Flag of Brazil Depicts Stars Over Rio de Janeiro Friday, Nov. 15, 1889

Summary: The national flag of Brazil depicts the Friday, Nov. 15, 1889, sky at 8:30 over Rio de Janeiro with 27 stars and nine constellations.

A Pátria (The Fatherland), 1919 oil on canvas by Brazilian landscaper, painter, poet and singer Pedro Paulo Bruno (Oct. 14, 1888-Feb. 2, 1949) depicts a family embroidering the Brazilian flag; Museu da República, Palácio do Catete, Flamengo neighborhood (bairro do Flamengo), southern zone (Zona Sul), Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region (Região Sudeste), Brazil: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The national flag of Brazil (bandeira nacional do Brasil) depicts the sky over Rio de Janeiro at 8:30 on Friday, Nov. 15, 1889, with 27 stars and nine constellations as a representation of the 26 states and one federal district comprising the Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil).

The flag's official adoption took place Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1889. The adoption occurred four days after the Proclamation of the Republic (Proclamação da República), dated Friday, Nov. 15, 1889, whereby the Federative Republic of Brazil replaced the Empire of Brazil (Império do Brasil; Sep. 7, 1822-Nov. 15, 1889).

The creation of new states have occasioned three modifications to Brazil's national flag. The first flag depicted 21 stars. The first modification, made in 1960, added one star, for a total of 22 stars. The second modification, made in 1968, added one star, for a total of 23 stars. The third modification, made in 1992, added four stars, for the current total of 27 stars.

The stars and their constellations are intended to represent the sky over Rio de Janeiro at 8:30 on Friday, Nov. 15, 1889, in celebration of the establishment of the Brazilian republic on that date. The depiction conforms with the starry appearances viewed from the perspective of an observer positioned outside astronomy's abstract celestial sphere, that is, looking inward, as stated in federal law 5700, dated Sep. 1, 1971 (Lei no. 5,700 de 1 de Setembro de 1971).

Nine constellations adorn the national flag of the predominantly terrestrial northern hemisphere-residing Federative Republic of Brazil. Canis Major the Greater Dog, Carina the Keel, Crux the Southern Cross, Octans the Octant, Scorpius the Scorpion and Triangulum Australe the Southern Triangle shine as southern celestial hemisphere constellations. Northern celestial hemisphere constellation Canis Minor the Lesser Dog resides mostly north of the celestial equator, with its southern border slightly crossing into the southern celestial hemisphere. Celestial equator-straddling Hydra the Female Water Serpent trails approximately three-fourths to four-fifths of its area across the southern celestial low latitudes, with one-fourth to one-fifth crossing into the northern celestial low latitudes. Approximately one-third of celestial equator-straddling Virgo the Maiden occupies the northern celestial hemisphere while two-thirds stretch into the southern celestial hemisphere.

Alpha Canis Minoris (α Canis Minoris; abbreviated α CMi, Alpha CMi), known traditionally as Procyon, lies in constellation Canis Minor the Lesser Dog. The binary star system dates to the republic's first flag and represents the State of Amazonas (Estado do Amazonas), located in northwestern Brazil's North Region (Região Norte).

Constellation Canis Major the Greater Dog supplies five stars for Brazil's national flag. Alpha Canis Majoris (α Canis Majoris; α CMa, Alpha CMa), known traditionally as Sirius, dates to the republic's first flag and represents the State of Mato Grosso (Estado de Mato Grosso) in Brazil's Central-West Region (Região Centro-Oeste).

Four other stars from Canis Major were added in 1992. Beta Canis Majoris (β Canis Majoris; Beta CMa, β CMa), known traditionally as Mirzam, associates with the State of Amapá (Estado do Amapá) in northeastern Brazil's North Region (Região Norte). Gamma Canis Majoris (γ Canis Majoris; Gamma CMa, γ CMa), traditionally named Muliphein, represents the State of Rondônia (Estado de Rondônia) in west-central Brazil's North Region (Região Norte). Delta Canis Majoris (δ Canis Majoris; abbreviated Delta CMa, δ CMa), traditionally named Wezen, symbolizes the State of Roraima (Estado de Roraima) in northern Brazil's North Region (Região Norte). Binary star system Epsilon Canis Majoris (ε Canis Majoris; Epsilon CMa, ε CMa), known traditionally as Adhara, represents the State of Tocantins (Estado do Tocantins) in north-central Brazil's North Region (Região Norte).

graphic of nine constellations of 27 stars and national motto (o lema nacional) "Ordem e Progresso" ("Order and Progress") on the national flag (bandeira nacional) of the Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Alpha Virginis (α Virginis; abbreviated Alpha Vir, α Vir), known traditionally as Spica, lies in constellation Virgo the Maiden. The binary star system appeared on the republic's first flag and links with the State of Pará (Estado do Pará) in northern Brazil's North Region (Região Norte).

Scorpius the Scorpion contellation contributes eight stars to Brazil's national flag. All eight stars were included on the republic's first flag. Binary star system Alpha Scorpii (α Scorpii; abbreviated Alpha Sco, α Sco), known traditionally as Antares, signifies the State of Piauí (Estado do Piauí) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste). Binary star system Beta Scorpii (β Scorpii; abbreviated Beta Sco, β Sco), known traditionally as Graffias, relates to the State of Maranhão (Estado do Maranhão) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste). Epsilon Scorpii (ε Scorpii; abbreviated Eps Sco, ε Sco), traditionally named Larawag, represents the State of Ceará (Estado do Ceará) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste). Binary star system Theta Scorpii (θ Scorpii; abbreviated Theta Sco, θ Sco), traditionally known as Sargas, associates with the State of Alagoas (Estado de Alagoas) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste). Iota Scorpii (ι Scorpii; abbreviated Iota Sco, ι Sco) symbolizes the State of Sergipe (Estado de Sergipe) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste). Binary star system Kappa Scorpii (κ Scorpii; Kappa Sco, κ Sco), symbolizes the State of Paraíba (Estado da Paraíba) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste). Triple star system Lambda Scorpii (λ Scorpii; Lambda Sco, λ Sco), traditionally named Shaula, signifies the State of Rio Grande do Norte (Estado do Rio Grande do Norte) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste). Binary star system Mu Scorpii (μ Scorpii; Mu Sco, μ Sco), with traditional names of Xamidimura and Pipirima, links with the State of Pernambuco (Estado de Pernambuco) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste).

Constellation Hydra the Female Water Snake provides the Brazilian national flag with two stars. Alpha Hydrae (α Hydrae; Alpha Hya, α Hya), known traditionally as Alphard, was added in 1960 in the flag's first modification to represent the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul) in southwestern Brazil's Central-West Region (Região Centro-Oeste). Gamma Hydrae (γ Hydrae; Gamma Hya, γ Hya) was added in 1968 in the flag's second modification in recognition of the State of Acre (Estado do Acre) in northwestern Brazil's North Region (Região Norte).

Constellation Crux the Southern Cross accounts for five stars on the Brazilian national flag. All five appeared on the republic's first flag. Multiple star system Alpha Crucis (α Crucis; Alpha Cru, α Cru) designates the State of São Paulo (Estado de São Paulo) in Brazil's Southeast Region (Região Sudeste). Binary or triple star system Beta Crucis (β Crucis; Beta Cru, β Cru), known traditionally as Mimosa and historically as Becrux, references the State of Rio de Janeiro (Estado do Rio de Janeiro) in Brazil's Southeast Region (Região Sudeste). Gamma Crucis (γ Crucis; Gamma Cru, γ Cru), historically known as Gacrux, refers to the State of Bahia (Estado da Bahia) in the Northeast Region (Região Nordeste). Delta Crucis (δ Crucis; Delta Cru, δ Cru), also known as Imai, signifies the State of Minas Gerais (Estado de Minas Gerais) in Brazil's Southeast Region (Região Sudeste). Epsilon Crucis (ε Crucis; Eps Cru, ε Cru), traditionally named Ginan, associates with the State of Espírito Santo (Estado do Espírito Santo) in Brazil's Southeast Region (Região Sudeste).

The Brazilian national flag features three stars from Triangulum Australe the Southern Triangle constellation. All three were included on the republic's first flag. Alpha Trianguli Australis (α Trianguli Australis; Alpha TrA, α TrA), officially named Atria, symbolizes the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Estado do Rio Grande do Sul) in the South Region (Região Sul). Double star Beta Trianguli Australis (β Trianguli Australis; Beta TrA, β TrA) associates with the State of Santa Catarina (Estado de Santa Catarina) in the South Region (Região Sul). Gamma Trianguli Australis (γ Trianguli Australis; Gamma TrA, γ TrA) references the State of Paraná (Estado do Paraná) in the South Region (Região Sul).

The single star coming from Carina the Keel constellation dates to the republic's first flag. Alpha Carinae (α Carinae; Alpha Car, α Car), traditionally named Canopus, links with the State of Goiás (Estado do Goiás) in Brazil's Central-West Region (Região Centro-Oeste).

One star from Octans the Octant constellation debuted on the republic's first flag. Sigma Octantis (σ Octantis; Sigma Oct, σ Oct), known as Polaris Australis, designates the Federal District (Distrito Federal) in Brazil's Central-West Region (Região Centro-Oeste).

The Brazilian national flag tours the sky on Friday, Nov. 15, 1889, over Rio de Janeiro, the republic's capital until transfer of capitalship to Brasília in 1960. Each star represents an actual stars and associates with Brazil's states and Federal District.

Detail of Brazil's national flag depicts constellation Virgo the Maiden's Spica (above motto Ordem e Progresso) and (below motto; left to right) Canis Minor the Lesser Dog's Procyon, five stars from Canis Major the Greater Dog, two stars from Hydra the Female Water Snake, five stars from Crux the Southern Cross, one star from Octans the Octant, eight stars from Scorpius the Scorpion and three stars from Triangulum Australe the Southern Triangle; Palácio do Planalto, official workplace of the president of Brazil, Brasília, Federal District (Distrito Federal), Central-West Region (Região Centro-Oeste); Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, image by Isac Nóbrega: CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

A Pátria (The Fatherland), 1919 oil on canvas by Brazilian landscaper, painter, poet and singer Pedro Paulo Bruno (Oct. 14, 1888-Feb. 2, 1949) depicts a family embroidering the Brazilian flag; Museu da República, Palácio do Catete, Flamengo neighborhood (bairro do Flamengo), southern zone (Zona Sul), Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region (Região Sudeste), Brazil: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pedro_Bruno_-_A_Pátria.jpg

graphic of nine constellations of 27 stars and national motto (o lema nacional) "Ordem e Progresso" ("Order and Progress") on the national flag (bandeira nacional) of the Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brazil_flag_stars.svg

Detail of Brazil's national flag depicts eight of the flag's nine constellations, with southernmost constellations Octans the Octant out of view and with Virgo the Maiden's Spica (above motto Ordem e Progresso) and (below motto; left to right) Canis Minor the Lesser Dog's Procyon, five stars from Canis Major the Greater Dog, two stars from Hydra the Female Water Snake, five stars from Crux the Southern Cross, one star from Octans the Octant, eight stars from Scorpius the Scorpion and three stars from Triangulum Australe the Southern Triangle; Palácio do Planalto, official workplace of the president of Brazil, Brasília, Federal District (Distrito Federal), Central-West Region (Região Centro-Oeste); Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, image by Isac Nóbrega: CC BY 2.0 Deed Attribution 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:04_08_2020_Foto_do_dia_(50189373141).jpg

For further information:

Presidência da República. "Lei no. 5,700 de 1 de Setembro de 1971." Presidência da República > Casa Civil > Leis.
Available @ http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L5700.htm