Naturalist John Hill Named Earthworm Constellation Lumbricus in 1754

Summary: Naturalist John Hill named Lumbricus the Earthworm constellation in his 1754 astronomical dictionary, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens.

John Hill's Lumbricus the Earthworm constellation (upper left) inhabits the northern hemisphere's second quadrant (NQ2) and shares the quadrant with one other Hill-invented constellation, Uranoscopus the Star-Gazer Fish (lower center): Ultima Thulean, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons

Eighteenth-century English apothecary, naturalist and writer John Hill introduced Lumbricus the Earthworm constellation in his astronomical dictionary, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, published in 1754.

"A conſtellation offered to the aſtronomical world," Hill (1714-Nov. 21, 1775) began his dictionary entry on Lumbricus in accordance with the standard introductory phrase for each of his 14 additional invented constellations. He then segued into a Eighteenth-century English apothecary, naturalist and writer John Hill introduced Lumbricus the Earthworm constellation in his astronomical dictionary, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, published in 1754.

"A conſtellation offered to the aſtronomical world," Hill (1714-Nov. 21, 1775) began his dictionary entry on Lumbricus in accordance with the standard introductory phrase for each of his 14 additional invented constellations. He then segued into a brief description of the new constellation's celestial location: ". . . and compoſed of a ſeries of conſpicuous and unformed ſtars between the ſigns Cancer and Gemini."

The particular stars suggested one of the species of earthworms in the Lumbricus (Latin: lumbrīcus, "earthworm") genus for Hill. "The creature, under the out-line of whoſe figure theſe are arranged, is the common earth-worm, or dew-worm, which we ſee coupled above the ſurface of the ground in damp mornings," Hill interpreted.

The area assigned to Lumbricus the Earthworm deserved to serve as a constellatory portrait, according to Hill's appraisal. "It is a ſmall conſtellation, and it comprehends only a few ſtars, but theſe are in ſo remarkable a place that it is very fit they ſhould be aſcertained within the lineaments of ſome figure. The creature, that is made to anſwer this purpoſe, is drawn in a crawling poſture, a little convoluted, and running up from the Little Dog to Gemini," Hill perceived.

Lumbricus the Earthworm neighbors with Cancer the Crab, Gemini the Twins and Canis Minor the Lesser Dog. The Earthworm's head nears the right shoulder of Gemini's Pollux. Much of its body crawls between Gemini and Cancer the Crab. The Earthworm's lower third stretches above Canis Minor's back, from the canine's upraised tail to the stop, the indentation between forehead and muzzle, on his upraised head. "Theſe are the three conſtellations between which it is placed, its head is very near the ſhoulder of one of the twins, the greater part of its body runs up between that ſign and Cancer, and the lower, or bent part of the body toward the tail, runs over the back of the Little Dog, and that but at a ſmall diſtance."

Hill enumerated nine "conſpicuous ſtars" in Lumbricus the Earthworm constellation. The nonad comprises variously sized, lower magnitude stars, according to Hill's evaluation. "The conſpicuous ſtars, in the conſtellation Lumbricus, are nine, and they are of very different ſizes, though none of them of the larger magnitudes."

The placement of the stars squirms with the Earthworm's elongated, bent shape. One marks the head while another lies mid-neck. A set of three concerns the end of the upper third and the bending middle third, with two on one side and the third on the opposite side as a marker of the figure's southwest bend toward Canis Minor. Two more stars separately indicate the mid-section's descent toward Canis Minor, with the second situated before the figure's upward bend toward space between Gemini and Canis Minor. The last two of the nine "conſpicuous ſtars" occur, respectively, near the beginning and toward the tip of the tail.

Hill discerned a clear correspondence between the constellation's stars and their depiction. "Theſe ſtars are very well compriſed within the outline of the figure, and there is yet this farther advantage, that there is no conſpicuous ſtar any where about it that is left unformed ſo as to create confusion."

Five of Limax's nine stars are identified by David Harper, once an astronomer specializing in celestial mechanics and positional astronomy but now a genome researcher, and his wife, astronomer L. (Lynne) M. Stockman, in "Lumbricus -- The Earthworm," posted on their Obliquity website. Cancer the Crab contributes two stars, 3 Cancri (abbreviated Cnc) and HR 3125 (also known as HD 65735; HIP 39180). Canis Minor the Lesser Dog provides three stars: 1 Canis Minoris (abbreviated CMi), 6 CMi and 11 CMi.

Lumbricus resides in the northern hemisphere's second quadrant (NQ2). The celestial Earthworm shares the quadrant with another Hill-invented constellation, Uranoscopus the Star-Gazer Fish.

Lumbricus the Earthworm does not number among the 88 constellations officially approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Its unofficial status places the Earthworm in the category of an obsolete constellation that also may be referenced synonymously as defunct, extinct, forgotten or former. The lack of official status does not obscure Lumbricus the Earthworm from visibility to those stargazers who scan the space between the IAU-recognized constellations of Cancer the Crab, Canis Minor the Lesser Dog and Gemini the Twins for the Hill-devised, wormy constellation.

John John Hill's Lumbricus the Earthworm constellation emerges from unformed stars in the space between Cancer the Crab, Canis Minor the Lesser Dog and Gemini the Twins; John Hill, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, vol. I (M.DCC.LIV [1754]), between third and fourth of six pages on Gemini: Public Domain, via Google Books Read for Free

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

John Hill's Lumbricus the Earthworm constellation (upper left) inhabits the northern hemisphere's second quadrant (NQ2) and shares the quadrant with one other Hill-invented constellation, Uranoscopus the Star-Gazer Fish (lower center): Ultima Thulean, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northern_Hemisphere_Hill's_Constellations.png

John Hill's Lumbricus the Earthworm constellation emerges from unformed stars in the space between Cancer the Crab, Canis Minor the Lesser Dog and Gemini the Twins; John Hill, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, vol. I (M.DCC.LIV [1754]), between third and fourth of six pages on Gemini: Public Domain, via Google Books Read for Free @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Urania_or_a_compleat_view_of_the_Heavens/n_ReAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1; Ultima Thulean, CC BY SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lumbricus_Constellation.jpg

For further information:

Harper, David; and L. (Lynne) M. Stockman. "Lumbricus -- The Earthworm. Unofficial Abbreviation: Lum. Genitive: Lumbrici. Origin: John Hill." Obliquity > Sky Eye > The Constellations > Extinct Constellations.
Available @ https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/88const/Lum.html

Hill, John. An History of Animals: Containing Descriptions of the Birds, Beasts, Fishes, and Insects, of the Several Parts of the World; and Including Accounts of the Several Classes of Animalcules, Visible Only by the Assistance of Microscopes. London: Printed for Thomas Osborne, in Gray's-Inn, M.DCCLII [1752].
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/56071277

Hill, John. "Lumbricus." Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, Containing the Antient and Modern Astronomy, in Form of a Dictionary. London: T. Gardner, M.DCC.LIV [1754].
Available via Google Books @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/lzigAAAAMAAJ?hl=en
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lzigAAAAMAAJ/page/n302/mode/1up

Hill, John. "Lumbricus." Page 15. An History of Animals: Containing Descriptions of the Birds, Beasts, Fishes, and Insects, of the Several Parts of the World; and Including Accounts of the Several Classes of Animalcules, Visible Only by the Assistance of Microscopes. London: Printed for Thomas Osborne, in Gray's-Inn, M.DCCLII [1752].
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/56071255

Hill, John. Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, Containing the Antient and Modern Astronomy, in Form of a Dictionary. London: T. Gardner, M.DCC.LIV [1754].
Available via Google Books @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/lzigAAAAMAAJ?hl=en
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lzigAAAAMAAJ/

Marriner, Derdriu. "English Naturalist John Hill Introduced 15 Constellations in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/english-naturalist-john-hill-introduced.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "English Naturalist John Hill Named Bufo the Toad Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/english-naturalist-john-hill-named-bufo.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "English Naturalist John Hill Named Eel Constellation Anguilla in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/english-naturalist-john-hill-named-eel.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "English Naturalist John Hill Named Leech Constellation Hirudo in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/english-naturalist-john-hill-named.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "English Naturalist John Hill Named Slug Constellation Limax in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/english-naturalist-john-hill-named-slug.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "English Naturalist John Hill Named Spider Constellation Aranea in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/english-naturalist-john-hill-named.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Shellfish Constellation Gryphites in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Sep. 13, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/naturalist-john-hill-named-shellfish.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Tooth Shell Constellation Dentalium in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/naturalist-john-hill-named-tooth-shell.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Sea Horse Constellation Hippocampus in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/naturalist-john-hill-named-sea-horse.html

Sassarini, Iacopo. "3 Cancri." The Sky Live > Constellations > Cancer.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/3-cancri-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "1 Canis Minoris." The Sky Live > Constellations > Canis Minor.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/1-canis-minoris-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "6 Canis Minoris." The Sky Live > Constellations > Canis Minor.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/6-canis-minoris-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "11 Canis Minoris." The Sky Live > Constellations > Canis Minor.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/11-canis-minoris-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "HR3125." The Sky Live > Constellations > Canis Minor.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/hr-3125-star