author in which the names of the most remarkable ones are not to be found. But to trace the origin of this invention, and to show why one, animal had the honour of being advanced to the heavens in preference to another, is no easy task. M. Fréret, the Abbe la Pluche, and several other writers of considerable eminence, have ransacked all the legends of fabulous history for the illustration of this subject; but, except in a few obvious instances, no consistent and satisfactory account has as yet been given. 11. Besides the names of the constellations, the ancients gave particular names to some single stars or small collections of stars; thus the cluster of small stars in the neck of Taurus was called the Pleiades; five stars in his face, the Hyades; a bright star in the breast of Leo, the Lion's Heart; and a large star between the knees of Bootes, Arcturus, &c. 12. In order that the memory may not be burthened with a multiplicity of names, astronomers mark the stars of every constellation, by the letters of the Greek and Roman alphabets; denoting the first or principal star by a, the next in order by ẞ, the third in order by y, and so on; when the Greek alphabet is finished, the letters of the Roman alphabet a, b, c, &c. are applied to the remaining stars in the same manner; and when the number of stars in a constellation exceeds the letters of both alphabets, the ordinal numbers 1, 2, 3, &c., are used to denote the rest in the same regular succession; so that by this means the stars can be spoken of with as much ease as if each had a separate name. The method of denoting the stars in every constellation by the Greek and Roman alphabets, was the invention of John Bayer, a German lawyer and astronomer, who first introduced it about the year 1603, in his charts of the constellations; this useful method of describing the stars has been adopted by all succeeding astronomers, who have farther enlarged it, by adding the numbers 1, 2, 3, &c. to the other stars discovered since his time, when any constellation contains more than can be marked by the two alphabets. By means of these marks the stars of the heavens may, with as great facility, be distinguished and referred to, as the several places of the earth are by means of geographical tables. Astronomers, in speaking of any star in the constellation, denote it by saying it is marked by Bayer, a, 6, or y, &c. As the Greek letters so frequently occur in catalogues of the stars and on the celestial globes, the Greek alphabet is here introduced for the use of those who are unacquainted with the letters. The capitals are however seldom used in denoting the stars. THE GREEK ALPHABET. 12. The MILKY WAY, Via Lactea, or Galaxy, is a broad path, or track, encompassing the whole heavens, and also distinguishable by its white appearance, whence it obtains the name. Astronomers have found, by the help of telescopes, that this track in the heavens consists of an immense multitude of stars, seemingly very close together, whose mingled light gives this appearance of whiteness; by Milton beautifully described as a path "powdered with stars." 13. Nebulous is a term applied to those stars which show only a dim hazy light, like little specks or clouds; they are smaller than those of the 6th magnitude, and therefore seldom visible to the naked eye. The milky way may be considered as one great nebulæ, which Dr. Herschel has found to consist of a continued assemblage of Nebulæ, or vast clusters of small stars. 14. Astronomers have divided the constellations. into three classes, called the northern, the southern, and the zodaical. The northern constellations are 37 in number, the southern 47, and the zodaical 12; making in the whole 96. The number of the ancient constellations was only 48. The following tables contain the names of all the constelIations, and the principal stars in each, with their magnitudes marked 1, 2, 3, &c. By adding together the number of stars in the first column of the tables, the total will be found to be 3457; of this number there are only 19 of the first magnitude, and 422 cannot be seen at London. The figures on the left hand of the tables show the number of stars in each constellation, from Flamstead's catalogue; R denotes right ascension; D declination of the middle of the several constel lations, for the ready finding them on the celestial globe. The modern constellations are distinguished from the ancient by an asterisk or star (*). : Names of the constellations, and of the principal stars in each, with their magnitudes. I. CONSTELLATIONS IN THE ZODIAC. 66. Aries, the Ram, Arietis 2, 141. Taurus, the Bull, Aldebaran 1, the Plei ades, the Hyades, RD 30 22 Ν. 85. Gemini, the Twins, Castor 1, Pollux 2,111 32 N. 83. Cancer, the Crab, Acubene 4, 65 16 Ν. 128 20 Ν. 95. Leo, the Lion, Regulus or Cor Leonis 1, Deneb 2, 1 150 15 Ν. 110. Virgo, the Virgin, Spica Virginis 1, Vendemiatrix 2, 192 5 Ν. 51. Libra, the Balance, Zubernick Meli 2, 226. S S. 44. Scorpio, the Scorpion, Antarés 1, 244 26 S. 69. Sagittarius, the Archer, 285 35 S. 51. Capricornus, the Goat, 310 20 S. 108. Aquarius, the Water-bearer, Scheat 3, 335 4 S. 113. Pisces, the Fishes, 5 10 Ν. II. THE NORTHERN CONSTELLATIONS. 66. Andromeda, Mirach 2, Almaach 2, 15 35 Ν. or Atair 1, 71. Aquila, the Eagle, with Antinous, Altair 25. Asterion et Chara, vel Canes Venatici, the Greyhound, 200 40 Ν. pella 1, Perseus, dar 3, 66. Auriga, the Charioteer or Wagoner, Ca 54. Bootes, Arcturus 1, Mirach 3, 58. Camelopardalus, * the Camelopard, 59. Caput Meduse, the Head of Medusa, and 55. Cassiopeia, the Lady in her Chair, Sche 35. Cepheus, Alderamin 3, - Cerberus,* the Three-headed Dog, and Hercules, 75 45 Ν. 212 20 Ν. 68 70 Ν. 44 40 Ν. 12 60 Ν. 338 65 Ν. 43. Coma Berenices, Berenice's Hair, 3. Cor Caroli, Charles's Heart, 271 22 N 185 26 N 191 39 N RD 21. Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, Alphacca 2, 235 30 Ν. $1. Cygnus, the Swan, Deneb Adige 1, 308. 42 Ν. 18. Delphinus, the Dolphin, 808 15 Ν. 80. Draco, the Dragon, Rastaben 2, 270 66 Ν. 0. Equulus, the Little Horse, 816 5 Ν. 16. Lacerta, the Lizard, Algol 2, 113. Hercules, vide Cerberus, Res Algethi 3, 245 22 Ν. 53. Leo Minor,* the Little Lion, 44. Lynx,* the Lynx, 22. Lyra, the Harp, Vega or Wega 1, 11. Mons Mœnalus, the Mountain Mœnalus, 6. Musca, the Fly, 89. Pegasus, the Flying Horse, Markab 2, Scheat 2, -. Perseus, vide Caput Medusæ, Algenib 2, 18. Sagitta, the Arrow, 336 43 Ν. 150 35 Ν. 111 50 Ν. 283 38 Ν. 225 5 N. 40 27 Ν. 340 14 Ν. 46 49 Ν. 295 18 Ν. 8. Scutum Sobieski,* Sobieski's Shield, 275 10 S. 64. Serpens, the Serpent, 235 10 Ν. 74. Serpentarius, the Serpent Bearer, Ras Alhagus 2, 260 13 Ν. 7. Taurus Poniatowski,* the Bull of Ponia towski, 275 7 Ν. 11. Triangulum, the Triangle, 5. Triangulum Minus, the Little Triangle, 87. Ursa Major, the Great Bear, Dubhe 1, Alioth 2, Benetnach 2, 24. Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, Polar Star, or Alrukabah 2, 37. Vulpecula et Anser,* the Fox and Goose, 10. Tarandus,* the Reindeer, To the preceding list of northern constellations, modern astronomers have also added Le Messier, Taurus Regalis; Frederick's Ehre, Frederick's Glory; and Tubus Herschelii Major, Herschel's Great Telescope. 14 27 32 Ν. 31 29 Ν. 153 60 Ν. 235 75 Ν. 300 25 Ν. 30 75 Ν. |