Earth and Space News: Polish king constellation

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Wednesday, August 30, 2017

V-Shaped Poniatowski’s Bull Asterism Lies in Constellation Ophiuchus

Summary: V-shaped Poniatowski’s Bull asterism lies in constellation Ophiuchus as a reminder of an obsolete constellation honoring Polish King Stanisław II August.

v-shaped asterism (right) in Taurus Poniatovii (Poniatowski’s Bull) constellation, depicted in Johann Elert Bode’s 1782 star catalogue and atlas, Vorstellung der Gestirn auf XXXIV Kupfertafeln, Plate X: Public Domain Mark 1.0, via Internet Archive

The V-shaped Poniatowski’s Bull asterism lies in constellation Ophiuchus as a starry reminder of its namesake, an obsolete constellation honoring the reign of Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski (Jan. 17, 1732-Feb. 12, 1798) as Stanisław II August, last King and Grand Duke of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Poniatowski’s Bull asterism comprises a tight vee of four stars in Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer constellation in the celestial northern hemisphere.

At the westernmost point of the vee, 66 Ophiuchi (66 Oph) is a fifth magnitude, slightly variable star. The U.S. Naval Observatory’s Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS) reports six observations of a companion, with a magnitude of 6.50, between 2007 and 2014. Its light year distance is 676.69. The blue main sequence dwarf star rates in telescopic astronomy as guide star to Barnard’s Star, a dim red dwarf distanced at 6 light years from Earth.

Located below 66 Ophiuchi, 67 Ophiuchi (67 Oph) is a fourth magnitude, blue supergiant. Four faint companions may actually occur as line-of-sight coincidences. The blue-white supergiant is distanced at 1,418.10 light years.

Marking the vee of the v-shaped asterism’s two arms, 68 Ophiuchi (68 Oph) is a blue-white subgiant. The near-fifth magnitude star has a companion with a visual magnitude of 7.48. The light year distance for 68 Ophiuchi is 264.96 light years.

Positioned in the v-shaped asterism’s eastern arm, 70 Ophiuchi (70 Oph) is a yellow-orange dwarf. The fourth magnitude star actually is a binary star system, with a fainter companion described by Admiral William Henry Smyth (Jan. 21, 1788-Sept. 8, 1865), English naval officer and astronomer, as creating a colorful contrast of “pale topaz and violet.” The light year distance for 70 Ophiuchi is 16.59 light years.

Two other stars often included, individually or jointly, in Poniatowski’s Bull asterism are 72 Ophiuchi (72 Oph) and 73 Ophiuchi (73 Oph). Multiple star system 72 Ophiuchi marks the bull’s horn, at a distance of 82.78 light years. Multiple star system 73 Ophiuchi represents the bull’s right eye, at a distance of 166.24 light years.

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was established July 1, 1569, primarily observed an elective monarchy. Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski was elected Sept. 7, 1764. His coronation as King Stanisław II August took place Nov. 25, 1764. King Stanisłlaw II August’s abdication November 25, 1795, ended his 31 year reign and the 226-year duration of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In 1777, around 12 years after King Stanisław II August’s coronation, Polish-Lithuanian Jesuit astronomer Marcin Odlanick Poczobutt (Oct. 30, 1728-Feb. 7, 1810) discerned a new constellation in the celestial northern hemisphere between Aquila the Eagle and Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. A v-shaped pattern of stars lying east of the Serpent Bearer’s shoulder recalled for Abbot Poczobutt the v-shaped Hyades star cluster in Taurus the Bull constellation as well as the bull on the coat of arms for Poland’s noble House of Poniatowski.

Abbot Poczobutt’s new constellation was first depicted in 1778. Copper plates for a revision of the second edition of Atlas Céleste, published in 1776 by French scientific instrument maker Jean Nicolas Fortin (Aug. 9, 1750-1831), incorporated the new constellation under its French name, le Taureau Royal de Poniatowski (“Poniatowski’s Royal Bull”). German astronomer Johann Elert Bode presented the abbot’s constellation under its German name, der Königliche Stier von Poniatowski, in his 1782 star atlas and catalogue, Vorstellung der Gestirn auf XXXIV Kupfertafen (“Presentation of the Stars on 34 Copper Plates”). In 1822, Taurus Poniatowski (Latin: “Poniatowski’s Bull”) appeared in A Celestial Atlas by Scottish rhetorician Alexander Jamieson.

Abbot Poczobutt’s constellation, however, became obsolete in 1922. Along with other constellations, Poniatowski’s Bull was not included in the 88 modern constellations approved in May in Rome, Italy, by the inaugural General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

The takeaway for v-shaped Poniatowski’s Bull asterism is that the core quartet often completes the bull’s face, with a horn and the right eye, by welcoming one or two other fairly aligned stars in constellation Ophiuchus.

v-shaped asterism (upper left) in Poniatowski’s Bull constellation, depicted in Alexander Jamieson’s A Celestial Atlas (1822), Plate IX: Public Domain, via U.S. Naval Observatory

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

v-shaped asterism (upper left) in Taurus Poniatovii (Poniatowski’s Bull) constellation, depicted in Johann Elert Bode’s 1782 star catalogue and atlas, Vorstellung der Gestirn auf XXXIV Kupfertafeln, Plate X: Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal, via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_z3bvAAAAMAAJ/page/n92/mode/1up;
Public Domain, via HathiTrust @ https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044027949825?urlappend=%3Bseq=103;
via Google Books Read free of charge @ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Vorstellung_der_Gestirne_auf_XXXIV_i_e_v/JKURAAAAYAAJ?hl=en

v-shape asterism (upper left) in Poniatowski’s Bull constellation, depicted in Alexander Jamieson’s A Celestial Atlas (1822), Plate IX: Public Domain, via U.S. Naval Observatory @ http://aa.usno.navy.mil/library/

For further information:

“18003+0422.” VizieR Information Service > The Washington Double Star Catalogue.
Available @ http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-4?-source=B/wds/wds&WDS=18003%2B0422

“18003+0422 WSI 65 (66 Oph).” Stelle Doppie > Double Star Database.
Available @ http://stelledoppie.goaction.it/index2.php?iddoppia=72444

“18006+0256 BU 1124AB (67 Oph).” Stelle Doppie > Double Star Database.
Available @ http://stelledoppie.goaction.it/index2.php?iddoppia=72472

“18018+0118.” Stelle Doppie > Double Star Database.
Available @ http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-5?-ref=VIZ587806b9127c&-out.add=.&-source=J/A%2bA/546/A69/table1&recno=2303

“18018+0118 BU 1125AB (68 Oph).” Stelle Doppie > Double Star Database.
Available @ http://stelledoppie.goaction.it/index2.php?iddoppia=72578

“18096+0400.” VizieR Information Service > The Washington Double Star Catalogue.
Available @ http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-4?-source=B/wds/wds&WDS=18096%2B0400

“18096+0400 STF2281AB (73 Oph).” Stelle Doppie > Double Star Database.
Available @ http://stelledoppie.goaction.it/index2.php?iddoppia=73315

Astro Bob (Bob King). “Double Star in Poniatowski’s Bull Simply Gorgeous.” AreaVoices. July 7, 2012.
Available @ https://astrobob.areavoices.com/2012/07/07/double-star-in-poniatowskis-bull-simply-gorgeous/

“Autorius: Oleškevičius, Juozapas, 1777-1830.” Lietuvos Dailės Muziejaus Rinkinys (Lithuanian Art Museum Collection).
Available @ http://www.rinkinys.ldm.lt/iris/index.aspx?cmp=search&action=details&lang=LT&mus=1&ext_id=954349

Bode, J.E. (Johann Elert). Astronomisches Jahrbuch fr das Jahr 1785. Nebst einer Sammlung der Neuesten in die Astronomischen Wissenschasten Einschlagenden Abhandlungen, Beobachtungen und Nachrichten. Berlin, Germany: George Jacob Decker, 1782.
Available via HathiTrust @ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433057657961

Bode, J.E. (Johann Elert). Vorstellung der Gestirn auf XXXIV Kupfertafeln Nach der Pariser Ausgabe des Flamsteadschen Himmelsatlas. Berlin and Stralsund, Germany: Gottlieb August Lange, 1782.
Available via HathiTrust @ https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009709414

Bril, Henk. “Fortin 1795 - E.” Astrobril. Dec. 23, 2008.
Available @ http://www.astrobril.nl/FortinE.html

Caglieris, Giangi. “On-Line Flamsteed - Fortin Atlas Celeste - 1776.” Infinito Web Sites > Users > C > G. M. Caglieris.
Available @ http://web.infinito.it/utenti/c/caglieris_gm/fortin/english.htm

“The Celestial Atlas of Flamsteed (1795).” The Public Domain Review > Collections.
Available @ https://publicdomainreview.org/collections/the-celestial-atlas-of-flamsteed-1795/

“Constellations: Ophiuchus -- A Healer too Good at his Craft.” Hawaiian Astronomical Society > Deepsky Atlas.
Available @ http://hawastsoc.org/deepsky/oph/index.html

Fortin, Jean Nicolas. Atlas Céleste de Flamstéed. Third edition. Paris, France: Belin Lamarche, 1795.

Fortin, Jean Nicolas. Atlas Céleste de Flamstéed, Approuvé par l'Académie Royale des Sciences, et Publié Sous le Privilege de Cette Compagnie. Seconde Édition. Paris, France: F.G. Deschamps, 1776.

Jamieson, Alexander. A Celestial Atlas: Comprising a Systematic Display of the Heavens in a Series of Thirty Maps Illustrated by Scientific Description of Their Contents and Accompanied by Catalogues of the Stars and Astronomical Exercises. London, England: G. & W.B. Whittaker, 1822.
Available via U.S. Naval Observatory Library @ http://aa.usno.navy.mil/library/

Kaler, James B. (Jim). “67 Oph (67 Ophiuchi).” University of Illinois Astronomy Department > Star of the Week.
Available @ http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/67oph.html

Kaler, James B. (Jim). “70 Oph (70 Ophiuchi).” University of Illinois Astronomy Department > Star of the Week.
Available @ http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/70oph.html

Kaler, James B. (Jim). “Poniatowski’s Bull of Ophiuchus.” University of Illinois Astronomy Department > Star of the Week.
Available @ http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/pon-t.html

Kaler, James B. (Jim). “Star Names.” University of Illinois Astronomy Department > Star of the Week.
Available @ http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/starname.html#flamsteed

Marriner, Derdriu. “Poniatowski’s Bull Constellation Survives as Asterism in Ophiuchus.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/08/poniatowskis-bull-constellation.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

Poczobutt, (l’Abbé) Marcin Odlanicki. Cahiers des Observations Astronomiques Faites à l’Observatoire Royal de Vilna en 1773, Présentés au Roi. Vilnius, Lithuania: Royal publisher, 1777.

Ridpath, Ian. “Taurus Poniatovii Poniatowski’s Bull.” Ian Ridpath > Star Tales.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/poniatowski.htm

Ventrudo, Brian. "The 'Mad Bull' of the August Sky." One-Minute Astronomer. Aug. 27, 2010.
Available @ http://oneminuteastronomer.com/2098/mad-bull-august-sky/

Ventrudo, Brian. "A Pair of Delightful Double Stars." One-Minute Astronomer. Aug. 22, 2008.
Available @ http://oneminuteastronomer.com/171/pair-delightful-double-stars/

Whitworth, Nigel. “66 Ophiuchi - HD164284 - HIP88149.” Universe Guide > Star.
Available @ https://www.universeguide.com/star/66ophiuchi

Whitworth, Nigel. “67 Ophiuchi - HD164353 - HIP88192.” Universe Guide > Star.
Available @ https://www.universeguide.com/star/67ophiuchi

Whitworth, Nigel. “68 Ophiuchi - HD164577 - HIP88290.” Universe Guide > Star.
Available @ https://www.universeguide.com/star/68ophiuchi

Whitworth, Nigel. “70 Ophiuchi - HD165341 - HIP88601.” Universe Guide > Star.
Available @ https://www.universeguide.com/star/70ophiuchi

Whitworth, Nigel. “72 Ophiuchi - HD165777 - HIP88771.” Universe Guide > Star.
Available @ https://www.universeguide.com/star/72ophiuchi

Whitworth, Nigel. “73 Ophiuchi - HD166233 - HIP88964.” Universe Guide > Star.
Available @ https://www.universeguide.com/star/73ophiuchi

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Poniatowski’s Bull Constellation Survives as Asterism in Ophiuchus

Summary: The obsolete Poniatowski’s Bull constellation survives as a v-shaped asterism in Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer constellation.

Taurus Poniatovii (Poniatowski’s Bull) in German astronomer Johann Elert Bode’s 1801 star atlas, Uranographia: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Hovering near the celestial equator in the celestial northern hemisphere, the obsolete Poniatowski’s Bull constellation survives as a v-shaped asterism, marking the bull’s face, in Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer constellation.

In 1777, Polish-Lithuanian Jesuit astronomer Marcin Odlanick Poczobutt (Oct. 30, 1728-Feb. 7, 1810) designated stars in northeastern Ophiuchus as a new, bull-themed constellation. His new constellation honored Stanisław II August (Jan. 17, 1732-Feb. 12, 1798), a member of Poland’s noble, prominent House of Poniatowski. A conscientious patron of arts and sciences, he reigned as last King and Grand Duke of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from Sept. 6, 1764, until his abdication Nov. 25, 1795.

The House of Poniatowski numbers among the szlachta (“nobility”) using the Ciołek clan’s coat of arms. The Ciołek coat of arms features a bull and a crown. King Stanisław II August’s coat of arms comprises a quarterly-parted escutcheon (Latin: scutum, “shield”) topped with a crown. An inescutcheon, or smaller shield, is placed over the middle of the escutcheon. The white-fielded inescutcheon displays a red bull.

Abbot Poczobutt’s inspiration for seeing a new constellation in a space of loose stars was a v-shaped pattern of stars located near Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer’s shoulder. The v-shaped pattern reminded him of the v-shaped Hyades star cluster representing the bovine face in the zodiacal constellation of Taurus the Bull. The abbot mostly constructed his new constellations with stars from Ophiuchus. Aquila the Eagle constellation contributed to the new constellation’s rear edges.

Abbot Poczobutt included his new constellation in his star catalogue, Cahiers des Observations Astronomiques Faites à l’Observatoire Royal de Vilna en 1773, Présentés au Roi, which was published in 1777. German astronomer Johann Elert Bode (Jan. 19, 1747-Nov. 23, 1826) gave the new constellation a wider audience by reprinting Abbot Poczobutt’s starry list in Astronomisches Jahrbuch, an astronomical ephemeris almanac published by Bode since 1776.

French scientific instrument maker Jean Nicolas Fortin (Aug. 9, 1750-1831) claims publication of the first depiction of le Taureau Royal de Poniatowski (“Poniatowski’s Royal Bull”). Fortin collaborated with French astronomers Pierre Charles Le Monnier (Nov. 20, 1715-April 3, 1799) and Charles Messier (June 26, 1730-April 12, 1817) in updating Atlas Coelestis by John Flamsteed (Aug. 19, 1646-Dec. 31, 1719), English astronomer and First Astronomer Royal of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. The star atlas, based upon Flamsteed’s astronomical observations, was posthumously published by the First Astronomer Royal’s widow, Margaret Cooke Flamsteed (ca. 1670-ca. 1730/1739).

In 1776, Fortin published Atlas Céleste, replacing Latin-named constellations with French, as the second edition of Flamsteed’s Atlas Coelestic. Beginning in 1778, the first depiction of Poniatowski’s Bull was added to the copper plates for the Fortin-Flamsteed atlas. Le Taureau Royal de Poniatowski appeared in revisions to Fortin’s second edition. A third edition, published in 1795, also depicted the new constellation.

In the 20th century, Poniatowski’s Bull joined other constellations in obsolescence. The International Astronomical Union (IAU), founded in 1919, whittled the confusing parade of global constellations to 88 modern constellations, which were approved May 1922 at the international association’s inaugural General Assembly, held in Rome, Italy. Constellation boundaries, established in 1930, were ratified in 1933.

As with other obsolete constellations, stars in Poniatowski’s Bull are now firmly settled components of adjacent constellations. The stars that shaped Poniatowski’s Bull are officially restored to the neighboring constellations of Aquila the Eagle and Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer.

Although no longer listed as a constellation, Poniatowski’s Bull remains as a noticeable, v-shaped asterism in the celestial sphere, the imaginary, Earth-centered sphere projected outward into space. Poniatowski's Bull asterism resides to the east of Beta Ophiuchi (β Ophiuchi; Beta Oph; β Oph) and Gamma Ophiuchi (γ Oph; γ Ophiuchi) in the Serpent Bearer's shoulder.

The takeaway for obsolete Taurus Poniatovii is that Poniatowski’s Bull constellation survives as a v-shaped asterism in Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer constellation.

1810 portrait of Martynas Počobutas (Marcin Odlanick Poczobutt) by Polish-Lithuanian painter Juozapas Oleškevičius (1777-Oct. 5, 1830), Lietuvos Dailės Muziejaus (Lithuanian Art Museum), Vilnius, southeastern Lithuania: Public Domain, 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:

Taurus Poniatovii (Poniatowski’s Bull) in Johann Elert Bode’s 1801 star atlas, Uranographia: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bode_pontowski.jpg

Barentine, John C. The Lost Constellations: A History of Obsolete, Extinct, or Forgotten Star Lore. Springer-Praxis Books in Popular Astronomy. Cham, Switzerland; Heidelberg, Germany; New York NY; Dordrecht, The Netherlands; London UK: Springer International Publishing, 2016.

Bril, Henk. “Fortin 1795 - E.” Astrobril. Dec. 23, 2008.
Available @ http://www.astrobril.nl/FortinE.html

Caglieris, Giangi. “On-Line Flamsteed - Fortin Atlas Celeste - 1776.” Infinito Web Sites > Users > C > G. M. Caglieris.
Available @ http://web.infinito.it/utenti/c/caglieris_gm/fortin/english.htm

“The Celestial Atlas of Flamsteed (1795).” The Public Domain Review > Collections.
Available @ https://publicdomainreview.org/collections/the-celestial-atlas-of-flamsteed-1795/

Fortin, Jean Nicolas. Atlas Céleste de Flamstéed. Third edition. Paris, France: Belin Lamarche, 1795.

Frommert, Hartmut; Christine Kronberg. “Jean Nicolas Fortin (August 9, 1750 - 1831).” SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) The Messier Catalog > Xtra > Bios.
Available @ http://messier.seds.org/xtra/Bios/fortin.html#fortin1776

Kanas, Nick. Star Maps: History, Artistry, and Cartography. Springer-Praxis Books in Popular Astronomy. Cham, Switzerland; Heidelberg, Germany; New York NY; Dordrecht, The Netherlands; London UK: Springer International Publishing, 2007.

Poczobutt, (l’Abbé) Marcin Odlanicki. Cahiers des Observations Astronomiques Faites à l’Observatoire Royal de Vilna en 1773, Présentés au Roi. Vilnius, Lithuania: Royal publisher, 1777.

Ridpath, Ian. “Taurus Poniatovii Poniatowski’s Bull.” Ian Ridpath > Star Tales.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/poniatowski.htm

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Serpens the Serpent Constellation Is the Only Two Part Constellation

Summary: Serpens the Serpent Constellation is the only two part constellation, with head and tail at opposite sides of Ophiuchus the Serpent Holder constellation.

Ophiuchus the Serpent Holder with Serpens, the only two part constellation, as depicted in Alexander Jamieson’s A Celestial Atlas (1822), Plate IX: Public Domain, via U.S. Naval Observatory

Serpens the Serpent Constellation is the only two part constellation, with the Serpens Caput (Serpent’s Head) and Serpens Cauda (Serpent’s Tail) disconnected by the intervening constellation of Ophiuchus the Serpent Holder.

In front view depictions of the Serpent Holder, he grasps the Serpent’s upper body, known as Serpens Caput, in his left hand. Ophiuchus’s right hand holds the Serpent’s lower body, known as Serpens Cauda.

Back view depictions of Ophiuchus reverse the grasps. With his back toward stargazers, the Serpent Holder grasps Serpens Caput in his right hand while his left hand clasps Serpens Cauda.

At mid-northern latitudes in May, Serpens the Serpent constellation rises well above the southeastern horizon around midnight. Dark skies, undisturbed by light pollution, reveal the Milky Way dip that the lowest coil of Serpens Cauda shares with Ophiuchus. Serpens Caput never nears the solar system’s hazy band of multitudinous lights.

Serpens Caput angles upward, above Libra the Scales constellation and below Corona Borealis the Northern Crown constellation. Along with Ophiuchus, Hercules the Kneeling Hero defines Serpens Caput’s eastern borders. Virgo the Maiden constellation and Boötes the Herdsman constellation frame Serpens Caput’s western boundaries.

Serpens Caput resides primarily in the northern celestial hemisphere. The constellation’s lowest expanses venture across the celestial equator, the imaginary circle projected from Earth’s equator outward into space, and dip, by a few degrees, into the southern celestial hemisphere.

In its emergence from the opposite side of the Serpent Holder, Serpens Cauda droops slightly downward toward its southern neighbor, Sagittarius the Archer constellation. Its downward trail brings Serpens Cauda closer than Serpens Caput to the plane of the ecliptic, the sun’s apparent path across the Earth-centered celestial sphere.

Often Serpens Cauda coils from behind the Serpent Holder’s left leg, as in A Celestial Atlas (1822) by Scottish rhetorician Alexander Jamieson (1782-July 1850). Prodromus Astronomiae, a posthumously published star catalog by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius (Jan. 28, 1611-Jan. 28, 1687), however, obscures the Serpent’s mid-section behind the front of the Serpent Holder’s body. For Hevelius, a back viewed depiction of Ophiuchus angles Serpens Caput outward from the Serpent Holder’s bent left leg and Serpens Cauda outward from the Serpent Holder’s straightened, right left.

Quickly Serpens Cauda angles upward as Ophiuchus’s grasp raises the rest of the Serpent’s lower body, all the way to its tail, aloft. Scutum the Shield constellation and Aquila the Eagle constellation mark Serpens Cauda’s eastern borders. Hercules the Kneeling Hero constellation perches above while Ophiuchus claims the Tail’s western frontier.

For about 145 years, Serpens Cauda troubled the forelegs and a hind leg of a late-18th century constellation, Poniatowski’s Bull. In 1777, Polish-Lithuanian Jesuit astronomer Marcin Odlanick Poczobutt (Oct. 30, 1728-Feb. 7, 1810) discerned and created, from unfigured stars in Ophiuchus, a small, bovine constellation honoring Stanisław II August, last King and Grand Duke of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as a dedicated patron of arts and sciences. Poniatowski’s Bull constellation became obsolete after its exclusion from the 88 modern constellations named by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1922. The small constellation, however, survives as a v-shaped asterism, Poniatowski’s Bull, near the Serpent Holder’s right shoulder.

As with Serpens Caput, Serpens Cauda straddles the celestial equator. Contrastingly, about one-third of Serpens Cauda resides in the northern celestial hemisphere while about two-thirds lie in the southern celestial hemisphere.

Serpens the Serpent constellation rates as 23rd largest among the 88 modern constellations established by the International Astronomical Union. Its total area of 636.928 square degrees places it between its eastern neighbor, Aquila the Eagle constellation, number 22 at 652.473 square degrees, and Perseus the Hero constellation, number 24 at 614.997 square degrees.

Serpens Caput claims double the area of Serpens Cauda. Serpens Caput contributes 428.484 square degrees to the total of 636.928 square degrees. Serpens Cauda covers 208.444 square degrees.

The takeaway for Serpens the Serpent constellation as the only two part constellation is that Serpens Caput (Serpent’s Head) and Serpens Cauda (Serpent’s Tail) noticeably frame Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer for stargazers at mid-northern latitudes in May.

naked eye astronomy visibility of Serpens the Serpent, the only two part constellation:
Serpens Caput constellation (left); Serpens Cauda constellation (right): Till Credner, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, 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:

Ophiuchus the Serpent Holder with Serpens, the only two part constellation, as depicted in Alexander Jamieson’s A Celestial Atlas (1822), Plate IX: Public Domain, via U.S. Naval Observatory @ http://aa.usno.navy/mil/library/

naked eye astronomy visibility of Serpens the Serpent, the only two part constellation:
Serpens Caput constellation (left): Till Credner, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SerpensCaputCC.jpg
Serpens Cauda constellation (right): Till Credner, CC BY SA 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SerpensCaudaCC.jpg

For further information:

Kaler, James B. (Jim). "Ophiuchus and Serpens." University of Illinois Astronomy Department.
Available @ http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/ophser-p.html

Plotner, Tammy. "Serpens Caput." Universe Today. Dec. 24, 2015.
Available @ http://www.universetoday.com/23586/serpens-caput/

Plotner, Tammy. "Serpens Cauda." Universe Today. Dec. 24, 2015.
Available @ http://www.universetoday.com/23601/serpens-cauda/

Ridpath, Ian. “Ophiuchus the Serpent Holder.” Ian Ridpath > Star Tales.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/ophiuchus.htm

Ridpath, Ian. “Serpens the Serpent.” Ian Ridpath > Star Tales.
Available @ http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/serpens.htm