Constellations: Recent Episodes
Martin Lunn
I am a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and currently sit on the council. I presented a series of astronomy talks on YouTube called ‘The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Cosmos. I also present lectures on cruise ships all over the world, and to various clubs and societies at home. I have a monthly astronomy feature on BBC Radio York and my own weekly Astronomy Show on a community radio station called Drystone Radio, which can be heard on line. I also write a monthly ‘What’s in the night sky?’ feature for the Craven Herald newspaper which covers the Yorkshire Dales.
Introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the 1680s this faint constellation was orginally called Vulpecula cum Anser, the Fox and Goose. Since then however the goose is no more!!
This constellation on the bordres with Carina was introduced on the Uranometria star map by Johann Bayer in 1603.
The 2nd largest constellation in the sky. many myths are associated with this constellation, which has usually been seen as a beautiful and virtuous maiden.
Formerly a part of the ancient constellation of Argo Navis, representing the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, until that vessel was broken up by the French astronomer Lacaille in the 1750s.
Ursa Minor contains the present North Pole Star which lies within one degree of the North Celestial Pole, this star is called Polaris.
The 3rd largest constellation in the sky. Its central feature is the seven stars that make up the shape variously called the Plough or Big Dipper, this is probably the best known of all the star patterns.
A constellation near the South Pole of the sky, introduced by Johann Bayer on his uranometria star chart of 1603.
A small but readily distinguishable constellation introduced in 1603 by the German astronomer Johann Bayer as a southern equivalent of the northern triangle, Triangulum.
A small but distictive constellation lying between Andromeda and Aries, consisiting of three main stars that form a thin delta shape; the Greek referred to it as Deltoton.
A constellation invented by the Frenchman Lacaille to honour the most important of astronomical instruments. As with so many of Lacaille's constellations it is faint and contrived.
One of the most ancient constellations, Taurus has been known to peoples throughout the world since the dawn of civilization, for the bull's strength and fertility mean it has always held an honoured place in ceremony and religion.
A barren constellation south of Leo, introduced in the 1680s by the Polish astronomer Hevelius. It commemorates the instrument he used for observing star positions.
An ancient constellation, representing a serpent wound around the body of the serpent bearer, Ophiuchus. In fact Serpens is split into two halves, one either side of Ophiuchus, Serpens Caput, the Head and Serpens Cauda, the Tail.
A faint constellation between Aquila and Serpens, introduced in the 1680s by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in honour of his patron, King John Sobieski III.
One of the faint and half forgotten constellations introduced in the 1750s by Lacaille to fill in the southern hemisphere. This constellation represents a sculptor's workshop, for reasons that remain obscure.
A resplendent constellation lying ina rich area of the Milky Way, and packed with excitingobjects for people to see either with the naked eye or small telescopes.
An ancient constellation depicting a centaur, half man, half beast, with a raised bow and arrow. Sagittarius has been visualised this way since at least the times of ancient Greece.
Despite its small size, it is the 3rd smallest constellation in the sky, this distinctive arrow shaped group was known to the ancient Greeks.
A small faint constellation introduced in the 1750s by Lacaille to commemorate an instrument known as the reticule which he used for measuring the positions on his survey of the southern sky.
The smallest and least impressive of the four parts into which the constellation of Argo Navis was divided in the 1750s by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille.
This is the laregest of the four sections into which the ancient constellation of Argo Navis, the ship of the Argonauts was dismembered in the 1750s by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille.
Sometimes also called Piscis Australis, this constellation has been known since ancient times and is often represented as a fish drinking the flow of water from the urn Aquarius.
An ancient constellation representing a apir of fishes tied by the their tails, the know being marked by the star alpha Piscium.
A faint constellation overshadowed by the neighbouring brilliant star Canopus in Carine to one side, and the Large Magellanic Cloud in Dorado on the other. It was invented by Lacaille in the 1750s.
An inconspicuous constellation lying near the southern end of Eridanus representing the mythological bird that was regularly reborn from its own ashes. It was introduced by Johann Bayer in 1603.
Perseus was the hero of Greek mythology who rescued the chained Andromeda from the clutches of the sea monster Cetus. Previously Perseus had slain Medusa the Gorgan, whose head he is pictured holding in one hand.
The winged horse of Greek mythology, born from the blood of Medusa afetr she was slain was Perseus, who lies nearby in the sky.
A constellation introduced on the 1603 star map,the Uranometria produced by the German astronomer Johann Bayer. It is one of several celestial birds in this region of the sky.
Without doubt the brightest and grandest constellation in the sky, crammed with objects of interest. Orion's impressiveness stems in large measure from the fact that it is an area of star formation in a nearby arm of the Galaxy centred on the famous Orion Nebula.
An ancient constellation, representing a man encoiled by a serpent (the constellation of Serpens)
The constellation that contains the south pole star. Despite this privileged position, Octans is faint and unremarkable. There is no southern equivalent of Polaris, the North Pole Star. The nearest star to the south pole is the faint star Sigma Octantis.
A Superfluous constellation invented in the 1750s by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, who populated the southern skies with several consetllations representing scientific instruments, in this case the surveyor's level.
A small constellation lying at the foot of the Southern Cross invented by Johann Bayer in 1603. Although it was orginally called Apis the Bee it is known today Musca the Fly.
A faint but fascinating constellation between Orion and Canis Minor. The constellationn was added in the 17th century.
Another of the faint and obscure constellations added by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Laaille in the 1750s.
A faint constellation introduced by Lacaille to commemorate the Table Mountain at the Cape of Good Hope, from whixh he surveyed the southern skies in the 1750s.
A constellation datin g from ancient times, representing the stringed instrument invented by Hermes and given by his half brother Apollo to Orpheus.
A decidedly obscure constellation, it was introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the late 17th century to fill the gap between Ursa Major and Auriga.
Lupus is stocked with numerous interesting objects, although it is often overlooked in favour of its more spectacular neighbours Scorpius and Centaurus
A small faint constellation of the zodiac, through which the Sun passes in November. The ancient Greeks knew it as the 'Claws of the Scorpion', but the Romans made it into a seperate constellation.
Lepus is a constellation known since ancient Greek time. It represents a Hare, located at the feet of it's hunter,Orion.
Leo Minor lies between the brighter Leo and Ursa Major, Johannes Hevelius, the Polish astronomer, introduced this constellation inn the late 17th century. There is little of interest in Leo Minor.
One of the few constellations that looks like the figure it is supposed to represent- in this case a crouching lion.
An inconspicuous constellation sandwiched between Cygnus and Andromeda, introduced in the late 17th century by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius
A constellation representing an American native Indian, introduced in 1603 on the star atlas of Johan Bayer. Indus contains no bright stars.
Johann Bayer introduced the this constellation in 1603. Alas there are no bright stars.
The largest constellation in the sky, but by no means easy to identify on account of its faintness. The heart of the Water Snake is marked by Alphard the only bright star, which is sometimes known as the solitary one.
One of the constellations representing mechanical instruments introduced in the 1750s by the Frenchman Laaille. Axs with so many of his constellations, Horologium is faint and obscure.
Hercules represents a Greek mythological hero, famous for hs 12 labours. Despite being the 5th largest constellation Hercules is not one of the most prominent.
A constellation introduced on the 1603 star atla of Johann Bayer. It represents a water bird, the crane, although others have seen here a flamingo.
A constellation familiar since ancient times, representing a pair of twins holding hands. We know them as Castor and Pollux, members of the Argonauts' crew and of mixed parentage: although both sons of Leda, Castor's father was King Tyndareus of Sparta, while the father of Pollux was the god Zeus.
A barren constellation introduced in the mid 18th century by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, orginally under the name of Fornax Chemica, the Chemical Furnace.
An extensive constellation, the 6th largest in the sky, but often over looked because of its faintness. It meanders from Taurus in the north to Hydrus in the south.
The second smallest constellation in the sky, Equuleus aeems to have orginated with the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE.
Dragons feature in many ancient legends, and so it is not suprising to find such a monster in the sky. Its body lies coiled around the North Star.
This constellation alos commonly known as the Swordfish was introduced in 1603 by Johann Bayer.
A constellation which orginated in Greek times, celebrating the long standing relationship between mankind and this most intelligent of sea creatures.
Cygnus represents a swan flying down the Milky Way. Swans feature in many legends, including that of Zeus who visited Leda, wife of King Tyndareus of Sparta, in the guise of a swan.
The smallest constellation in the sky, but one of the most celebrated and distinctive. It was formed from some of the stars of Centaurus by various astronomers in the 16th century.
An ancient constellation representing the goblet of Apollo, and associated in legend with the neighbouring constellation of Corvus the Crow.
The origin of this faint constellation dates back at least to the ancient Greeks who called it the Raven. In legend,Corvus is associated with the neighbouring constellations of Crater the Cup and Hydra the Water Snake.
An ancient constellation representing the jewelled crown given as a wedding present by Bacchus to Ariadne, and cast by him into the sky when she died.
The southern conterpart to the Northern Crown (Corona Borealis). Corona Australis has been known since the times of the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century CE.
This faint constellation represents the flowing locks of Queen Berenice of Egypt, who cut off her hair in gratitude to the gods for the safe return from battle of her husband Ptolemy Euergetes.
A constellation adjoining Puppis, representing the dove that followed Noah's Ark, or the dove that the Argonauts sent ahead to help them pass safely between the Symplegades, the clashing rocks, at the mouth of the Black Sea,
Another of the small and obscure southern constellations introduced by the French astronomer \nicolas Louis de Lacaille.
A faint and undistinguished constellation. It was introduced into the southern skies by Johann Bayer in 1603.
An ancient constellation depicting the sea monster that threatened to devour Andromeda before she was rescued by Perseus
An ancient constellation representing KIng Cepheus of Ethiopia, husband of Cassiopeia and father of Andromeda, themselves represented by nearby constellations.
A large and rich constellation representing a centaur in Greek mythology, reputedly the scholarly centaur Chiron who was the tutuor of many Greek heroes, and who according to legend invented the main constellations.
In legend, Cassiopeia was the beautiful but boastful Queen of Ethiopia, wife of King Cepheus and mother of Andromeda.
This constellation was orginally part of the extensive Argo Navis, the ship of the Argonauts, until subdivided in the 1750s by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille. As part of Argo Navis, Carina's origin goes back to Greek times, and is associated with the legend of Jason and the Argonauts who sought the Golden Fleece.
Capricornus is depicted as a goat with a fish tail. Amphibious creatures feature prominently in ancient legends, and the origin of Capricornus certainly dates back to ancient times.
An ancient constellation, representing one of the two dogs (the other being Canis Minor) following at the heels of Orion the Hunter
A constellation introduced by the Polish astronomer Hevelius in the 1680s, consisiting of some faint stars below the tail of Ursa Major the Great Bear
Cancer represents the crab which attacked Hercules when he was fighting with the Hydra; the luckless crab was crushed underfoot by the mighty Hercules, but was subsequently placed in the heavens.
Camelopardalis is without doubt one of the dullest of the northern constellations. It was drawn on a map in 1624 by the German astronomer Jakob Bartsch. It has been said that if you come across an area of the sky with nothing in it, you will have located the Giraffe!
An obscure, almost irrelevant constellation at the foot of Eridanus, introduced in the 1750s by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille during his mapping of the southern sky.
An ancient constellation, representing a herdsman driving a bear(Ursa Major) around the sky; he is often depicted holding the leash of the Hunting dogs Canes Venatici.
A large and prominent constellation, known since ancient Babylonian and Greek times as a charioteer.
A constellation whose origin dates back to ancient times, lying between Taurus and Andromeda. In legend, Aries represented the Ram whose golden fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts.
This constellation, although relatively faint and little known, orginated in Greek and Roman times,when it was visualised as the altar on which Centaurus the Centaur, was about to sacrifice Lupus the Wolf.
A constellation dating from ancient times, representing the bird that in mythology was the companion of Jupiter, and often carried his thunderbolts.
Aquarius is one of the most ancient constellations. The Babylonians saw in this area of the sky the figure of a man pouring water from a jar, and it is still represented this way today.
A faint constellation near the south pole, that was introduced by the German astronomer Johann Bayer in 1603 on his Uranometria star chart. THis was the first star map to cover the entire sky.
An obscure southern hemisphere constellation introduced in 1763by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille to commemorate the air pump invented by the English physicis Robert Boyle.
Andromeda represents the daughter of Queen Cassiopeia who was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus until saved by Perseus, whom she subsequently married.