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Former constellations are old historicalWesternconstellations that for various reasons are no longer widely recognised or are notofficially recognised by theInternational 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 complexLatinised names after objects, people, or mythological or zoological creatures.[2] Others with unwieldy names were shortened for convenience. For example, Scutum Sobiescianum was reduced toScutum, Mons Mensae toMensa, and Apparatus Sculptoris toSculptor.
Some of theNorthern Sky's former constellations were placed in the less populated regions between the traditional brighter constellations just to fill gaps. In theSouthern Sky, new constellations were often created from about the 15th century by voyagers who began journeying south of theEquator. 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, orstar catalogues.
The 88 modern constellation names and boundaries were standardised byEugene 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 inasmuch as they have outlines that do not follow the exact lines ofright ascension anddeclination.[4]
Argo Navis is the only constellation fromPtolemy's original list of 48 constellations that is no longer officially recognized. Due to its large size, it was split into three constellations byNicolas Louis de Lacaille:Carina (the keel),Puppis (thepoop deck), andVela (the sails).[5] The new constellations were introduced in the 1763 star catalogCoelum Australe Stelliferum, which was published soon after de Lacaille's death.
Quadrans Muralis was originally created in 1795, placed in the northern skies between the still-accepted constellationsBoötes andDraco. TheQuadrantidsmeteor shower is named after this former constellation.
Following this precedent, theIAU Working Group on Star Names has named other stars after former constellations:
| Name | Genitive | Meaning | Date created | Created by | Notablestars | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla | Anguillae | Eel | 1754 | John Hill | ε Equulei,ε,κ Delphini,66 Aquilae,υ Sagittarii,α,δ,ε Scuti | betweenEquuleus,Delphinus,Aquila andSerpens |
| Anser Americanus | Anser Americani | American Goose | 1870s | List | WhereTucana is now | |
| Antinous | Antinoi | Antinous | 132 | Emperor Hadrian[9] | δ,η,θ,ι,κ,λ andν Aquilae | Southern Aquila |
| Apes | Apium | Bees (renamed to Vespa, then Lilium, then toMusca Borealis) | 1612 | Petrus Plancius | 33,35 Arietis,Lilli Borea andBharani | betweenPerseus andAries |
| Apis | Apis | Bee (obsolete name and renamed to Musca Australis, and then shortened toMusca) | 1598 | Petrus Plancius | List | whereMusca is now |
| Aranea | Araneae | Long-Legged Spider | 1754 | John Hill | 53,55,57,61,63,68,69,75,83,87,y Virginis andHD 120544 | betweenVirgo andCorvus |
| Argo Navis | Argus Navis | The ShipArgo (now divided intoCarina,Puppis, andVela) | 2nd century | Claudius Ptolemy | List (Carina,Puppis,Vela) | whereCarina,Puppis andVela reside now |
| Asselli andPraesepe | Assellorum, Praesepis | Dionysus'sAsses (Asellus Borealis andAsellus Australis) andManger (Beehive Cluster) | 3rd century BC | Aratus[10][11] | Asellus Borealis andAsellus Australis | middle part ofCancer |
| Asterion andChara | Northern and SouthernDogs inCanes Venatici | 1690 | Johannes Hevelius.[12] | Cor Caroli andβ Canum Venaticorum | whereCanes Venatici is now | |
| Battery of Volta | Battery | 1807 | Thomas Young | 1 and9 Pegasi | betweenDelphinus andPegasus | |
| Bufo | Bufonis | Toad | 1754 | John Hill | 58 Hydrae,Sigma Librae | tail ofHydra |
| Cancer Minor | Cancri Minoris | LesserCrab | 1613 | Petrus Plancius | 68,74,81,85 Geminorum andHIP 36616 | south-westernGemini |
| Capra andHaedi | Caprae, Haedorum | GoatAmalthea (stars surroundingCapella) and the Kids (Haedus I andHaedus II) | 3rd century BC | Aratus[13] | ζ andη Aurigae | easternAuriga |
| Caesaris Thronus | Throne ofCaesar | 44 BC | Augustus Caesar | North of Cancer | ||
| Cerberus | Cerberi | Cerberus (guardian dog ofHades) | 1690 | Johannes Hevelius | 93,95,102 and 109 Herculis | easternHercules |
| Cor Caroli Regis Martyris | Cordis Caroli | Charles'sHeart | 1673 | Charles Scarborough[14] | Cor Caroli | centralCanes Venatici |
| Corona Firmiana | Coronae Firmianae | Corona Borealis renamed to honorCount Leopold Anton von Firmian | 1730 | Corbinianus Thomas | List | whereCorona Borealis is now |
| Custos Messium | Custodis Messium | Keeper of harvests | 1775 | Jérôme Lalande[15] | 23,47,49,50 Cassiopeiae,γ,CS Camelopardalis | betweenCassiopeia andCamelopardalis |
| Deltoton | Delta (obsolete name forTriangulum Boreale) | 1540 | Petrus Apianus[16] | Mothallah,β andγ Trianguli | Triangulum | |
| Dentalium | Dentalii | Tooth Shell | 1754 | John Hill | 69,71 Aquilae,4,11,12,15,16 and21 Aquarii | betweenAquila andAquarius |
| Felis | Felis | Cat | 1799 | Jérôme Lalande | G,I Hydrae,Felis,HD 82573 andHD 78702 | southernHydra |
| Frederici Honores | Frederici Honorum | Frederick's Honors | 1787 | Johann Elert Bode[17] | ι,κ,λ,ο, andψ Andromedae | NortheasternAndromeda |
| Gallus | Galli | Rooster | 1613 | Petrus Plancius | η Canis Majoris,τ Canis Majoris, andHD 56342 | Northern Puppis |
| Gladii Electorales Saxonici | Gladiorum Electoralium Saxonicorum | Crossed Swords of the Electorate of Saxony | 1684 | Gottfried Kirch | Between Boötes, Leo, Scutum, and Virgo | |
| Globus Aerostaticus | Globi Aerostatici | Hot air balloon | 1798 | Jérôme Lalande[18] | ||
| Gryphites | Gryphitis | Gryphaea shellfish | 1754 | John Hill | ||
| Hippocampus | Hippocampi | Sea Horse | 1754 | John Hill | Between Eridanus, Taurus, and Cetus | |
| Hirudo | Hirudinis | Leech | 1754 | John Hill | ||
| Jordanus | Jordani | RiverJordan | 1613 | Petrus Plancius | ||
| Leo Palatinus | Leonis Palatini | Lion to honor theElector PalatineCharles Theodore and his wifeElisabeth Auguste | 1785 | Karl-Joseph König | ||
| Lilium | Lilii | Fleur de Lys (renamedMusca Borealis) | 1679 | Augustin Royer/P. Anthelme | ||
| Limax | Limacis | Slug | 1754 | John Hill | ||
| Linum Piscium | Lini Piscium | The line connecting the fish (renamed byBode in 1801 from Hevelius's Linum Austrinum and Linum Boreum;[19] known as Lineola too) | 1590 | Thomas Hood | ||
| Lochium Funis | Lochii Funis | Log line (renamed Linea Nautica in 1888 by Eliza A. Bowen[20]) | 1801 | Johann Elert Bode[21] | ||
| Lumbricus | Lumbrici | Earthworm | 1754 | John Hill | ||
| Machina Electrica | Machinae Electricae | Electricity generator | 1800 | Johann Elert Bode[22] | ||
| Malus | Mali | Mast | 1844 | John Herschel | List | WherePyxis is now |
| Manis | Manis | Pangolin | 1754 | John Hill | Between Andromeda, Lacerta, and Cygnus | |
| Marmor Sculptile | Marmoris Sculptilis | Bust ofColumbus | 1810 | William Croswell | ||
| Mons Maenalus | Montis Maenali | MountMainalo | 1690 | Johannes Hevelius[23] | Southern Boötes | |
| Musca Borealis | Muscae Borealis | NorthernFly | 1690 | Johannes Hevelius | ||
| Noctua | Noctuae | Owl | 1822 | Alexander Jamieson | ||
| Norma Nilotica | Normae Nilotica | Nilometer | 1822 | Alexander Jamieson | Western edge of Aquarius | |
| Nubecula Major andNubecula Minor[citation needed] | Nubeculae Majoris, Nubeculae Minoris | Magellanic Clouds | 1603 | Johann Bayer | ||
| Officina Typographica | Officinae Typographicae | Printshop | 1801 | Johann Elert Bode[24] | ||
| Patella | Patellae | Limpet | 1754 | John Hill | ||
| Phaethon | Phaethontis | Phaethon | Middle Ages | Aratus/Hyginus | ||
| Phoenicopterus | Phoenicopteri | Flamingo (an obsolete name forGrus) | early 17th century[25] | Petrus Plancius/Paulus Merula | List | whereGrus is now |
| Pinna Marina | Pinnae Marinae | Mussel | 1754 | John Hill | ||
| Piscis Notus | Piscis Noti | SouthernFish (obsolete name forPiscis Austrinus) | 3rd century BC | Aratus | List | wherePiscis Austrinus is now |
| Plaustrum | Plaustei | Chariot with 3 horses | 1524 | Petrus Apianus | List | Big Dipper |
| Pluteum | Plutei | Parapet (obsolete forPictor) | 1881 | Richard Andree | List | wherePictor is now |
| Polophylax | Polophylacis | Guardian of thePole | 1592 | Petrus Plancius | ||
| Pomum Imperiale | Pomi Imperialis | Leopold's orb | 1688 | Gottfried Kirch | ||
| Psalterium Georgii | Psalterii Georgii | George'sPsaltery (renamed to Harp Georgii byLalande) | 1781 | Maximilian Hell[26] | ||
| Quadrans Muralis | Quadrantis Muralis | Mural Quadrant | 1795 | Jérôme Lalande[27] | ||
| Quadratum | Quadrati | Rhombus (obsolete name forReticulum Rhomboidalis) | 1706 | Carel Allard | ||
| Quinque Dromedarii | The Dragon's Head | 1532 | Petrus Apianus | NearCepheus | ||
| Ramus Pomifer | Rami Pomiferi | Apple-bearing Branch | 1690 | Johannes Hevelius[28] | ||
| Robur Carolinum | Roboris Carolini | Charles' Oak | 1679 | Edmund Halley[29] | ||
| Rosa | Rosae | Rose | 1536 | Petrus Apianus | ||
| Sagitta Australis | Sagittae Australis | SouthernArrow | 1613 | Petrus Plancius | ||
| Scarabaeus | Scarabaei | Rhinoceros Beetle | 1754 | John Hill | ||
| Sceptrum Brandenburgicum | Sceptri Brandenburgici | Scepter ofBrandenburg | 1688 | Gottfried Kirch[30] | ||
| Sceptrum et Manus Iustitiae | Sceptri et Manus Iustitiae | Scepter and Hand of Justice | 1679 | Augustin Royer | ι,κ,λ,ο, andψ Andromedae | Northeastern Andromeda, where Honores Fredirici was |
| Sciurus Volans | Sciuri Volantis | Flying Squirrel (now part ofCamelopardalis) | 1810 | William Croswell[31] | ||
| Sextans Uraniae | Sextantis Uraniae | Urania'sSextant (obsolete name forSextans) | 1690 | Johannes Hevelius | ||
| Siren, Ceneus and Lang | Siren,LapithCaeneus and Lang | early 17th century[32] | Unknown/Willem Jansz Blaeu | whereChamaeleon,Musca,Tucana andTriangulum Australe now are | ||
| Solarium | Solarii | Sundial | 1822 | Alexander Jamieson | Replacement for Reticulum | |
| Sudarium Veronicae | Sudarii Veronicae | Sudarium of Veronica | 1643 | Antoine Marie Schyrle de Rheita[33] | ||
| Tarabellum and Vexillum | Tarabelli, Vexilli | Drill andflag-like Standard | 12th century | Michael Scot[34] | Between Leo, and Virgo | |
| Tarandus orRangifer | Tarandi, Rangiferi | Reindeer | 1736 | Pierre Charles Lemonnier[35] | Between Cassiopeia, and Camelopardalis | |
| Taurus Poniatovii | Tauri Poniatovii | Poniatowski'sBull | 1777 | Marcin Poczobut[36] | ||
| Telescopium Herschelii | Telescopii Herschelii | Herschel'sTelescope (renamed from Tubus Herschelii Major byBode in 1801) | 1781 | Maximilian Hell[37] | ||
| Torre Eifell[38] | Eiffel Tower | 1922 | Ezequiel de Moraes Leme | η Centauri,κ Centauri,β Lupi,δ Lupi , andε Lupi, | BetweenCentaurus andLupus | |
| Testudo | Testudinis | Tortoise | 1754 | John Hill | 13 Ceti,14 Ceti,20 Ceti,42 Ceti,27 Piscium, and29 Piscium | Between Cetus and Pisces |
| Tigris | Tigridis | Tigris River | 1613 | Petrus Plancius | ||
| Triangulum Majus | Trianguli Majoris | Large Triangle (obsolete name forTriangulum) | 1690 | Johannes Hevelius | List | whereTriangulum is now |
| Triangulum Minus | Trianguli Minoris | Small Triangle | 1690 | Johannes Hevelius[39] | ||
| Triangulus Antarcticus | Trianguli Antarctici | Obsolete name forTriangulum Australe | 1589 | Petrus Plancius | ||
| Tubus Herschelii Minor | Tubi Herschelii Minoris | Herschel'sReflector | 1781 | Maximilian Hell | ||
| Turdus Solitarius | Turdi Solitarii | Solitary Thrush (renamed to Mocking Bird and then toNoctua). Named in honor of theRodrigues solitaire, an extinct flightless bird related to the dodo. | 1776 | Pierre Charles Lemonnier[40] | ||
| Uranoscopus | Uranoscopi | Star-Gazer fish | 1754 | John Hill | ||
| Urna | Urnae | Urn ofAquarius | 1596 | Zacharias Bornmann | ||
| Vespa | Vespae | Wasp (an obsolete name forMusca Borealis) | 1624 | Jakob Bartsch[41] | ||
| Xiphias | Swordfish (An obsolete name forDorado) | 1627 | Johannes Kepler | List | Where Dorado is now | |
| Triangula,Triangulum,Catuli,Corona,Corolla,Piscis,Camelus,Vulpes,Equus,Delphin,Ursa Minor,Canis,Felis,Leaena andCervus | Triangulae, Trianguli, Catulorum, Coronae, Corollae, Piscis, Cameli, Vulpis, Equi, Delphinis, Ursae Minoris, Canis, Felis, Leaenae, Cervi | Obsolete names forTriangulum 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 andMonoceros | 1873 | Richard Proctor[42] |
