THE IMPERIAL ASTRONOMY

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THE 48

IMAGES OF THE HEAVENS TOGETHER WITH THE STARS

A woodcut illustration depicting the constellations Ursa Minor (labeled "Vrsa minor.") and Ursa Major (labeled "Vrsa maior."). Ursa Minor is shown as a small bear standing on its head relative to the larger Ursa Major. The stars of both constellations are marked with numbered star-shaped symbols and dots, delineating the figures of the bears.

Little Bear.

The LITTLE BEAR Latin: Ursa Minor is conspicuous for its seven stars. This constellation gives its name to the "Arctic" pole, for in Greek, arktos original: ἄρκτος means a bear. The first star of the Bear, which is at the end of the tail, is called the Polar Star because it is closest to the pole; sailors call it the "Star of the Sea." It is of the third magnitude of brightness; the four following it are of the fourth, and the remaining two are of the second. This constellation is also called the Lesser Septentrio A Latin term for the north, referring to the "seven oxen", the Cynosure, the Lesser Wain, and Phoenice, after the name of its discoverer. Hanging near the neck of this bear is a certain "unformed" star Stars not used to draw the main figure of the constellation distinguished by the fourth magnitude. This Little Bear never sets nor rises in our climate Meaning it is circumpolar and always visible in the northern hemisphere, for which reason I pass over those details.

Great Bear.

• The Great Bear Latin: Ursa Major contains twenty-seven stars, seven of which are more famous and constitute the Wain The Big Dipper. It is called the Greater Arctos, the Greater Wain, the Hamaxa Greek for wagon, or in Greek, Helice, as well as Callisto, and the Greater Septentrio. The three stars representing the wheels are of the second degree of magnitude, and the fourth is of the third. Of those representing the wagon-pole, the nearest is named Alioth and is of the second rank of brightness. The star at the very end of the tail is called Benenatz or Benenaim by the Arabs, while the one on the back is called Dubhe by them. Beyond these, a very tiny star seems to sit near the middle of the tail, which the Arabs call Alcor, that is, "the little rider." It is not easily seen by those with weaker eyesight, from which an Arabic proverb arose: You have seen Alcor, but not the full moon. A metaphor for someone who notices trivial details but misses the obvious. This constellation also appears to us perpetually. Furthermore, eight unformed stars accompany this bear.
  Proverb: You have seen Alcor, but not the full moon.

Draco.

• The image of Draco The Dragon consists of thirty stars, the brightest of which is in the head, called Rafdaben by the Babylonians, of the third order of magnitude; it is also called the Serpent, the Snake, or the Guardian of the Hesperides. It too is always visible to us. From the constellation of the Dragon, the Arab Azophi referring to the 10th-century astronomer Al-Sufi forms five dromedaries and two wolves.

Cepheus.

• Now let Cepheus be seen, called Phicares by the Babylonians and Cheichius by the Arabs—which signifies "inflammation"—also called the Flaming One or the Incensed One. It has eleven stars, with two unformed ones; the brightest among them is on the right shoulder, called Alderamin by the Chaldeans; it is also always visible in our climate. From two stars placed in the right hand, Azophi forms two wings, and from those in the right and left feet, he forms a shepherd, a dog, and sheep.

Bootes.

• Bootes follows, so called because he is a "plowman" or Arctophylax, which means the "Guardian of the Bear" or of the Wain. The Arabs call him Thegius, which is as if you said "one who is wailing or shouting." Bearing twenty-two stars, he is entirely hidden from our hemisphere except for the four stars of the left hand. Near him shines a certain famous but unformed star which the Greeks call Arcturus, and the Chaldeans call Azimech, Ariamech, or Colanza. Sometimes "Arcturus" is used for the whole of Bootes, and conversely "Bootes" for Arcturus, which according to Pliny almost never rises without stormy hail. For us, it rises exactly with the sun on the 14th day of September, whereas for three days before it would not have been seen in the east, but in the west after sunset. After the twenty-sixth day of September, it is seen in both the east and west until the 15th of November, when it is again hidden heliacally, that is, beneath the sun. In the western part, it is hidden so that it is no longer seen after sunset. On the 6th of December, it is hidden precisely with the sun. The star Cegnius, which is in the left shoulder of Bootes, sets on January 14th and rises on August 15th. According to the opinion of Azophi, Arcturus signifies a sword or dagger. He maintains that the stars held by the right foot are a kind of club, and the star in the left foot is a lance. Furthermore, from other stars of Bootes, he similarly forms another lance, just as from the three belonging to the left hand, he forms three "little donkeys."

Northern Crown.

• The Northern Crown Latin: Corona Septentrionalis follows, which the Arab Azophi makes into a Parma A small round shield. The Babylonians call it Alphieta and the Chaldeans Malpheclare; elsewhere it has the name Ariadne. The Russian calls the same the Gnosian Star. However, all these names are attributed to the brightest star of this constellation, which is of the second

order, while the other seven are only of the fourth and fifth rank of brightness. Its appearances are the same as Arcturus: it rises with the Sun on September 21st, and is therefore seen in the western part after the setting of the Sun. On November 3rd, it is seen again in the east. No less in the west after the sun has set, it is hidden on December 15th and no longer appears in the west, but on the 31st of the same month, it sinks below the horizon together with the sun.

Hercules

• Hercules now comes to be considered, otherwise called Engonasis Greek for "on the knees", that is, the Kneeling One or the Striver, the Dancer, the Boar, Cethea, or Algiethi (which means "The Bowed"), consisting of 29 stars. It is brighter in the head, which is named Rasalgethi by the Chaldeans, meaning "the head of Hercules." This star shares the name of the whole constellation; it rises on January 4th and sets on October 23rd.

Lyra.

• Lyra The Lyre shows itself, otherwise called the Tortoise, the Orphic Lyre, Cheliis, the Fiddle, or in Chaldean Afinge, Allohare, Albegala, or the Falling Vulture—though I do not recall reading why it is called by this last name. it is composed of ten lights, among which one shines with the first degree of magnitude upon the "pupil," called Vega. The others are of the third and fourth degree. Vega climbs the horizon with the Sun on October 7th, is seen before sunrise on the 19th of the same month, and is obscured with the sun on February 22nd.

Cygnus.

• Cygnus The Swan desires to be seen, called kyknos and ornis by the Greeks original: κύκνος καὶ ὄρνις—that is, the Swan and the Bird in Latin—and also the Hen. It glitters with 17 stars, three of which are brighter than the rest. The first is in the beak of the hen, called Albireo. The second is at the tip of the left wing, named Alryph. The third, of the second magnitude in the tail, is the Rump of the Hen, called Arrioph or Addige by the Arabs. There is still one nebulous star hanging over the right knee; however, this shining star of the tail, of which we spoke, is always visible to us.

Cassiopeia

• Next, look upon Cassiopeia, holding the names of the Throne, the Chair, or the Bean-trellis Latin: Siliquastrum. The star in her breast is called Schedar by the Chaldeans. This constellation remains always visible to us.

Perseus.

• The image of Perseus is offered, called Chelub in Arabic, the Bearer of Medusa’s Head, Algol, the Devil, or the Gorgon. This constellation is composed of three figures: the Image of Perseus, his Sword, and the head of Algol. The sword is called the Adamantine Sickle, the Hooked Sword, or the Harpe. Four stars of Medusa's head are named the Gorgoneans, among which one is brighter, of the second degree of light, just as in the right side of Perseus there is a certain notable one of the same magnitude called Alchenib. On our parallel, very little of Perseus’s body rises and sets. But the Gorgon’s star rises for us with the Sun sun symbol on January 19th; soon on February 16th, it is seen before the Sun. On May 12th, it is hidden in the evening after the Sun.

Auriga.

• The constellation Auriga The Charioteer follows, which the Greeks call Heniochus, the Latins the Charioteer, the Wagoner, the Keeper of the Goats (having the Goat, the Kids, or the Olenian Goat), and the Arabs call Alhaioth. On the left shoulder of the Charioteer falls a certain star of the first magnitude Capella, which is always visible in the seventh climate, and much more so to those further north. This entire configuration consists of fourteen stars, among which the one called the Goat holds the first magnitude, the right shoulder the second, and the Kids the fourth. Those occupying the left elbow are called the Sadatheni stars in Arabic. They rise very slightly above the horizon, while the stars of the right shoulder do not rise at all.

Serpentarius

• Serpentarius The Serpent Bearer, or Ophiuchus now comes to be contemplated, also named the Serpent-Holder, Aesculapius, in Arabic Alangue, in Greek ophiouchos original: ὀφιοῦχος—that is, the Serpent-Bearer, the Effeminate One, or the Carrier of the Serpent, because he is involved and surrounded by a serpent. Ptolemy and Alfonso attribute 24 stars of the third, fourth, and fifth magnitude to Serpentarius, though they are not very notable except for two on the left hand, called Yed in Arabic (being the 7th and 8th in order), which are of the third magnitude, as is another star of the same size in the head of the Serpent-Bearer, Rasalhague. This star rises with the Sun on October 28th, while on the preceding day, the 27th, Yed (the left palm of the Serpent-Bearer) rises. The same sets on December 5th, and the head on January 6th. Additionally, there are 6 unformed stars near the Serpent-Bearer.

Telum.

• From here follows Telum The Dart or the Arrow, which is also called the Southern Pole, bearing five stars of the fourth, fifth, and sixth magnitude, appearing cosmically Rising at the same time as the sun on November 17th, and setting again on February 3rd and 4th.

Aquila.

• You will soon see Aquila The Eagle or the Flying Vulture, composed of 9 formal stars and 6 unformed ones. The brightest of all, between the shoulder blades, is named Altair original: Alkayr, and is of the second rank. On January 12th, it ceases to be seen in the west, and on the 25th of the same month, it sets entirely cosmically. Along with it sets a star named Antinous, which occupies the tail of the eagle. On November 28th, Altair is seen; on the following day, the part preceding Altair (the eagle's neck) appears again heliacally on December 13th.

Delphinus.

• From these is seen the Dolphin Latin: Delphinus, distinguished by ten lights of the third, fourth, and sixth magnitude; the middle of these is brighter, and emerges with the Sun on December 3rd, but sets again with the same on January 7th,