The Emperor's Astronomy

ASTRONOMY OF THE CAESARS

The Little Horse.

✱ Next, the cluster of stars called the Little Horse original: "Equiculus", or the Lesser Horse, or the Former Horse, or the Head of the Horse, is shown. It is composed of four stars which are somewhat hidden; two of these are in the mouth, rising above the horizon on December 16 and 17, and sinking below it on February 11. The other two, located on the forehead, rise on December 23 and fall again on February 7 and 8.

Pegasus.

✱ Now the Second Horse brings forth its choir of 20 stars; it is known similarly as the Flying Horse, the Aerial Horse, Pegasus, the Half-Horse, or the Winged Horse, and in Arabic it is called Alpheratz. It is seen not in its entirety but only as far as the navel. It is marked by four brighter stars of the second magnitude. The most prominent one, at the base of the right wing or the right shoulder, is placed fourth in the order and is elsewhere called Yced Alpheratz or Markab; it rises on January 9 and sets again on March 6. The star that forms the tip of the right wing, elsewhere called Muscida Pegasi, rises on February 4 and sets on the 19th of the same month. The star holding the navel of the Horse and the top of the head of Andromeda, known by the name Alpheratz, rises on January 4 and is soon hidden at daybreak original: "cosmicè," referring to the cosmic setting where a star sets as the sun rises on the first of April. The star in the Horse's chest, third in the order and named Scheat Alpheratz, rises on December 14 and sets on March 19. These four enumerated stars claim the fourth degree of size for themselves.

Andromeda.

✱ The figure of Andromeda appears before our eyes, otherwise called the Chained Woman. Although this constellation contains 23 stars, three are usually given special consideration. The first is in the head, which I mentioned just above, also called the Navel of Pegasus. The second is Scheat Alhames, located in the left foot and of the third magnitude; it rises at the end of the year and sets on May 21. The third is Mirach original: "Mirachin" in the Navel of Andromeda, of the 3rd order of light, which goes above the horizon on January 2 and 3, and below it on April 23 and 24.

The Triangle.

✱ Finally, the Triangle, which is called Deltoton original: "Δελτωτὸν," referring to the Greek letter Delta (Δ) in Greek, reveals itself. It is composed of four stars, of which the one at the peak is of the third size; it rises on February 13 and sets on April 22. The remaining three are seen on the 7th and 8th of February. They are obscured on the fourth of May.
¶ This concludes the stars included in the 28 Northern Images. Their total number is 360. Among these, three are of the first magnitude, 10 of the second, 32 of the third, 177 of the fourth, 58 of the fifth, and 13 of the sixth. There is one nebula and 9 dark stars.

Aries.

¶ Now follow the 12 signs of the Zodiac circle, through the middle of which the Ecliptic The apparent path of the Sun across the sky passes. In the Zodiac, observe the circle drawn through its center, where you will find the name ECLIPTIC inscribed near the tail of the constellation. In that circle, you will find the signs of the Zodiac written in order, through which the Sun, Moon, and the rest of the planets move in a continuous course. Among these, Aries The Ram holds the first place.
✱ Aries, the first constellation in order, consists of 13 stars of the third, fourth, and fifth levels of light. The star in the horn, of the third magnitude, rises on March 15 and sets on April 23. Another star in the horn of the same magnitude rises on March 12 and sets on April 11. The last star in the tail, of the fourth level of brightness, rises on April 30 and falls on the 26th of the same month. At this point, one must wonder at those who, deceived by certain copies of charts, dare to place this last star of the tail in the north, since it actually sets with the Sun before it rises; for it sets on April 26 and rises on the 30th. This is a most certain and indeed infallible proof: whatever stars have southern latitude set with the Sun earlier than they rise, and the further they are from the ecliptic, the earlier they set with the Sun and the later they rise. However, whatever stars incline toward the Arctic pole complete their rising before their previous setting, and the further they are from the ecliptic, the earlier they rise and the slower they set.

Northern stars rise before they set with the Sun; Southern stars do the opposite.

Taurus.

♉ Taurus The Bull, the following sign, encompasses 33 stars, with 11 more outside the main figure. On its back appears a cluster of stars called the Pleiades, named after their mother Pleione; the Atlantides, after their father Atlas; and in Latin, the Vergiliae. Other names include the Peddler’s Garment, the Lump, the Hen, and the Seven Stars; the English call them Butrio, as if to say a hen brooding over her chicks A traditional English folklore name for the Pleiades, and in German, Bruthenn. The first and fourth of the Pleiades rise with the Sun on April 21, the second on April 24, and the third on the 26th; they set on May 6. The head of the Bull bears the Hyades stars on its forehead, derived from the Greek word hyein original: "ὓειν" which means "to rain"; they are otherwise called the Little Pigs, the Palilicium, and the Parilium constellation. One of them, of the first magnitude, is in the eye and is called Aldebaran; it partakes of the nature of Mars. It sets with the Sun on May 9 and rises on the 24th.

Gemini.

♊ Gemini The Twins are the third, also called Didymoi original: "Δίδυμοι", containing 18 stars, with seven others existing around and outside the constellation. In the forehead shines a star of the second degree, called Anelar by the Chaldeans and named the Star of Apollo by the Greeks; it sets on June 19. Another star that adorns the head of the following twin is of the same magnitude as the first and is called Abracha leus by the Chaldeans and the Star of Hercules by the Greeks; it sets clearly on July 13 and rises on the 21st. Of those stars outside the figure, the first is Propus (in Latin, Praepes), of the fourth light; it is so named because it precedes the left foot of the first twin.

Cancer.

♋ Cancer The Crab is the fourth, in Greek karkinos original: "καρκίνος"; it has 9 stars, plus four others that add nothing to the figure. The first in the body is nebulous; astrologers have observed that whenever it is found in the Ascendant or any significant position with the Luminaries The Sun or Moon, it portends ruin to the eyes. This star is also called the Manger original: "praesepe", in Arabic Pefebre or Meselef, and in Greek Phatne, which means manger; it is also called Nepheloides (nebulous) and Systrophe. It ascends on July 13 and descends on the 15th. The star of the Southern Ass, which is the fifth in the head of Cancer, sets on July 14 and emerges on the 15th. The fourth star in the head of Cancer is named the Northern Ass.

Leo.

♌ For Leo The Lion, the fifth sign, there are 27 stars, with eight outside the stature of the body. One of the unformed stars is nebulous. The most splendid star, however, is located in the chest and has received the names Tuberoni, Cor Leonis (Heart of the Lion), Pectus Leonis (Chest of the Lion), and Basilica, which means the Royal Star. In Chaldean, it is called Calb Eleced. It is primarily of the nature of Jupiter, and secondly of Mars...

...of the first magnitude. It rises on August 6 and sets on the same day. Another star shines in the Lion's neck, called the Mane original: "luba", which rises on July 30 and sets on September 1. A third star is also numbered among the brighter ones, located on the back and of the second magnitude; it rises on August 10 and sets entirely on October 2. Likewise, there is a star of the first magnitude occupying the very end of the Lion's tail, reflecting the color of Saturn and a bit of Mercury; in Chaldean it is called Deneb Alazet; it rises on August 22 and sets on October 4. Other stars are also seen near the Lion's tail, of which one is called Triches and the other Rosa. The star Triches is nebulous and is also called Berenice’s Hair original: "crines Berenices"; for the Greeks call hair trichas original: "τρίχας". It rises on August 9 and sets on September 27. Rosa rises on August 18 and sets on November 15.

Rosa, Triches.

Virgo.

♍ The sixth place is held by Virgo The Maiden, adorned with 26 stars, among which two shine brighter than the rest: namely, Spica and Protrigetes (that is, the Herald of the Vintage). Spica is of the first magnitude of light, which the Maiden carries in her left hand. The Arabs, Chaldeans, or Saracens call it Azimech, Azimun, Inhermis, or Alaazel; the Greeks call it Stachin, and the Latins call it the Vinedresser or Erigone. It has a southern latitude from the ecliptic, and therefore sets before it rises. Its rising occurs on September 23 and its setting on October 1. Protrigetes, in the right wing of the Maiden, is named as if it were the "fore-vintager," because it precedes the vinedresser star. Holding the third degree of magnitude, it rises on September 8 and sets on October 27.

Spica in Virgo.

Protrigetes.

Libra.

♎ The seventh order is owed to Libra The Scales, which is elsewhere named the Yoke original: "Iugo". The Greeks more frequently call it Chelas The Claws; for the ancients did not know the Scales, but assigned to the Scorpion the space of two signs, calling the one we call Libra "Chelas," that is, the Claws of the Scorpion. The Chaldeans call the Claws Azubene. In this sign, two stars are particularly noted: the Southern Scale and the Northern Scale. The latter is raised on October 22 and pressed down on the 23rd. The former rises on October 21 and is hidden with the Sun on November 13. Nine other unformed stars stand near the Scales.

Scorpius.

♏ Scorpius or the Scorpion is the eighth, consisting of 21 stars, and is called Napa by another name. Two stars outshine all others: one in the heart is ennobled with the second order of light, whence it is named the Heart of the Scorpion Antares; in Chaldean, Alantrab, and in Greek, Antares original: "ἀντάρης", which means the Star of Mars; it is also explained by some as a star signifying plunder. This rises on November 19 and sinks again with the Sun on December 6. The second is observed at the tip of the Scorpion’s tail, of the fourth magnitude; it sets on October 25 and rises on December 20. While three unformed stars also assist the Scorpion, only one is noted, which is nebulous, near the spine under the arrow of Sagittarius; it sets on October 30 and rises on December 27.

Sagittarius.

♐ Whether you call the ninth place Sagittarius The Archer, or the Bow-bearer, or Chiron, you mean the same thing. I describe it as a constellation of 31 stars, one of which is nebulous in the jaw; this sets with the Sun on December 16 and rises on the 18th of the same month. After this are two others of the second magnitude, both part of the figure; one is in the left ham, barely standing above our horizon for three hours a day; the other marks the hoof of the same foot and is perpetually hidden from us. The stars that form the headband are raised quite high above our horizon.

Capricorn.

♑ The tenth image is Capricorn, who is called Egoceros, the Goat, and in Arabic Alcalurus, or rather Riceram Capricornus. It has 28 stars, of which one at the base of the tail, of the third magnitude, surpasses the others; the Chaldeans call it Deneb Algedi. It sets on January 24 and rises on the 31st.

Aquarius.

♒ Aquarius The Water-Bearer, the penultimate sign, is constituted of 42 stars; it is also called Ganymede or Hydrydorus. Three stars are added outside the image. The vessel held in the left hand, called the Amphora or Cotyle, has two stars. The pouring out or the scattered water, also named the Water of Ganymede, contains 19 stars, the last of which is slightly brighter than the first magnitude, called Fomalhaut in Arabic; it sets clearly on January 19 and rises again on May 1. The cloth which the left hand of Aquarius extends is marked by three stars; the second of these is of the third dignity of light, while the third is of the fourth.

Pisces.

♓ The final place is given to Pisces The Fish, marked with 24 stars. They are not particularly bright, as they do not exceed the third magnitude. The Greeks call the fish ichthys original: "ἰχθύς" and the Arabs Ichiguen. They are connected by a certain cord that has various names: now called the thread, now the bond, now the line, now the flax, now the tether, and now the girdle—always of the fish, understood. The Knot in the middle of the cord is also called the bound-together, the ligament, the conjunction, the joint, and Syndesmos. That knot sets on March 29 and rises on April 25.

Total number of stars in the whole Zodiac: 346.

In summary, 340 stars The margin says 346, but the body text says 340; this discrepancy is common in early printed tables are found in the Zodiac: five of the first light, nine of the second, 64 of the third, 133 of the fourth, 105 of the fifth, 27 of the sixth, and three nebulas. Thus far the Northern and Zodiacal stars have been declared; now the Southern stars will be treated in sequence, beginning first with the Whale.

Cetus.

✱ Cetus The Whale, composed of 22 stars, is called by many names: Pistris, Pistrix, the Sea Beast, the Sea Lion, the Sea Bear, and the Whale. Among its other stars, it has three brighter ones, though they are not very large, nor much bigger than the third magnitude. The first is called the Nostril of the Whale, in Arabic Menkar, which falls on April 10 and rises on May 16. The second is the Belly of the Whale, called Baten Kaitos by the Chaldeans; it sets on March 15 and rises again on May 14. The third receives the name Tail of the Whale, or Deneb Kaitos in Arabic; its setting is February 24 and its rising is May 4.

Orion.

✱ Orion shines with a number of 38 stars, many of them prominent; it is the most illustrious of all asterisms shown to us by the heavens. It is both most pleasing to the sight and easiest to recognize, except in May and June, when it is somewhat obscured and not much of it is seen. Its names are also manifold: for he is called the Bold, the Sublime, the Most Powerful Giant; the ancients also used to call him the Throat original: "Iugulum". The star in the left foot Rigel is of the first degree of splendor, called Algeutze in Arabic.