Remnants of extinct constellations.

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KingClinton
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Remnants of extinct constellations.

#1

Post by KingClinton »


Nice article.
Trying to visualize Argo Narvis is a tough one for me, way to mamy stars in there!

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Re: Remnants of extinct constellations.

#2

Post by Don Quixote »


Thank you for posting Clinton.
I have enjoyed reading this.
I have a set of Hevelius plates of the constellations.
Polus Antarcticus 133987.jpg
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Re: Remnants of extinct constellations.

#3

Post by Don Quixote »


Here is at least part of Argo Navis...
Argo Navis 133965.jpg
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helicon United States of America
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Re: Remnants of extinct constellations.

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Post by helicon »


Yes, it was quite a large constellation! I think Canopus was the brightest star in the constellation. Now it's part of Carina, once the constellation was subdivided.
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Re: Remnants of extinct constellations.

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Post by bladekeeper »


I recall Alan [mention]kt4hx[/mention] observing some things in now-defunct constellations in his reports. :)
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Re: Remnants of extinct constellations.

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Post by helicon »


In his Almagest, Claudius Ptolemy described Argo Navis as occupying the portion of the Milky Way between Canis Major and Centaurus, and identified stars comprising such details as the "little shield", the "steering-oar", the "mast-holder", and the "stern-ornament...
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Re: Remnants of extinct constellations.

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Post by kt4hx »


bladekeeper wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2020 11:37 pm I recall Alan @kt4hx observing some things in now-defunct constellations in his reports. :)
You are correct Bryan and thanks for the reminder. I had to look that stuff up and found it was from 2017 when I was doing my "asphalt astronomy" gig with 10x50 binoculars from a trip then. Below is what I wrote then, from the other site. I hope you all will give them a look when they are front and center. :)


18 October 2017

Musca Borealis (Aries, old constellation):

This was indeed a treat for me. While I am always hunting for new DSOs, I never suspected that I would see a new constellation - of sorts. I have observed stars in all 88 constellations, with DSOs observed in 87 of those. I ran across a reference to the now defunct northern fly constellation above the back of the lamb, Aries. The four stars that form the constellation are certainly bright enough, so I decided to add this to my list for something unique and fun. This old constellation consists of the following stars:

33 Arietis at mag 5.3
35 Arietis at mag 4.7
39 Arietis at mag 4.5
41 Arietis at mag 3.6

These stars form a large, nearly equilateral triangle that points to the southeast. It lies nearly 8.5° ENE of mag 2.0 Alpha Arietis (Hamal) near the border with both Perseus and Triangulum. In the 10x50s it was a fine sight, large and bright with numerous dimmer stars strewn through the field. I found it a fun and curious object to observe, with a link to astronomical history. Plus as a bonus, I was looking right at my next object, which encompasses the stars forming this old constellation. For a chart of the field, look at the attached image in the section under Triangulum Minus.

http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/muscaborealis.htm

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/library/rare...on_plate13.jpg


19 October 2017

Triangulum Minus (Triangulum, old constellation):

In the last report I recorded my observation of the now defunct constellation Musca Borealis, or the northern fly, which floats above the back of Aries. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I actually skated right over a second old constellation only about 4° WNW of the fly. Triangulum Minus (not Minor) was introduced by Johannes Hevelius in his 1690 atlas Firmentum Sobiescianum along with Musca Borealis.

So tonight this was my first stop since Aries and Triangulum were near the zenith. I drew in the outline for both constellation on chart 38-right in my Interstellarum (IDSA). After reading about the smaller triangle, I realized that I had already observed it during the evening of 15 October when I targeted the asterism 12 Trianguli Group. This star (mag 5.3) is the eastern corner of the triangle, along with 10 Tri (mag 5.3) at the southern corner and 6 Tri at the western end. Studying it in earnest I found that in the 10x50’s it to be well framed within the field of view, as well as bright and readily apparent. Each corner of the triangle had something going on. Of course the 12 Tri asterism held down the eastern corner, while at the southern end, 10 Tri seemed to form a bow-tie pattern with four nearby stars. At the western corner, 6 Tri had its own little triangle going with three other nearby stars. The general field was quite active with stars and rendered a beautiful view in the binoculars.

Taking a last look with the naked eye, I found I could easily see 12 Trianguli, with 10 and 6 Tri being a little more difficult. While I was there, I also checked the visibility of Musca Borealis with the naked eye since I was now familiar with its position. I found it very easy to discern, with enough angular size to resolve the pattern formed by the four stars. The combination of Musca Borealis and Triangulum Minus makes for a delightful view within a rich field that has some interesting astronomical history. I have included a chart depicting both constellations. Take a look; I think you will enjoy the view.
mb_tm.jpg

Harpa Georgium (Taurus and Eridanus, old constellation):

This obscure constellation was originally conceived by Maximilian Hell, who was the director of the Vienna Observatory in the mid-1700s. Psalterium Georgium or George’s Harp, was Hell’s attempt to honor King George III, the patron of William Herschel. In the Uranometria atlas (1801), Johann Bode changed the name to Harpa Georgium. In time this constellation was dissolved, with the majority laying in Eridanus with the northwestern corner being in southwestern Taurus. The field for this constellation is found on IDSA chart 62-left where I penciled in its outline.

I first oriented myself with the naked eye by finding the circlet asterism in Cetus. Then I went to the 10x50s to start at mag 2.5 Alpha Ceti (Menkar) sweeping southeast nearly 9.5° to 10 Tauri. This would be my starting point as I attempted to confirm the pattern I had penciled into my IDSA. This route took me ESE just over 2° to pick up 25 Eridani (mag 5.7). Continuing in the same direction for over 4° brought me to 35 Eri (mag 5.3). Here I turned SSW nearly 4.5° to 30 Eri (mag 5.5), then turned southwest about 4° to mag 5.9 HD 22675. I now shifted just slightly north of due west for a little over 2° to mag 6.0 HD 21665. We are almost back to the starting point, as I now turned just east of due north for a little over 2° to pickup 17 Eri (mag 4.7). The last leg takes us back to 10 Tauri, which lay about 5.5° NNE of 17 Eri.

This of course takes longer to describe than to do. But what we wind up with is an odd appearing five-sided figure, supposedly representing a harp. Regardless, my attempts at naked eye observation were only partially successful. It was dipping down toward one of my myriad light domes, plus some haze from airborne dust was not helpful. I did pick up 10 Tauri and barely 35 Eridani. I did not confirm 25 or 30 Eridani, or the two HD stars at the southern end of the pattern. However, 17 Eri was seen easily. Why not take a look at the attached chart and see if you can pick up the harp.
Harpa Georgium.jpg

Sceptrum Brandenburgicum (Eridanus, old constellation):

My final old and retired constellation for this outing is this creation of Gottfried Kirch, known as the Brandenburg Scepter. In 1688 he devised this constellation either in honor of Brandenburg Province in Prussia or in honor of the Royal Family of Brandenburg in Prussia. This seemingly political move on the part of Kirch worked in his favor as Friedrich III, the elector of Brandenburg, called him to Berlin and appointed him the first director of the Berlin Observatory in 1700.

In its original form it was a simplistic affair of a north-south line of four stars below Nu Eridanus. Later, when Johann Bode included it in his Uranometria atlas of 1801, he expanded it, more like the outline you will see in the attached chart. The celestial art in the atlas depicted a longer scepter with a scroll wrapped around its lower portion. The scroll bore the initial FW III, for Friedrich Wilhelm III, who had become King of Prussia in 1797.

This grouping is found on chart 73-right in the IDSA, where I penciled in its form, as depicted by Bode. I began the task of finding this lost constellation by finding mag 4.0 Mu Eridani and mag 3.9 Nu Eridani west of Orion. I then aimed the 10x50s at Nu Eri and dipped south and quickly located the top of the scepter, 46 Eri (mag 5.7), which forms a wide double. Continuing due south 1.5° I next came to another wide double 47 Eri (mag 5.1). The next stop was mag 5.2 HD 29065 44’ to the south. Now I angled slightly east of due south for almost 3.5° to find mag 5.0 HD 29573. Next I moved south for just over 2° to 35 Eri (Sceptrum - obviously related) at mag 3.9. At this point the constellation splits into two legs or a stand I suppose. Flowing southeast for 3.5° it ends at 58 Eri (mag 5.5). Back at 35 Eri, we continue SSE about 4.5° to mag 5.5 HD 30127, where we turn southwest for over 1° to end our constellation at 54 Eri (mag 4.3). As mentioned previously, it takes longer to explain the process than to actually do it with the binoculars given the wide field of view. It spans about 13° north to south from 46 Eri to 54 Eri.

I next tried to see what I could pick up naked eye. Granted it is somewhat towards my southern light dome, and again, I had airborne dust. But I could easily see 46, 47, 53 and 54 Eridani. With binoculars it was a pretty string of stars flowing from north to south, in a generally rich field. One note, in the below chart you will see there are green lines and black lines connecting stars. The green lines are those I added in for the old constellation. The black lines are from Sky Tools 3 to show the outline for Eridanus. So one can see they are somewhat intertwined. Give it a try sometime if your latitude and sky permits.
Sceptrum.jpg
Alan

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