Former constellations


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. 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 inasmuch as they have outlines that do not follow the exact lines of right ascension and declination.

Noteworthy former constellations

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, Puppis, and Vela. The new constellations were introduced in the 1763 star catalog Coelum 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 constellations Boötes and Draco. The Quadrantids meteor shower is named after this former constellation.

Remnant nomenclature

Following this precedent, the IAU Working Group on Star Names has named other stars after former constellations:
  • HD 85951 is named Felis from the former constellation Felis.
  • θ Aquilae A is named Antinous from the former constellation Antinous.
  • 58 Hydrae is named Solitaire from the former constellation Turdus Solitarius.
  • 44 Boötis A is named Quadrans from the former constellation Quadrans Muralis.
  • 7 Andromedae is named Honores from the former constellation Honores Friderici.
  • 102 Herculis is named Ramus from the former constellation Ramus Pomifer.
  • ι Trianguli Aa is named Triminus from the former constellation Triangulum Minus.
  • 49 Cassiopeiae A and 2 Ursae Minoris are named Rangifer and Tarandus, from the former constellation Rangifer, also called Tarandus.
  • BE Camelopardalis is named Custos from the former constellation Custos Messium.

    List of former constellations

The following table is compiled from historical and modern astronomical reference works, drawing especially on Richard Hinckley ''Allen’s Star-Names and Their Lore and Meaning, Ian Ridpath’s Star Tales, and later scholarly studies, including John C. Barentine’s The Lost Constellations.''
NameGenitiveMeaningDate createdCreated byNotable starsPositionDepiction
AnguillaAnguillaeEel1754John Hillε Equulei, ε, κ Delphini, 66 Aquilae, υ Sagittarii, α, δ, ε Scutibetween Equuleus, Delphinus, Aquila and Serpens-
Anser AmericanusAnseris AmericaniAmerican Goose1870sListWhere Tucana is now-
AntinousAntinoiAntinousEmperor Hadrianδ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ and ν AquilaeSouthern Aquila
ApesApiumBees 1612Petrus Plancius33, 35 Arietis, Lilli Borea and Bharanibetween Perseus and Aries-
ApisApisBee 1598Petrus PlanciusListwhere Musca is now
AraneaAraneaeLong-Legged Spider1754John Hill53, 55, 57, 61, 63, 68, 69, 75, 83, 87, y Virginis and HD 120544between Virgo and Corvus-
Argo NavisArgus NavisThe Ship Argo Claudius PtolemyList where Carina, Puppis and Vela reside now
Asselli and PraesepeAssellorum, PraesepisDionysus's Asses and Manger AratusAsellus Borealis and Asellus Australismiddle part of Cancer-
Asterion and CharaAsterii, CharaeNorthern and Southern Dogs in Canes Venatici1690Johannes Hevelius.Cor Caroli and β Canum Venaticorumwhere Canes Venatici is now-
Battery of VoltaBattery1807Thomas Young1 and 9 Pegasibetween Delphinus and Pegasus
BufoBufonisToad1754John Hill58 Hydrae, Sigma Libraetail of Hydra
Cancer MinorCancri MinorisLesser Crab1613Petrus Plancius68, 74, 81, 85 Geminorum and HIP 36616south-western Gemini
Capra and HaediCaprae, HaedorumGoat Amalthea and the Kids Aratusζ and η Aurigaeeastern Auriga-
Caesaris ThronusCaesaris ThroniThrone of Caesar44 BCAugustus CaesarNorth of Cancer-
CerberusCerberiCerberus 1690Johannes Hevelius93, 95, 102 ‍and ‍109 Herculiseastern Hercules
Cor Caroli Regis MartyrisCordis CaroliCharles's Heart1673Charles ScarboroughCor Carolicentral Canes Venatici-
Corona FirmianaCoronae FirmianaeCorona Borealis renamed to honor Count Leopold Anton von Firmian1730Corbinianus ThomasListwhere Corona Borealis is now
Custos MessiumCustodis MessiumKeeper of harvests1775Jérôme Lalande23, 47, 49, 50 Cassiopeiae, γ, CS Camelopardalisbetween Cassiopeia and Camelopardalis
DeltotonDeltotiDelta 1540Petrus ApianusMothallah, β and γ TrianguliTriangulum-
DentaliumDentaliiTooth Shell1754John Hill69, 71 Aquilae, 4, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 21 Aquariibetween Aquila and Aquarius
Duae AlaeDuarum AlarumTwo Wings1532Petrus ApianusBetween Cygnus and Draco-
FelisFelisCat1799Jérôme LalandeG, I Hydrae, Felis, HD 82573 and HD 78702southern Hydra
Frederici HonoresFrederici HonorumFrederick's Honors1787Johann Elert Bodeι, κ, λ, ο, and ψ AndromedaeNortheastern Andromeda
GallusGalliRooster1613Petrus Planciusη Canis Majoris, τ Canis Majoris, and HD 56342Northern Puppis
Gladii Electorales SaxoniciGladiorum Electoralium SaxonicorumCrossed Swords of the Electorate of Saxony1684Gottfried KirchBetween Boötes, Leo, Scutum, and Virgo
Globus AerostaticusGlobi AerostaticiHot air balloon1798Jérôme Lalande
GryphitesGryphitisGryphaea shellfish1754John Hill---
HippocampusHippocampiSea Horse1754John HillBetween Eridanus, Taurus, and Cetus
HirudoHirudinisLeech1754John HillNorthern Orion
JordanusJordaniRiver Jordan1613Petrus Plancius
Leo PalatinusLeonis PalatiniLion to honor the Elector Palatine Charles Theodore and his wife Elisabeth Auguste1785Karl-Joseph König
LiliumLiliiFleur de Lys 1679Augustin Royer/P. Anthelme
LimaxLimacisSlug1754John Hill
Linum PisciumLini PisciumThe line connecting the fish 1590Thomas Hood
Lochium FunisLochii FunisLog line 1801Johann Elert Bode
LumbricusLumbriciEarthworm1754John Hill
Machina ElectricaMachinae ElectricaeElectricity generator1800Johann Elert Bode
MalusMaliMast1844John HerschelListWhere Pyxis is now-
ManisManisPangolin1754John HillBetween Andromeda, Lacerta, and Cygnus
Marmor SculptileMarmoris SculptilisBust of Columbus1810William Croswell
Mons MaenalusMontis MaenaliMount Mainalo1690Johannes HeveliusSouthern Boötes
Musca BorealisMuscae BorealisNorthern Fly1690Johannes Hevelius
NoctuaNoctuaeOwl1822Alexander Jamieson
Norma NiloticaNormae NiloticaeNilometer1822Alexander JamiesonWestern edge of Aquarius
Nubecula Major and Nubecula MinorNubeculae Majoris, Nubeculae MinorisMagellanic Clouds1603Johann Bayer---
Officina TypographicaOfficinae TypographicaePrintshop1801Johann Elert Bode
PatellaPatellaeLimpet1754John Hill---
PhaethonPhaethontisPhaethonAratus/Hyginus
PhoenicopterusPhoenicopteriFlamingo Petrus Plancius/Paulus MerulaListwhere Grus is now-
Pinna MarinaPinnae MarinaeMussel1754John Hill
Piscis NotusPiscis NotiSouthern Fish AratusListwhere Piscis Austrinus is now-
PlaustrumPlaustriChariot with 3 horses1524Petrus ApianusListBig Dipper
PluteumPluteiParapet 1881Richard AndreeListwhere Pictor is now-
PolophylaxPolophylacisGuardian of the Pole1592Petrus Plancius
Pomum ImperialePomi ImperialisLeopold's orb1688Gottfried Kirch
Psalterium GeorgiiPsalterii GeorgiiGeorge's Psaltery 1781Maximilian Hell
Quadrans MuralisQuadrantis MuralisMural Quadrant1795Jérôme Lalande
QuadratumQuadratiRhombus 1706Carel Allard
Quinque DromedariiQuinque DromedariorumFive Camels1532Petrus Apianusβ, γ, μ, ν and ξ DraconisSouthern Draco-
Ramus PomiferRami PomiferiApple-bearing Branch1690Johannes Hevelius
Robur CarolinumRoboris CaroliniCharles' Oak1679Edmund Halley
RosaRosaeRose1536Petrus Apianus
Sagitta AustralisSagittae AustralisSouthern Arrow1613Petrus Plancius
ScarabaeusScarabaeiRhinoceros Beetle1754John Hill
Sceptrum BrandenburgicumSceptri BrandenburgiciScepter of Brandenburg1688Gottfried Kirch
Sceptrum et Manus IustitiaeSceptri et Manus IustitiaeScepter and Hand of Justice1679Augustin Royerι, κ, λ, ο, and ψ AndromedaeNortheastern Andromeda, where Honores Fredirici was
Sciurus VolansSciuri VolantisFlying Squirrel 1810William Croswell
Sextans UraniaeSextantis UraniaeUrania's Sextant 1690Johannes Hevelius
Siren, Ceneus and LangSiren, Lapith Caeneus and LangUnknown/Willem Jansz Blaeuwhere Chamaeleon, Musca, Tucana and Triangulum Australe now are
SolariumSolariiSundial1822Alexander JamiesonReplacement for Reticulum
Sudarium VeronicaeSudarii VeronicaeSudarium of Veronica1643Antoine Marie Schyrle de Rheita
ο Leonis, ρ Leonis, β Sextantis, and ι Hydrae		--
Tarabellum and VexillumTarabelli, VexilliDrill and flag-like StandardMichael Scot
Between Leo, and Virgo		-
Tarandus or RangiferTarandi, RangiferiReindeer1736Pierre Charles LemonnierBetween Cassiopeia, and Camelopardalis-
Taurus PoniatoviiTauri PoniatoviiPoniatowski's Bull1777Marcin Poczobut---
Telescopium HerscheliiTelescopii HerscheliiHerschel's Telescope 1781Maximilian Hell---
Turris EiffelTurrisEiffel Tower1922Ezequiel de Moraes Lemeη Centauri, κ Centauri, β Lupi, δ Lupi, and ε Lupi,Between Centaurus and Lupus-
TestudoTestudinisTortoise1754John Hill13 Ceti, 14 Ceti, 20 Ceti, 42 Ceti, 27 Piscium, and 29 PisciumBetween Cetus and Pisces-
TigrisTigridisTigris River1613Petrus Plancius---
Triangulum MajusTrianguli MajorisLarge Triangle 1690Johannes HeveliusListwhere Triangulum is now-
Triangulum MinusTrianguli MinorisSmall Triangle1690Johannes Hevelius---
Triangulus AntarcticusTrianguli AntarcticiObsolete name for Triangulum Australe1589Petrus Plancius---
Tubus Herschelii MinorTubi Herschelii MinorisHerschel's Reflector1781Maximilian Hell---
Turdus SolitariusTurdi SolitariiSolitary Thrush. Named in honor of the Rodrigues solitaire, an extinct flightless bird related to the dodo.1776Pierre Charles Lemonnier---
UranoscopusUranoscopiStar-Gazer fish1754John Hill---
UrnaUrnaeUrn of Aquarius1596Zacharias Bornmann---
VespaVespaeWasp 1624Jakob Bartsch---
XiphiasXiphiaeSwordfish 1627Johannes KeplerListWhere Dorado is now-
Triangula, Triangulum, Catuli, Corona, Corolla, Piscis, Camelus, Vulpes, Equus, Delphin, Ursa Minor, Canis, Felis, Leaena and CervusTriangulae, Trianguli, Catulorum, Coronae, Corollae, Piscis, Cameli, Vulpis, Equi, Delphinis, Ursae Minoris, Canis, Felis, Leaenae, CerviObsolete 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 Monoceros1873Richard Proctor---