Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Hevelius Introduced Vulpecula the Fox Constellation in 1687


Summary: Johannes Hevelius introduced Vulpecula the Fox constellation in 1687 as a portrait of a fox with a goose, located within the Summer Triangle asterism.


Anser and Vulpecula with Sagitta the Arrow (center) and with Hercules (upper left) and Cerberus (left center); Hevelius's depiction from perspective of outsider looking into celestial globe reverses actual east-west appearance of sky for Earth-based observer as insider looking outward at celestial globe; J. Hevelii, Firmamentum Sobiescianum (MDCXC [1690]), Fig. L: Public Domain, via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara

Seventeenth-century Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius introduced Vulpecula the Fox constellation in 1687 as a starry fox with its captured goose located within the Summer Triangle asterism.
Johannes Hevelius (Polish: Jan Heweliusz; Jan. 28, 1611-Jan. 28, 1687) offered Vulpecula the Fox constellation as one of 10 constellations that he had visualized in Prodromus Astronomiae. The three-volume compendium comprised the Prodromus; a star catalogue, Catalogus Stellarum Fixarum; and a star atlas, Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia. Hevelius's death left the Prodromus Astronomiae unfinished and the catalogue and star atlas, which had been printed in 1687, unpublished. The astronomer-selenographer's wife, Polish astronomer Elisabeth Catherina Koopmann Hevelius (Polish: Elżbieta Koopman Heweliusz; Jan. 17, 1647–Dec. 22, 1693), completed the Prodromus and then published all three volumes in 1690 under the posthumous authorship of her husband.
Vulpecula appeared as the eighth of Hevelius's 10 newly created constellations in Chapter VIII, De Numero Aſteriſmorum & Stellarum, tum nonnullis Rebus animadverſione dignis, of section Tabulae Solares Novae ("New Solar Tables") in the Prodromus. He envisioned Vulpecula as a successful predator and thief, with the neck of captive Anser the Goose in his mouth. Hevelius found congruency in the natures of Vulpecula and neighbors Aquila the Eagle and Lyra the Lyre, in an alternative representation as an Eagle with a Lyre. The trio psychologized as cunning, voracious, thieving predators (quidem tale animalculum quod admodùm Aſtutum, vorax, & furax eſt; page 117). Hevelius related Vulpecula to a third constellation, Cerberus the Three-Headed Snake, as the recipient of Vulpecula's goose.
"Cur Vulpecula cum Anſere eo in loco fuerit rejecta. Ex Stellis autem iſtis, quae inter Aquilam & Lyram, ſub Cygno, haud procul à Cerbero, horribili illo & voraci animali, vel à Cane infernali Tricipiti (prout Poetae fabulantur) videntur, numero 27, nimirùm cum unâ olim jam cognitâ, & 26 novis meis à me ſolummodò obſervatis, ſimul cum illâ planè novâ, quae Anno primùm 1672 apparuit, ac per biennium in Coelo fulſit, volui Vulpeculam cum Anſere, in ſpatio Coeli benè apto, & quidem tale animalculum quod admodùm Aſtutum, vorax, & furax eſt, reponere. Attento, quòd Aquila & Lyra ejusdem ſint naturae; nimirùm rapaces & edaces: ne non & hae Stellae in Vulpeculâ, cum illis in Aquilâ & Lyrâ conſtitutis, eandem conſeervent naturam," Hevelius explained (page 117).

Hevelius's sky chart for Aquila the Eagle (center) and Antinous the Beloved of Hadrian (center right) shows Anser the Goose-mouthed Vulpecula planning to cross the Milky Way (Via Lactea) with anserine gift for Cerberus the Three-Headed Snake; Hevelius's depiction from perspective of outsider looking into celestial globe reverses actual east-west appearance of sky for Earth-based observer as insider looking outward at celestial globe; J. Hevelii, Firmamentum Sobiescianum (MDCXC [1690]), Fig. R: Public Domain, via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara

Vulpecula the Fox neighbors with six constellations. Cygnus the Swan, Lacerta the Lizard and Lyra the Lyre define Vulpecula's northern borders. Hercules the Hero postures to the north and west. Delphinus the Dolphin and Sagitta the Arrow mark the Fox's southern borders. Pegasus the Winged Horse flies along Vulpecula's eastern and southeastern extents.
Hevelius's Fox numbers as one of two small constellations lying in the Summer Triangle, an asterism, or recognizable pattern of stars, that prettifies summer nights in the northern hemisphere. The Summer Triangle comprises the brightest stars of constellation Cygnus, of Lyra the Lyre, the Swan's western neighbor, and of Aquila the Eagle, the southern neighbor of Sagitta the Arrow, the Swan's southern neighbor. Vulpecula and Sagitta mainly shelter within the triangulation of Altair (Alpha Aquilae, α Aquilae; abbreviated Alpha Aql, α Aql) in Aquila the Eagle, Deneb (Alpha Cygni, α Cygni; abbreviated to Alpha Cyg, α Cyg) in Cygnus the Swan and Vega (Alpha Lyrae, α Lyrae; abbreviated Alpha Lyr, α Lyr) in Lyra the Lyre.

Cygnus (center) over the Swan's alert southern neighbor, Vulpecula, with the Fox's prey, Anser the Goose; Hevelius's depiction from perspective of outsider looking into celestial globe reverses actual east-west appearance of sky for Earth-based observer as insider looking outward at celestial globe; J. Hevelii, Firmamentum Sobiescianum (MDCXC [1690]), Fig. K: Public Domain, via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara

With an area of 268.2 square degrees, Vulpecula the Fox constellation occupies 0.650 percent of the sky, according to English astronomy writer Ian Ridpath (born May 1, 1947) in his table of constellations on his eponymous website (ianridpath.com). Vulpecula's area places it as the 55th largest of the 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Right ascension (abbreviated RA; symbol α) coordinates for Vulpecula extend from 18 hours 57 minutes 06.5189 seconds to 21h 30m 38.8847s, according to the constellation boundary tables on the International Astronomical Union's website. In the equatorial coordinate system, right ascension relates with terrestrial longitude.
Declination (abbreviated dec; symbol δ) coordinates for Vulpecula stretch from plus 19.3982983 to plus 29.4871387. The equatorial coordinate system's declination identifies with geographic latitude.
Constellation Vulpecula offers full visibility to Earth-based observers located between latitudes 90 degrees north and 61 degrees south. Partial visibility of the vulpine constellation is available to stargazers positioned between latitudes 61 degrees south and 62 degrees south in the southern hemisphere (Ridpath, Constellations -- 2).
Hevelius's vulpine constellation numbers among 17 summer constellations listed by the American Association of Amateur Astronomers (AAAA) on The Constellation Home Page on the organization's website. Vulpecula also participates in the starry-rich area of the autumnal sky that the Fox shares with Cygnus the Swan, Lyra the Lyre and Sagitta the Arrow, according to AAAA's profile of "The Constellation Vulpecula -- The Little Fox."
September qualifies for best viewing of Vulpecula the Fox constellation in the northern hemisphere, according to James Miller in "Star Constellation Facts: Vulpecula," posted Dec. 1, 2016, on his website, Astronomy Trek. Vulpecula's September noticeability advantages the Summer Triangle's early autumn prominence in northern skies.

Delphinus the Dolphin (center) and Equuleus the Little Horse (bottom center right), with the Dolphin's northern neighbor, Vulpecula the Fox; Hevelius's depiction from perspective of outsider looking into celestial globe reverses actual east-west appearance of sky for Earth-based observer as insider looking outward at celestial globe; J. Hevelii, Firmamentum Sobiescianum (MDCXC [1690]), Fig. S: Public Domain, via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara

Acknowledgment
My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:
Anser and Vulpecula with Sagitta the Arrow (center) and with Hercules (upper left) and Cerberus (left center); Hevelius's depiction from perspective of outsider looking into celestial globe reverses actual east-west appearance of sky for Earth-based observer as insider looking outward at celestial globe; J. Hevelii, Firmamentum Sobiescianum (MDCXC [1690]), Fig. L: Public Domain, via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara @ https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133901
Hevelius's sky chart for Aquila the Eagle (center) and Antinous the Beloved of Hadrian (center right) shows Anser the Goose-mouthed Vulpecula planning to cross the Milky Way (Via Lactea) with anserine gift for Cerberus the Three-Headed Snake; Hevelius's depiction from perspective of outsider looking into celestial globe reverses actual east-west appearance of sky for Earth-based observer as insider looking outward at celestial globe; J. Hevelii, Firmamentum Sobiescianum (MDCXC [1690]), Fig. R: Public Domain, via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara @ https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133913
Cygnus (center) over the Swan's alert southern neighbor, Vulpecula, with the Fox's prey, Anser the Goose; Hevelius's depiction from perspective of outsider looking into celestial globe reverses actual east-west appearance of sky for Earth-based observer as insider looking outward at celestial globe; J. Hevelii, Firmamentum Sobiescianum (MDCXC [1690]), Fig. K: Public Domain, via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara @ https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133899
Delphinus the Dolphin (center) and Equuleus the Little Horse (bottom center right), with the Dolphin's northern neighbor, Vulpecula the Fox; Hevelius's depiction from perspective of outsider looking into celestial globe reverses actual east-west appearance of sky for Earth-based observer as insider looking outward at celestial globe; J. Hevelii, Firmamentum Sobiescianum (MDCXC [1690]), Fig. S: Public Domain, via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara @ https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133915

For further information:
The American Association of Amateur Astronomers. "The Summer Constellations." The American Association of Amateur Astronomers > The Constellation Home Page.
Available @ http://www.astromax.org/con-page/con-sumr.htm
Hevelii, Johannis. "Cur Vulpecula cum Anſere eo in loco fuerit rejecta. Ex Stellis autem iſtis, quae inter Aquilam & Lyram, ſub Cygno, haud procul à Cerbero, horribili illo & voraci animali, vel à Cane infernali Tricipiti (prout Poetae fabulantur) videntur, numero 27, nimirùm cum unâ olim jam cognitâ, & 26 novis meis à me ſolummodò obſervatis, ſimul cum illâ planè novâ, quae Anno primùm 1672 apparuit, ac per biennium in Coelo fulſit, volui Vulpeculam cum Anſere, in ſpatio Coeli benè apto, & quidem tale animalculum quod admodùm Aſtutum, vorax, & furax eſt, reponere. Attento, quòd Aquila & Lyra ejusdem ſint naturae; nimirùm rapaces & edaces: ne non & hae Stellae in Vulpeculâ, cum illis in Aquilâ & Lyrâ conſtitutis, eandem conſeervent naturam." Page 117. Prodromus Astronomiae cum Catalogo Fixarum, & Firmamentum Sobiescianum: Prodromus Astronomiae . . . Quibus additus est uterq[ue] Catalogus Stellarum Fixarum, tam major ad Annum 1660, quàm minor ad Annum completum 1700. Acceſſ Corollarii loco Tabula Motus Lunae Libratorii, Ad bina ſecula proximè ventura prolongata, brevi cum Deſcriptione, ejus ue uſu. Tabulae Solares Novae, pages 51-142. Caput VIII De Numero Aſteriſmorum & Stellarum, tum nonnullis Rebus animadverſione dignis," pages 108-124. Gedani [Gdansk]: Typis Johannis-Zachariae Stollii, M DC XC [1690].
Available via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara @ https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133609
Available via National Digital Library Polona @ https://polona.pl/item-view/049ab5c8-5726-4a52-ad1b-48f3f475c4f2?page=73
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/JOHANNIS_HEVELII_PRODROMUS_ASTRONOMIAE/OEPatgAACAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
Available via Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology Catalog @ https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1284873740005961
Hevelii, Johannis. "De Cerbero. Dicta haec Vulpecula, furto ſurripuit Anſerem, quam in ore gerens veloci curſu ad Cerberum, Tricipitem nempe illum Canem infernalem voracem deportat, quò Jentaculum & ſolatium quaſi habeat, antequam ab Hercule clavamjam exporrigente, occidatur. Sic ut haec Vulpecula cum Anſere, etiam juxta fabulas Poetarum, & Aſtrologorum Regulas, convenienter hoc loco reponi à me potuerit. Haud minùs benè factum, quòd Herculi, Cerberum ſiniſtrâ manu tenendum tradiderim." Page 117. Prodromus Astronomiae cum Catalogo Fixarum, & Firmamentum Sobiescianum: Prodromus Astronomiae . . . Quibus additus est uterq[ue] Catalogus Stellarum Fixarum, tam major ad Annum 1660, quàm minor ad Annum completum 1700. Acceſſ Corollarii loco Tabula Motus Lunae Libratorii, Ad bina ſecula proximè ventura prolongata, brevi cum Deſcriptione, ejus ue uſu. Tabulae Solares Novae, pages 51-142. Caput VIII De Numero Aſteriſmorum & Stellarum, tum nonnullis Rebus animadverſione dignis," pages 108-124. Gedani [Gdansk]: Typis Johannis-Zachariae Stollii, M DC XC [1690].
Available via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara @ https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133609
Available via National Digital Library Polona @ https://polona.pl/item-view/049ab5c8-5726-4a52-ad1b-48f3f475c4f2?page=73
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/JOHANNIS_HEVELII_PRODROMUS_ASTRONOMIAE/OEPatgAACAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
Available via Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology Catalog @ https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1284873740005961
Hevelii, Johannis. "Vulpecul cum Ansere." Page 308. Catalogus Stellarum Fixarum ad Annum Christi M DCC Completum. Pages 269-308. In: Prodromus Astronomiae . . . Quibus additus est uterq[ue] Catalogus Stellarum Fixarum, tam major ad Annum 1660, quàm minor ad Annum completum 1700. Acceſſ Corollarii loco Tabula Motus Lunae Libratorii, Ad bina ſecula proximè ventura prolongata, brevi cum Deſcriptione, ejus ue uſu. Gedani [Gdansk]: Typis Johannis-Zachariae Stollii, M DC XC [1690].
Available via ETH-Bibliothek e-rara @ https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133804
Available via Google Books Read Free of Charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/JOHANNIS_HEVELII_PRODROMUS_ASTRONOMIAE/OEPatgAACAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
Available via Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology Catalog @ https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1284873740005961
Hevelii, Johannis. "Vulpecula." Pages 418-419. Machinae Coelestis. Liber Quartus, Rerum Uranicarum Observationes, Gedani. Gedani [Gdansk]: Simon Reiniger, M DC LXXIX [1679].
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/Machinacoelesti2Heve/page/428/mode/1up
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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/01/hevelius-crater-parents-seven.html
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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/hevelius-introduced-canes-venatici.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Hevelius Introduced Leo Minor the Lesser Leo Constellation in 1687." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/04/hevelius-introduced-leo-minor-lesser.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Hevelius Introduced Lynx Constellation in 1687 as Visible to Lynx-Eyed." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/01/hevelius-introduced-lynx-constellation.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Hevelius Introduced Mons Maenalus constellation in 1687." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/hevelius-introduced-mons-maenalus.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Hevelius Introduced Sextans the Sextant Constellation in 1687." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/hevelius-introduced-sextans-sextant.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Hevelius Introduced Three-Headed Snake Constellation Cerberus in 1687." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 29, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/06/hevelius-introduced-three-headed-snake.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Lynx Zigzags Lengthily Between Ursa Major and Auriga the Charioteer." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/03/lynx-zigzags-lengthily-between-ursa.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Near Side Hevelius Crater Honors Polish Astronomer Johannes Hevelius." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/01/near-side-hevelius-crater-honors-polish.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Serpens the Serpent Constellation Is the Only Two Part Constellation." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 26, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/04/serpens-serpent-constellation-is-only.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Summer Triangle of Altair With Deneb and Vega Dramatizes Summer Nights." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/08/summer-triangle-of-altair-with-deneb.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Venusian Crater Corpman Honors Astronomer Elisabeth Koopman Hevelius." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/01/venusian-crater-corpman-honors.html
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Available @ https://www.astronomytrek.com/star-constellation-facts-canes-venatici/
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Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations2.html
Ridpath, Ian. "Hevelius presents his new constellations." Ian Ridpath > Star Tales > Chapter Two > Page 2 > Hevelius and the Firmamentum Sobiescianum.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/hevelius.html
Ridpath, Ian. "Lyra The Lyre." Star Tales > Chapter Three: The Celestial Eight-Eight.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/lyra.html
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Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/vulpecula.html
Whitt, Kelly Kizer."Vulpecula the Fox lies inside the Summer Triangle." EarthSky > Tonight > Constellations. July 1, 2022.
Available @ https://earthsky.org/constellations/vulpecula-the-fox-summer-triangle-coathanger-dumbbell-nebula/


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