouth
31	Cancer crab	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N
32	Vela sails	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (North Antlia SH, in Leo's parallel NH)	Alsephina (Delta Velorum) Suhail (Gamma Velorum) Markeb (Kappa Velorum)
33	Scorpio scorpion	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S	Antares rival of Ares Sargas scorpion Shaula sting Dschubba forehead Larawag (Epsilon Scorpii) Acrab scorpion Lesath sting Paikauhale (Tau Scorpii) Fang (Pi Scorpii) Al Nijat arteries
34	Carina stern	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (South Puppis, in Cancer's parallel NH)	Canopus Argos ship's rudder Miaplacidus quiet waters Avior (Epsilon Carinae) Aspidiske (Lambda Carinae)
35	Monoceros unicorn	s. XVI (Plancius)	Eq (South Gemini)
36	Sculptor .	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (between North Phoenix and South Cetus, in Pisces' parallel)
37	Phoenix fire bird	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (between South Sculptor and North Tucana, parallel to Pisces)	Ankaa ship's brightness
38	Canes Venatici hunting dogs	s. XVII (Hevelius)	N (North Coma Berenices and Virgo)	Cor Caroli (Alfa Canum Venaticorum)
39	Aries ram	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N	Hamal ram's head Sheratan both signs
40	Capricorn sea goat	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S	Deneb Algedi goat's tail
41	Fornax furnace	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (mostly surrounded by Eridanus, in Aries' parallel NH)
42	Coma Benerices Benerice's hairs	s. XVI (Vopel)	N (North Virgo)
43	Canis Major great dog	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (North Monoceros, in Gemini's parallel NH)	Ash-shira leader Adhara virgins Wezen weight Al Kalb dog Aludra virgin
44	Pavo peacock	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (between North Octans and South Telescopium, in Sagittarius' parallel SH)	Peacock
45	Grus crane	s. XVII (Hevelius)	S (between North Tucana and South Pisces Australis, in Aquarius' parallel)	Al Nair the brilliant one Tiaki (Beta Gru)
46	Lupus wolf	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (North Libra and Scorpio)
47	Sextans .	s. XVII (Hevelius)	Eq (South Leo)
48	Tucana toucan	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (between Octans in the South Pole and South Phoenix, parallel to Aquarius)
49	Indus hindu	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (between South Octans and Microscopium, in Capricorn's parallel)
50	Octans .	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (South Pole)
51	Lepus hare	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (between North Columba and South Orion, between Taurus and Gemini NH)	Arneb hare Nihal camels quenching thirst
52	Lyra lyre	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (between Draco NH and Sagittarius SH)	Vega falling eagle
53	Crater cup	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (North Leo and South Hydra)
54	Columba dove	s. XVI (Vopel)	S (between South Lepus and North Pictor, between Taurus and Gemini NH)	Phact pigeon
55	Vulpecula fox (female)	s. XVII (Hevelius)	N (South Cygnus HN and Capricorn SH)
56	Minor Bear small bear	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (North Pole)	Kochab Northern star Polaris Cynosura or dog's tail (Greek); Mismar or needle - nail (Arab)
57	Telescopium telescope	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (North Sagittarius)
58	Horologium clock	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (between North Hydrus and South Fornax, in Taurus' parallel NH)
59	Pictor easel	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (between North Dorado and South Columba, in Taurus' parallel NH)
60	Pisces Australis Southern fish	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S	Formalhaut fish's snout
61	Hydrus water serpent (male)	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (between South pole and North to Reticulum and Horologium, parallel to to Aries)
62	Antlia air pump	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (South Vela and North Hydra, in Leo's parallel NH)
63	Ara altar	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (North Scorpio)
64	Minor Leo small lion	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (between Leo and Ursa Major)
65	Pyxis compass	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (North Hydra, between Carina and Antlia, in Cancer's parallel NH)
66	Microscopium microscope	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (North Capricorn)
67	Apus bird of paradise	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (between South pole and Triangulum Australe, parallel to Scorpio)
68	Lacerta lizzard	s. XVII (Hevelius)	N (between Cepheus and Pegasus, in Aquarius' parallel)
69	Delphinus dolphin	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (between Vulpecula NH and Capricorn SH)
70	Corvus crow	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (North Hydra and next Crater, in Virgo's parallel)
71	Canis Minor small dog	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N/Eq (between Gemini and Cancer, to South)	Algomeisa or Procyon in Greek, before the dog (Ash Shira in Canis Major) Gomeisa the one who cries
72	Corona Borealis Northern crown	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (North Serpens Eq, between Scorpio and Libra)	Alphecca the bright [star] in the broken [ring]
73	Dorado swordfish	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (between South Pictor and North Mensa, in Taurus' parallel NH)
74	Norma scale	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (between Triangulum Australe and Lupus, in Libra's parallel)
75	Mensa table	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (South Pole)
76	Volans flying fish	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (North Puppis and South Chamaleon, between Gemini and Cancer NH)
77	Musca fly	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (North Crux and South Chamaleon, in Virgo's parallel)
78	Chamaleon .	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (North Volans and Musca, in Leo's parallel NH)
79	Triangulum triangle	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (North Aries)
80	Corona Austral Southern crown	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	S (North Sagittarius)
81	Caelum chisel	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (between Dorado and Orion, in Taurus' parallel NH)
82	Reticulum reticle	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (between North Hydrus and South Horologium, in Taurus' parallel NH)
83	Triangulum Australis Southern triangle	s. XVI (Keyser and de Houtman)	S (South Apus and North Norma, between Libra and Scorpio)	Atria (Alpha Trianguli Australis)
84	Scutum shield	s. XVII (Hevelius)	S (South Sagittarius)
85	Circinus compass	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	S (South Vela and North Hydra, in Cancer's parallel NH)
86	Sagitta arrow	s. XVIII (de Lacaille)	N (North Aquila, in Sagittarius' parallel SH)
87	Equuleus little horse	150 b.C. (Ptolemy)	N (South Capricorn SH, between Pegasus and Delphinus)
88	Crux Southern cross	s. XVII (Bartsch)	S (South Musca and North Centaurus, in Leo's parallel NH/Eq)	Mimosa actor or flower [questioned meaning] Acrux Alpha Crucis Gacrux Gamma Crucis Imai Delta Crucis

Ref. sup.: #1 is the widest one. Ref. location: N = North Hemisphere; S = Southern Hemisphere; Eq = Equator; in parenthesis, N - S boundaries constellations (as seen from the Equator to the pole) and main zodiacal sign on the same parallel. Ref. stars: from greater to lesser magnitude (lower than 3).

Sources: astropixels.com by Fred Spenak shares a wide range of astronomic ephemeris including several decades, space photographies and the list of 88 constellations approved by the International Astronomic Union (IAU) since 1922. Star names with mostly anatomic and animal meanings derived from Arabic, Sumerian and Persian phrases and terms, and few ones from Greece and Rome (on www.wikipedia.org).

Touch here to visualize planispheres (arbitrary colors). Place the mouse or finger (mobile) over the constellations to see figures and stars (lower than 3).

Links of interest

Atlases

The original works of cartographers being mentioned in this article are available as digitilized documents in online public libraries. Viewers include descriptions of books (in Latin language) and high quality zoom viewing, with option for free downloading. Links at the bottom of each block. Some of the images are courtesy of The Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology.

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Ian Ridpath's website

A website to take a path to the history of catalogues and atlases, referring to authors, origins and the way charts were made. Of an easy and quick reading, it includes most of the links found in this article, along with mythological stories related to constellations. It also mentions Chinese constellations, with links to deepen more into them.

www.ianridpath.com

The Book of Fixed Stars

The Arabian astronomer Ἁbd al-Raḥmān al-Ṣūfī (903–986) added over 40 stars to Ptolemy's Almagest from the observatory of the Persian city of Shīrāz (29.6°N, Iran). His book Kitāb Ṣuwar al-kawākib (al-thābitah) also updated the locations mentioned by the Greek one although without taking new notes but calculating based on the precession of equinoxes. He drew each constellation twice, with no coordinates, from both terrestrial and space perspectives.

Bodleian Library (Oxford)

Catalogue of stars (IAU)

A table of stars approved by the International Astronomic Union. They're displayed in alphabetical order and the table includes: right ascension, declination, date of approval, magnitude and several other designations.

www.iau.org

More about cartographies

PhD. Filosophy thesis by Adèle Lorraine Wörz (2006) in Oregon University, entitled "The visualization of perspective systems and iconology in Dürer’s cartographic works: an in-depth analysis using multiple methodological approaches". It describes different methodologies for a critical appreciation of the history of cartography as well as the arts history. Next, it reviews Dürer's works by looking for meanings, conditionings and different kinds of subjective expressions at the time of considering spatial relations, perspectives, projections and iconology in his artworks. The document is of general interest and publicly available online for download (.pdf).

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