Former constellations

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). 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. Many former constellations had complex Latinised names after objects, people, or mythological or zoological creatures. 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. 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.

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). 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 Anguillae Eel 1754 John Hill
Antinous Antinoi Antinous 132 Emperor Hadrian
Apes Apium Bees (renamed to Vespa, then Lilium, then to Musca Borealis) 1612 Petrus Plancius
Apis Apis Bee (obsolete name and renamed to Musca Australis, and then shortened to Musca) 1598 Petrus Plancius
Aranea Araneae Long-Legged Spider 1754 John Hill
Argo Navis Argus Navis The Ship Argo (now divided into Carina, Puppis, and Vela) 2nd century Claudius Ptolemy
Asselli and Praesepe Assellorum, Praesepis Dionysus's Asses (Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis) and Manger (Beehive Cluster) 3rd century BC Aratus
Asterion and Chara Northern and Southern Dogs in Canes Venatici 1690 Johannes Hevelius.
Battery of Volta Battery 1807 Thomas Young
Bufo Bufonis Toad 1754 John Hill
Cancer Minor Cancri Minoris Lesser Crab 1613 Petrus Plancius
Capra and Haedi Caprae, Haedorum Goat Amalthea (stars surrounding Capella) and the Kids (Haedus I and Haedus II) 3rd century BC Aratus
Cerberus Cerberi Cerberus (guardian dog of Hades) 1690 Johannes Hevelius
Cor Caroli Regis Martyris Cordis Caroli Charles's Heart 1673 Charles Scarborough
Corona Firmiana Coronae Firmianae Corona Borealis renamed to honor Count Leopold Anton von Firmian 1730 Corbinianus Thomas
Custos Messium Custodis Messium Keeper of harvests 1775 Jérôme Lalande
Deltoton Delta (obsolete name for Triangulum Boreale) 1540 Petrus Apianus
Dentalium Dentalii Tooth Shell 1754 John Hill
Felis Felis Cat 1799 Jérôme Lalande
Frederici Honores Frederici Honorum Frederick's Honors 1787 Johann Elert Bode
Gallus Galli Rooster 1613 Petrus Plancius
Gladii Electorales Saxonici Gladiorum Electoralium Saxonicorum Crossed Swords of the Electorate of Saxony 1684 Gottfried Kirch
Globus Aerostaticus Globi Aerostatici Hot air balloon 1798 Jérôme Lalande
Gryphites Gryphitis Gryphaea shellfish 1754 John Hill
Hippocampus Hippocampi Sea Horse 1754 John Hill
Hirudo Hirudinis Leech 1754 John Hill
Jordanus Jordani River Jordan 1613 Petrus Plancius
Leo Palatinus Leonis Palatini Lion to honor the Elector Palatine Charles Theodore and his wife Elisabeth Auguste 1785 Karl-Joseph König
Lilium Lilii Fleur de Lys (renamed Musca Borealis) 1679 Augustin Royer/P. Anthelme
Limax Limacis Slug 1754 John Hill
Linum Piscium Lini Piscium The line connecting the fish (renamed by Bode in 1801 from Hevelius's Linum Austrinum and Linum Boreum; known as Lineola too) 1590 Thomas Hood
Lochium Funis Lochii Funis Log line (renamed Linea Nautica in 1888 by Eliza A. Bowen) 1801 Johann Elert Bode
Lumbricus Lumbrici Earthworm 1754 John Hill
Machina Electrica Machinae Electricae Electricity generator 1800 Johann Elert Bode
Malus Mali Mast 1844 John Herschel
Manis Manis Pangolin 1754 John Hill
Marmor Sculptile Marmoris Sculptilis Bust of Columbus 1810 William Croswell
Mons Maenalus Montis Maenali Mount Mainalo 1690 Johannes Hevelius
Musca Borealis Muscae Borealis Northern Fly 1690 Johannes Hevelius
Noctua Noctuae Owl 1822 Alexander Jamieson
Nubecula Major and Nubecula Minor Nubeculae Majoris, Nubeculae Minoris Magellanic Clouds 1603 Johann Bayer
Officina Typographica Officinae Typographicae Printshop 1801 Johann Elert Bode
Patella Patellae Limpet 1754 John Hill
Phaethon Phaethontis Phaethon Middle Ages Aratus/Hyginus
Phoenicopterus Phoenicopteri Flamingo (an obsolete name for Grus) early 17th century Petrus Plancius/Paul Merula
Pinna Marina Pinnae Marinae Mussel 1754 John Hill
Piscis Notus Piscis Noti Southern Fish (obsolete name for Piscis Austrinus) 3rd century BC Aratus
Pluteum Plutei Parapet (obsolete for Pictor) 1881 Richard Andree
Polophylax Polophylacis Guardian of the Pole 1592 Petrus Plancius
Pomum Imperiale Pomi Imperialis Leopold's orb 1688 Gottfried Kirch
Psalterium Georgii Psalterii Georgii George's Psaltery (renamed to Harp Georgii by Lalande) 1781 Maximilian Hell
Quadrans Muralis Quadrantis Muralis Mural Quadrant 1795 Jérôme Lalande
Quadratum Quadrati Rhombus (obsolete name for Reticulum Rhomboidalis) 1706 Carel Allard
Ramus Pomifer Rami Pomiferi Apple-bearing Branch 1690 Johannes Hevelius
Robur Carolinum Roboris Carolini Charles' Oak 1679 Edmund Halley
Rosa Rosae Rose 1536 Petrus Apianus
Sagitta Australis Sagittae Australis Southern Arrow 1613 Petrus Plancius
Scarabaeus Scarabaei Rhinoceros Beetle 1754 John Hill
Sceptrum Brandenburgicum Sceptri Brandenburgici Scepter of Brandenburg 1688 Gottfried Kirch
Sceptrum et Manus Iustitiae Sceptri et Manus Iustitiae Scepter and Hand of Justice 1679 Augustin Royer
Sciurus Volans Sciuri Volantis Flying Squirrel (now part of Camelopardalis) 1810 William Croswell
Sextans Uraniae Sextantis Uraniae Urania's Sextant (obsolete name for Sextans) 1690 Johannes Hevelius
Siren, Ceneus and Lang Siren, Lapith Caeneus and Toucan early 17th century Unknown/Willem Jansz Blaeu
Solarium Solarii Sundial 1822 Alexander Jamieson
Sudarium Veronicae Sudarii Veronicae Sudarium of Veronica 1643 Antoine Marie Schyrle de Rheita
Tarabellum and Vexillum Tarabelli, Vexilli Drill and flag-like Standard 12th century Michael Scot
Tarandus or Rangifer Tarandi, Rangiferi Reindeer 1736 Pierre Charles Lemonnier
Taurus Poniatovii Tauri Poniatovii Poniatowski's Bull 1777 Martin Poczobut
Telescopium Herschelii Telescopii Herschelii Herschel's Telescope (renamed from Tubus Herschelii Major by Bode in 1801) 1781 Maximilian Hell
Testudo Testudinis Tortoise 1754 John Hill
Tigris Tigridis Tigris River 1613 Petrus Plancius
Triangulum Majus Trianguli Majoris Large Triangle (obsolete name for Triangulum) 1690 Johannes Hevelius
Triangulum Minus Trianguli Minoris Small Triangle 1690 Johannes Hevelius
Triangulus Antarcticus Trianguli Antarctici Obsolete name for Triangulum Australe 1589 Petrus Plancius
Tubus Herschelii Minor Tubi Herschelii Minoris Herschel's Reflector 1781 Maximilian Hell
Turdus Solitarius Turdi Solitarii Solitary Thrush (renamed to Mocking Bird and then to Noctua). Named in honor of the Rodrigues solitaire, an extinct flightless bird related to the dodo. 1776 Pierre Charles Lemonnier
Uranoscopus Uranoscopi Star-Gazer fish 1754 John Hill
Urna Urnae Urn of Aquarius 1596 Zacharias Bornmann
Vespa Vespae Wasp (an obsolete name for Musca Borealis) 1624 Jakob Bartsch
Triangula, Triangulum, Catuli, Corona, Corolla, Piscis, Camelus, Vulpes, Equus, Delphin, Ursa Minor, Canis, Felis, Leaena and Cervus Triangulae, Trianguli, Catulorum, Coronae, Corollae, Piscis, Cameli, Vulpis, Equi, Delphinis, Ursae Minoris, Canis, Felis, Leaenae, Cervi Obsolete 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 Monoceros 1873 Richard Proctor

See also