Earth and Space News: John Hill nine southern hemisphere constellations

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Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Naturalist John Hill Named Testudo the Tortoise Constellation in 1754

Summary: English naturalist John Hill named Testudo the Tortoise constellation in his 1754 astronomical dictionary, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens.

John Hill's Testudo the Tortoise constellation (lower left) inhabits the southern celestial hemisphere's first quadrant (SQ1) and shares the quadrant with two other Hill-invented constellations, Hippocampus the Sea Horse (center right) and Limax the Slug (upper right): Ultima Thulean, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons

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

"A conſtellation offered to the aſtronomical world in the plates of this work," began Hill (1714-Nov. 21, 1775) at the beginning of his dictionary entry on Testudo as a slight expansion, with the addition of the phrase "in the plates of this work," of the standard phrase introducing his dictionary entries for each of his 14 additional invented constellations. He then completed the sentence by briefly describing the new constellation's celestial location: ". . . and compoſed of certain conſpicuous and unformed ſtars over the conſtellation Cetus."

Hill visualized the particular stars as depicting one of the members of the Testudo genus of tortoises native to North Africa, Western Asia and Europe. "The figure under which it is repreſented is that of a tortoise, drawing up its legs within, or nearly within the ſhell, and ſtretching out its neck, a common poſture with that ſlow animal, which apprehenſive of danger."

Testudo the Tortoise neighbors with Aquarius the Water Bearer, Cetus the Sea Monster and Pisces the Fishes. "The conſtellations between which the Tortoiſe is placed, are the Whale, the Fiſhes, and the water of Aquarius; there is left a vacant ſpace in the heavens between theſe, and this is very happily occupied by the figure."

The celestial Tortoise represents a moving figure, as "it ſeems crawling over the tail and toward the back of the Whale." Pisces the Fishes constellation swims overhead, with the western fish closely paralleling Testudo's back. The Tortoise's tail points toward the water flowing from Aquarius the Water Bearer's upended pot. "The two fiſhes are carried almoſt parallel over its back, and its tail is pointed toward the urn of Aquarius, it is in its hinder part, very near one of the fiſhes, but at a greater diſtance from Aquarius, and it is toward the head, very near the Whale."

A starry abundance occurs within Testudo's adequately sized territory. As surveyed by Hill, the chelonian constellation ". . . is not a very large one, but for the ſpace it occupies in the heavens, it comprehends a conſiderable number of ſtars."

Hill tallied 26 "conſpicous ſtars" in constellation Testudo the Tortoise. Six stars associated with Testudo's head, with one at the nose, one between the nose and the eye, one above the eye, two at the mandible and one at the neck's projection from the shell. Three stars represent the front foot while two signify the hind foot. "In the fore paw there are three, two of theſe very cloſe to one another, and the other at a diſtance, in the hinder foot one of the two, the anterior one is a large and bright ſtar, and the others is equal to moſt of the others." The shell contains four in the front half, one as delineator of the shell's top, and five in the back half.

One star indicates the tail's point of emergence from the shell. Four stars cluster near the tail's end, in proximity to the lower of the two Pisces fishes. "Of the five at the tail, one is very near its inſertion to the body, and the other four are very near its extremity, and near to one another; theſe are at a ſmall diſtance from the lower fiſh."

Six of Testudo the Tortoise's 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 "Testudo -- The Tortoise," posted on their Obliquity website. Cetus the Sea Monster contributes four stars: 13 Ceti (abbreviated 13 Cet), 14 Cet, 20 Cet and 42 Cet. Two inhabit the Fishes constellation: 27 Piscium (abbreviated 17 Psc and 29 Psc.

Testudo the Tortoise resides in the southern celestial hemisphere's first quadrant (SQ1). The celestial Tortoise shares the quadrant with two other Hill-invented constellations, Hippocampus the Sea Horse and Limax the Slug.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has not adopted Testudo the Tortoise as an official constellation. Its unofficial status has rendered Testudo an obsolete constellation, also known as defunct, extinct, forgotten or former. Yet, skygazers seeking the chelonian constellation still may find Testudo the Tortoise in its sheltered location east of Aquarius the Water Bearer's spilling water and sandwiched between Pisces the Fishes to the north and Cetus the Sea Monster to the south.

Acknowledgment

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

Dedication

This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.

Image credits:

John Hill's Testudo the Tortoise constellation emerges from unformed stars in the space between Aquarius the Water Bearer, Cetus the Sea Monster and Pisces the Fishes; John Hill, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, vol. I (M.DCC.LIV [1754]), between first and second of two pages on Pisces: 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:Testudo_Constellation.jpg

John Hill equated his Testudo the Tortoise constellation with a member of the Testudo genus of tortoises native to North Africa, Western Asia and Europe; depictions (last row) of two species of tortoises in the Testudo genus, in John Hill, An History of Animals (1752), Plate 6, opposite page 113: Biodiversity Heritage Library (BioDivLibrary), Public Domain, via Flickr @ via Flicker @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/50375294556/; Public Domain, via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/56071317

For further information:

Forde, Tanya C. "Cygnus Constellation Guide -- The Graceful, Night-Sky Swan." Love the Night Sky > Astronomy.
Available @ https://lovethenightsky.com/cygnus-constellation-guide/

Harper, David; and L. (Lynne) M. Stockman. "Scarabaeus -- The Rhinoceros Beetle. Unofficial Abbreviation: Sca. Genitive: Scarabaei. Origin: John Hill." Obliquity > Sky Eye > The Constellations > Extinct Constellations.
Available @ https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/88const/Sca.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. "Serpents Lizards & Tortoises: Beetles: Testudo Sp. 1, Testudo Sp. 3." Plate 6, opposite page 113. 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/56071317
Available via Flicker @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/50375294556/

Hill, John. "Testudo." 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/27/mode/1up

Hill, John. "Testudo." Pages 112-113. 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/56071315

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. "John Hill Named Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/12/john-hill-named-scarabaeus-rhinoceros.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Earthworm Constellation Lumbricus in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/naturalist-john-hill-named-earthworm.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Manis the Pangolin Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/naturalist-john-hill-named-manis.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Patella the Limpet Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/naturalist-john-hill-named-patella.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Pinna Marina the Mussel Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/12/naturalist-john-hill-named-pinna-marina.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

Ridpath, Ian. "Antinous." Ian Ridpath's Star Tales > Chapter Four: Obsolete Constellations.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/antinous.html

Sassarini, Iacopo. "13 Ceti." The Sky Live > Constellations > Cetus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/13-ceti-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "14 Ceti." The Sky Live > Constellations > Cetus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/14-ceti-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "20 Ceti." The Sky Live > Constellations > Cetus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/20-ceti-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "42 Ceti." The Sky Live > Constellations > Cetus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/42-ceti-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "27 Piscium." The Sky Live > Constellations > Pisces.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/27-piscium-starbr />

Sassarini, Iacopo. "29 Piscium." The Sky Live > Constellations > Pisces.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/29-piscium-star

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

John Hill Named Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle Constellation in 1754

Summary: English naturalist John Hill named Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle constellation in his 1754 astronomical dictionary, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens.

John Hill's Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle constellation (center left) inhabits the southern celestial hemisphere's third quadrant (SQ3) and shares the quadrant with two other Hill-invented constellations, Aranea the Spider (upper center-right) and Bufo the Toad (center): Ultima Thulean, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons

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

"A conſtellation offered to the aſtronomical world," began Hill (1714-Nov. 21, 1775) at the beginning of his dictionary entry on Patella as a follow of the standard phrase introducing his dictionary entries for each of his 14 additional invented constellations. He then proceeded with a brief description of the new constellation's celestial location: ". . . and formed of a cluſter of conſpicuous ſtars, which occupy a little ſpace in the heavens, left between the conſtellations Ophiucus, Libra, and Scorpio."

The designated stars traced for Hill the figure of the rhinoceros beetle, a species in the Scarabaeus genus of dung beetles native to Africa, Asia and Europe. "The ſpecies of Beetle, under the out-lines of whoſe form theſe are arranged, is that ſingular and beautiful one, known by the name of the Rhinoceros Beetle, and preſerved in all the cabinets of the curious."

The celestial Scarabaeus is depicted as a moving figure, according to Hill's design. The Rhinoceros Beetle ". . . is repreſented in a poſture of moving, with his back toward the leg of Ophiucus, and its horn turned up towards his thigh."

Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle constellation neighbors with Libra the Scales, Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, Scorpius the Scorpion and the Serpens Caput the Serpent's Head section of constellation Serpens the Serpent. "The Scarabaeus is ſituated but at a ſmall diſtance from any of theſe conſtellations which are about it. The whole ſpace left between the three is not equal to more than half one of the ſcales of the balance, and the little conſtellation is nearly in the middle of it, but nearer to the two others than to Ophiucus."

Serpens Caput the Serpent's Head winds above the celestial Rhinoceros Beetle's head. The Beetle's horn parallels the Serpent Bearer's left arm and points toward the Bearer's left thigh. "The Serpent is over the Beetle's head, its horn runs parallel with the arm of Ophiucus, and is pointed, as before obſerved, at his thigh." Libra's eastern scale lies under the Beetle's abdomen, while contact almost occurs between the Beetle's rump and Scorpius the Scorpion's fore legs. One ". . . of the ſcales of Libra is under the hinder part of its belly, and its rump is turned to the Scorpion, almoſt touching the extremities of two of his fore legs."

Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle outlines as a small constellation that, nevertheless, comprises generally conspicuous stars. Its creation facilitates clear identification of the space occupied by the constellation. "It is a very ſmall conſtellation, but in proportion to the extent that it occupies in the heavens, it contains a ſufficient number of ſtars, and theſe, in general, very conſpicuous: they have been uſed to be accounted among the unformed ſtars of the other conſtellations, but this is ſo uncertain, and confuſed a method of ſpeaking of them, that it is certainly better to have them, like the ſtars of thoſe conſtellations, arranged under the lines of ſome figure, and much more familiar and perſpicuous; for inſtance, to call one of them the upper or the lower ſtar in the horn of the Beetle, than by any number of the unformed ones of ſuch a conſtellation, though with the addition of a letter from Bayer."

John John Hill's Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle constellation emerges from unformed stars in the space framed by Libra the Scales, Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer and Scorpio the Scorpion; John Hill, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, vol. I (M.DCC.LIV [1754]), between first and second of five pages on Virgo: Public Domain, via Google Books Read for Free

Constellation Scarabaeus contains nine "conſpicous ſtars," as designed by Hill. "The conſpicous ſtars in the Beetle are nine, they ſtand in a pretty cluſter, and ſome of them are very conſpicuous."

Four stars define the celestial figure's anterior. A small star marks the horny protrusion from the head. The horn shines with two stars, "both large, and very conſpicuous, one of theſe is toward the inſertion, and not at a great diſtance from that at the root, the other is more than twice as far from that, as that is from the firſt, this is a very bright ſtar, and ſtands at the top of the horn." A fourth star brightly joins the head to the back.

A pair of stars designates the Beetle's front legs, with "one at the extremity of the firſt, and the other at the extremity of the ſecond leg." Further down, a star resides at the top of a back leg and almost parallels another star that indicates the opposite side's outline.

As a rump marker, the Beetle's ninth star nears Scorpius the Scorpion. "The ninth, or laſt ſtar in the Beetle, is at the extremity of its rump, and comes between the toes of the firſt and ſecond leg of Scorpio."

Five of Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle's 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 "Scarabaeus -- The Rhinoceros Beetle," posted on their Obliquity website. All five originate in Scorpius the Scorpion: 16 Scorpii (abbreviated 16 Sco), 18 Sco, Xi Sco (ξ Sco), Chi Sco (χ Sco), Psi Sco (ψ Sco).

Scarabaeus resides in the southern celestial hemisphere's third quadrant (SQ3). The celestial Beetle shares the quadrant with two other Hill-invented constellations, Aranea the Spider, Bufo the Toad.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has not granted official status to constellation Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle. Non-recognition obsolesces Scarabaeus. Accordingly, Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle is designated as obsolete or synonymously as defunct, extinct, forgotten or former. Yet, the celestial Rhinoceros Beetle remains visible for those stargazers who look for it as an escapee from the grasp of the Scorpion's left front walking legs and an approacher toward the Serpent Bearer's left leg.

John Hill equated his Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle constellation with a member of the Scarabaeus genus of dung beetles native to Africa, Asia and Europe; depictions (second-third rows) of The Braſs Beetle, The little Oval Beetle, the Unicorn Beetle, The Staghorned Beetle and The Rhinoceros Beetle as five examples of Scarabaeus species, in John Hill, An History of Animals (1752), Plate 9, opposite page 163: Biodiversity Heritage Library (BioDivLibrary), Public Domain, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

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

Dedication

John Hill's Scarabaeus the Rhinoceros Beetle constellation emerges from unformed stars in the space framed by Libra the Scales, Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer and Scorpio the Scorpion; John Hill, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens, vol. I (M.DCC.LIV [1754]), between first and second of five pages on Virgo: 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 International, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scarabaeus_Constellation.jpg

Forde, Tanya C. "Cygnus Constellation Guide -- The Graceful, Night-Sky Swan." Love the Night Sky > Astronomy.
Available @ https://lovethenightsky.com/cygnus-constellation-guide/

Hill, John. "Scarabaeus." 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/n519/mode/1up

Hill, John. "Scarabaeus." Pages 38-39. 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/56071230

Hill, John. "Winged Insects: Beetles: The Braſs Beetle, The little Oval Beetle, the Unicorn Beetle, The Staghorned Beetle, The Rhinoceros Beetle." Plate 3, opposite page 59. 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/56071180
Available via Flicker @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/50375294556/

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Manis the Pangolin Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
Available @

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Patella the Limpet Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.
Available @

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Pinna Marina the Mussel Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
Available @

Ridpath, Ian. "Antinous." Ian Ridpath's Star Tales > Chapter Four: Obsolete Constellations.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/antinous.html

Sassarini, Iacopo. "16 Scorpii." The Sky Live > Constellations > Scorpius.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/16-scorpii-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "18 Scorpii." The Sky Live > Constellations > Scorpius.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/18-scorpii-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "ξ Scorpii (xi Scorpii)." The Sky Live > Constellations > Scorpius.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/xi-scorpii-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "χ Scorpii (chi Scorpii)." The Sky Live > Constellations > Scorpius.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/chi-scorpii-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "ψ Scorpii (psi Scorpii)." The Sky Live > Constellations > Scorpius.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/psi-scorpii-star

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Naturalist John Hill Named Pinna Marina the Mussel Constellation in 1754

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

John Hill's Pinna Marina the Mussel constellation (lower right) inhabits the southern celestial hemisphere's fourth quadrant (SQ4) and shares the quadrant with two other Hill-invented constellations, Anguilla the Eel and Dentalium the Tooth Shell: Ultima Thulean, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons

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

"A conſtellation offered to the aſtronomical world," stated Hill (1714-Nov. 21, 1775) at the beginning of his dictionary entry on Patella as a replication of the standard introductory phrase in his dictionary entries for each of his 14 additional invented constellations. He then added a brief description of the new constellation's celestial location: ". . . and formed of a cluſter of very conſpicuous ſtars near the left foot of Antinous."

The constellatory locator that Hill referenced, Antinous, was created by Hadrian (Latin: Caesar Traianus Hadrianus; Jan. 24, 76-July 10, 138 CE), who reigned as Roman Emperor from Aug. 11, 117, until his death. The constellation commemorated the emperor's young lover, who had drowned in 130 CE in the Nile, near modern-day Mallawi (Arabic: ملوي; Coptic: ⲙⲁⲛⲗⲁⲩ), south central Minya Governorate (Arabic: محافظة المنيا Muḥāfẓet El Minya) in Upper Egypt (Arabic: صعيد مصر Ṣaʿīd Miṣr; Coptic: ⲙⲁⲣⲏⲥ, Mares), also known as South Egypt. Hadrian situated his constellation adjacent to Aquila the Eagle, with the youth carried in the raptor's claws.

Constellation Antinous has not been recognized as an official constellation by the International Astronomical Union. Accordingly, Antinous classifies currently as an obsolete constellation that also may be designated synonymously as defunct, extinct, forgotten or former.

Antinous the Beloved of Hadrian constellation's vicinity epitomized the perfect location for newly devised constellations, according to Hill. "The occaſion of making new conſtellations is in no part of the heavens ſo conſpicuous as with reſpect to this of Antinous. The ſtars of which it is compoſed, although of a very conſiderable conſequence as to the ſize, and of conſiderable number, were formerly reckoned among thoſe of the Eagle, or rather werre counted with them under the name of the unformed ſtars of the Eagle; although ſome of them are very remote from that conſtellation."

The constellation-making opportunities offered by this neighborhood had not been explored adequately, according to Hill. He continued: "It was a great aſſiſtance to the aſtronomers to arrange theſe into a new conſtellation, and yet this has not done what was intended perfectly, for ſtill there remain a cluſter of conſiderable ſtars between Antinous and Ophiucus's Serpent, ſo ſituated, that they are as near one as the other, and as proper to be added to the numbers of one as of the other. It is of theſe that the new conſtellation, here propoſed, is formed."

Hill's scrutiny revealed the celestial figure of one of the species in the Pinna genus of bivalve molluscs. "The creature, under the out-lines of whoſe figure they are represented, is a ſhell-fiſh, an inhabitant of the ſeas, ſomewhat approaching to the nature of the muſcle kind, but very large, and having, in the place of their beard, a tuft of fine ſilky matter of great length, of which, in ſome places, they make gloves and other manufactures."

In addition to obsolete constellation Antinous, Pinna Marina the Mussel neighbors with the Serpens Cauda the Serpent's Tail section of constellation Serpens the Serpent and Sagittarius the Archer. Yet, the Mussel largely associates with Antinous. "The conſtellations, between which it is placed, are Antinous, the Serpent, and Sagittary. There is a large extent of the heavens between theſe, but it is only in that part of it near Antinous that there are any conſpicous ſtars, all about the head of Sagittary is in a manner vacant."

Essentially, the starry cluster near Antinous configures the Mussel, observed Hill. "Theſe ſtars, toward Antinous, are the cluſter which make the new conſtellation; the whole figure of the ſhell ſtands between the tail of the Serpent and the two feet of Antinous, and the beard is extended almoſt to one of thoſe feet; the head of Sagittary is directly under the ſhell, but it is at a great diſtance."

Pinna Marina's visibility does not suffer from its occupancy of a small space and its formation from a small number of stars, according to Hill's design. "It is of ſmall extent, and it takes in but a few ſtars, but they are large, conſpicuous, and, as has been already obſerved, remote from all the other conſtellations."

Hill identified seven "conſpicous ſtars" in the celestial Mussel. " The conſpicous ſtars in the Pinna are only ſpicous ſeven, but they are very conſpicuous . . ." The star that marks the figure's anterior end is the smallest of the seven. Yet, "this is not a very inconſiderable ſtar." The next star is positioned on the shell near the point of the beard's outward passage. Two stars reside in the beard. A trio of stars triangulates at the Mussel's other, wide end, with ". . . one of them . . . at one corner of the lip, another . . . in the out-line a little above it, and the last . . . on the verge of the lip, but not at the corner."

Five of Pinna Marina the Mussel's 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 "Pinna Marina -- The Mussel," posted on their Obliquity website. One star occurs in Aquila the Eagle: 12 Aquilae (abbreviated 12 Aql). Scutum the Shield, the IAU-approved constellation in which Pinna Marina is located mostly, contributes four stars: Alpha Scuti (α Scuti; abbreviated Alpha Sct, α Sct), Beta Sct (β Sct), Delta Sct (δ Sct), Eta Sct (η Sct).

Pinna Marina resides in the southern celestial hemisphere's fourth quadrant (SQ4). The celestial Mussel shares the quadrant with two other Hill-invented constellations, Anguilla the Eel and Dentalium the Tooth Shell.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has not recognized Pinna Marina as an official constellation. The celestial representation of the Pinna genus of bivalve molluscs, therefore, is not included in the list of 88 IAU-approved constellations. Accordingly, Pinna Marina classifies as an obsolete constellation. Yet, non-membership in the IAU-approved constellations does not equate to invisibility. Pinna Marina the Mussel may be discerned as a reconfiguration of parts of Scutum the Shield.

Acknowledgment

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

Dedication

John Hill's Pinna Marina the Mussel constellation emerges from unformed stars in the space framed by Aquila the Eagle, the Serpens Cauda the Serpent's Tale section of Serpens the Serpent and Sagittarius the Archer; John Hill, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens (MDCCLXVIII [1768]): via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_urania-a-new-astronom_hill-john-m-d-calli_1768/page/23/mode/1up; Ultima Thulean, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pinna_Marina_Constellation.jpg

John Hill equated his Pinna Marina the Mussel constellation with a member of the Pinna genus of bivalve molluscs; depiction of the Pinna Marina (right center), in John Hill, An History of Animals (1752), Plate 9, opposite page 163: Biodiversity Heritage Library (BioDivLibrary), Public Domain, via Flickr @ via Flicker @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/50375295541/; Public Domain, via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/56071373

For further information:

Forde, Tanya C. "Cygnus Constellation Guide -- The Graceful, Night-Sky Swan." Love the Night Sky > Astronomy.
Available @ https://lovethenightsky.com/cygnus-constellation-guide/

Harper, David; and L. (Lynne) M. Stockman. "Pinna Marina -- The Mussel. Unofficial Abbreviation: Pin. Genitive: Pinnae Marinae. Origin: John Hill." Obliquity > Sky Eye > The Constellations > Extinct Constellations.
Available @ https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/88const/Pin.html

Hill, John. "Pinna, or Pinna Marina." 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/n432/mode/1up

Hill, John. "Patella." Pages 115-117. 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#page/143/mode/1up

Hill, John. "Shell Fish Series 3: The Pinna Marina." Plate 9, opposite page 163. 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/56071373
Available via Flicker @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/50375295541/

Hill, John, M.D. [Urania]. A New Astronomical Dictionary, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens Containing Antient and Modern Astronomy Illustrated with a Great Number of Figures. London: T. Gardner, MDCCLXVIII [1768].
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_urania-a-new-astronom_hill-john-m-d-calli_1768/

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Manis the Pangolin Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.
Available @

Marriner, Derdriu. "Naturalist John Hill Named Patella the Limpet Constellation in 1754." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.
Available @

Ridpath, Ian. "Antinous." Ian Ridpath's Star Tales > Chapter Four: Obsolete Constellations.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/antinous.html

Sassarini, Iacopo. "66 Ophiuchi." The Sky Live > Constellations > Ophiuchus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/66-ophiuchi-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "67 Ophiuchi." The Sky Live > Constellations > Ophiuchus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/67-ophiuchi-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "68 Ophiuchi." The Sky Live > Constellations > Ophiuchus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/68-ophiuchi-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "70 Ophiuchi." The Sky Live > Constellations > Ophiuchus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/70-ophiuchi-star

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

English Naturalist John Hill Named Slug Constellation Limax in 1754

Summary: English naturalist John Hill named Limax the Slug constellation in his 1754 astronomical dictionary, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens.

John Hill's Limax the Slug constellation (upper right) inhabits the southern hemisphere's first quadrant (SQ1) and shares the quadrant with two other Hill-invented constellations, Hippocampus the Sea Horse (center right) and Testudo the Tortoise (lower left): Ultima Thulean, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons

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

"A conſtellation offered to the aſtronomical world," began the dictionary entry by Hill (1714-Nov. 21, 1775) in conformance with his standard introduction for each of his 14 additional invented constellations. He then formulaically added a brief description of the new constellation's celestial location: ". . . and compoſed of certain conſpicuous unformed ſtars near the foot of Orion, and under the Eridanus.""

The specified stars arranged themselves as one of the species of land slugs in the Limax (Latin: līmāx, "slug"; from Ancient Greek λεῖμαξ, leîmax, "limax, slug") genus for Hill. "The creature, under whoſe out-line they are arranged, is the black naked ſnail, which is frequent in gardens and damp places, and is deſcribed by all the naturaliſts," Hill considered."

Limax's celestial representation favors the Slug's head and tail, with less definition for in-betweens. "The ſtars are diſpoſed principally toward the head, and toward the lower part of the body, the middle is leſs characteriſed by them."

Limax the Slug neighbors with Orion the Hunter, Lepus the Hare and Eridanus the River. Limax's head associates with the River's edge and with the Hunter's foot. The Slug's body nears Lepus the Hare's head and fore feet. Limax's tail lies at a distance from another part of Eridanus the River. "The conſtellation Limax ſtands between Orion, the Hare, and the Eridanus. Its head comes up toward the edge of the river, at ſome diſtance from the foot of Orion, and its body falls at ſome diſtance before the head and fore feet of the Hare. The tail points at another part of the Eridanus after its firſt bend; but this is at a very conſiderable diſtance."

Limax the Slug sizes as a small constellation, both in extent and in starry components. Yet, Hill's new constellation does not lack visibility. "It is a conſtellation of ſmall extent, and contains only a few ſtars; but ſome of theſe are very conſiderable and bright ones."

Hill tallied nine "conſpicuous ſtars" in Limax the Slug constellation. The constellation's six large stars occur as a spaced set of two, a solitary and a cluster of three to define, respectively, the Slug's head, upper body and tail. Two small stars are positioned near the second large star that marks the lower part of the head. A third small star, which demarcates the lower body, nears the first of the large, bright trio anchoring the Slug's tail.

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 "Limax -- The Slug," posted on their Obliquity website. The quintet belongs to Eridanus the River: 47 Eridani (abbreviated 47 Eri), 53 Eri, 54 Eri, 58 Eri and 60 Eri."

Limax inhabits the southern hemisphere's first quadrant (SQ1). The celestial black naked snail (Arion ater L.; formerly Limax ater) shares the quadrant with two other Hill-invented constellations, Hippocampus the Sea Horse and Testudo the Tortoise."

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has not granted official constellation status to Limax the Slug. Accordingly, Limax categorizes as an obsolete constellation that also may be designated synonymously as defunct, extinct, forgotten or former. Despite its lack of official status, Limax the Slug offers visibility to those stargazers who search for it among its surround of three IAU-recognized constellations, Eridanus the River, Lepus the Hare and Orion the Hunter.

Acknowledgment

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

Dedication

John Hill's Limax the Slug constellation emerges from unformed stars in the space framed by Orion the Hunter's foot, Eridanus the River's edge and Lepus the Hare's head and fore feet; John Hill, Urania, or, A Compleat View of the Heavens (1754), between second and third of three pages on "Cetus, the Whale": 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 International, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limax_Constellation.jpg

John Hill equated his Limax the Slug constellation with Earth's black naked snail, described as a frequenter of "gardens and damp places"; depictions of Amber Snail (top row), Black Naked Snail (second row left) and Red Naked Snail (second row right) as examples of three snail species, in John Hill, An History of Animals (1752), Plate 5, opposite page 91: Biodiversity Heritage Library (BioDivLibrary), Public Domain, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/50374595193/; Public Domain, via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/56071293

For further information:

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

Hill, John. "Limax, the naked Snail." 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/n294/mode/1up

Hill, John. "Limax." Pages 87-88. 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/56071288

Hill, John. "Naked Insects: Snails: The Amber Snail, The Black Naked Snail, the Red Naked Snail." Plate 5, opposite page 91. 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/56071293
Available via Flicker @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/50374595193/

Kaler, James B. (Jim). "54 ERI (54 Eridani).” University of Illinois Astronomy Department > Star of the Week.
Available @ http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/54eri.html

Sassarini, Iacopo. "47 Eridani." The Sky Live > Constellations > Eridanus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/47-eridani-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "54 Eridani." The Sky Live > Constellations > Eridanus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/54-eridani-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "58 Eridani." The Sky Live > Constellations > Eridanus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/58-eridani-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "60 Eridani." The Sky Live > Constellations > Eridanus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/60-eridani-star

Sassarini, Iacopo. "Sceptrum -- 53 Eridani." The Sky Live > Constellations > Eridanus.
Available @ https://theskylive.com/sky/stars/sceptrum-53-eridani-star