Pictures in the sky: the origin and history of the constellations

The Royal Society・2 minutes read

Constellations are human inventions to bring order and storytelling to the universe, with 88 recognized constellations established through international agreement. The history and evolution of constellations span over 3,000 years, influenced by various cultures and astronomers, leading to the establishment of official names and borders by the International Astronomical Union in 1922.

Insights

  • Constellations are human inventions designed to organize the universe and convey stories through stars, with over 3,000 years of history spanning various cultures and astronomers.
  • The establishment of 88 recognized constellations with fixed names and boundaries, agreed upon internationally, showcases the evolution of astronomical knowledge and the meticulous delineation of celestial territories, emphasizing the importance of precision and collaboration in this field.

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Recent questions

  • What is the origin of constellations?

    Constellations are human inventions to bring order to the universe and tell stories through stars.

  • How many recognized constellations exist today?

    There are 88 recognized constellations with fixed names and boundaries.

  • How were Greek constellations transmitted to Western Europe?

    Greek astronomical knowledge was transmitted through Arab translations in Spain, reintroducing Greek works and establishing Latin as the scientific language.

  • What was the significance of Albrecht Durer's celestial chart?

    Durer's 1515 celestial chart revealed differences in the northern and southern skies, resolving design issues to show constellation figures as seen from Earth.

  • When were the 88 modern constellations officially established?

    The International Astronomical Union (IAU) established the 88 modern constellations with official names in 1922.

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Summary

00:00

"History of Constellations: Human Invention and Stories"

  • Felicity Henderson, Events Manager at the Royal Society, introduces Ian Ridpath as the first speaker in the autumn lunchtime lecture series.
  • Ian Ridpath, an astronomy enthusiast and author, discusses the origin and history of constellations, emphasizing their human-invented nature.
  • Constellations, a product of human imagination, were created to bring order to the universe and tell stories through the stars.
  • The journey of ancient constellations spans over 3,000 years, with contributions from various cultures and astronomers.
  • Today, there are 88 recognized constellations with fixed names and boundaries, established through international agreement.
  • The Greek constellations, passed down through generations, were depicted in various forms, often allegorical rather than literal.
  • The Chinese also had their own constellations, distinct from the Western tradition, with over three times as many.
  • Stars within a constellation have no physical connection, contrary to ancient beliefs of them being lights on a celestial sphere.
  • Greek constellations were first mentioned in works by Homer and Hesiod around 700 BC, with a more comprehensive set detailed by Eudoxus and later Ptolemy.
  • The transmission of ancient Greek astronomical knowledge to Western Europe occurred through Arab translations in Spain, leading to the reintroduction of Greek works and the establishment of Latin as the scientific language.

16:38

Arabic Names, Astrolabes, and Celestial Discoveries

  • Arabic names like Aldebaran, Bethel, and Rigel were crucial in preserving Greek works and reintroducing them to the West.
  • Astrolabes, flat representations of the sky, were used for timekeeping and locating celestial objects, serving as precursors to planispheres.
  • Astrolabes featured ornate decorations with pointer things that indicated star positions and names engraved in Arabic.
  • Some pointers on astrolabes were shaped like birds or animals to represent the stars or constellations they pointed to.
  • Star names like Alibagh (Sirius) originated from Arabic, with some eventually reverting to their original Greek names.
  • Expansion of astronomical research and printed books led to the introduction of new star names and the same 48 constellations known to Ptolemy.
  • Albrecht Durer's 1515 celestial chart, with two halves showing Ptolemy's constellations, revealed differences in the northern and southern skies.
  • Durer's map depicted constellation figures back to front, a design issue resolved later by map makers to show them as seen from Earth.
  • The southern sky appeared bare due to a gap around the South Pole, indicating the latitude of the constellation inventors around 36 degrees north.
  • New constellations introduced by explorers like Petrus Plancius and Johann Bayer, labeled with Greek letters, marked significant advancements in star atlases.

32:09

Evolution of Constellations: From Ships to Stars

  • Johann Bayer depicted a ship without a prow in the sky, representing it rowing between clashing rocks at the Black Sea entrance.
  • The ship constellation was larger than others, split into three parts, unlike Kaiser and Houtman's exotic animal constellations.
  • Makai named his constellations after science and arts instruments, like an air pump and chemical furnace.
  • Lakai introduced a telescope constellation, reflecting the telescopes of that era with long tubes and cumbersome mountings.
  • Boda's "Uranographia" Atlas, published in 1801, contained around 100 constellations, including unique ones like Officina Typographica and Globus Aerostaticus.
  • The International Astronomical Union (IAU) established the 88 modern constellations with official names in 1922.
  • Eugene Delporte's 1930 atlas defined constellation borders using coordinate lines, resolving boundary disputes and allocating stars unambiguously.
  • Constellation shapes change slowly due to proper motions of stars, with examples like the Plow, Cygnus, and Leo showing significant alterations over thousands of years.
  • Naming stars after individuals through unofficial schemes lacks validity, as per the IAU and Royal Astronomical Society, emphasizing the poetic and imaginative aspects of constellations.
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