Quote:
On 2001-11-27 14:28, The Curtmudgeon wrote:
Query: Was it the IAC in the 20s that divided the ancient constellation Argo Navis into four constellations (Carina, Puppis, Pyxis and ... well, I know there're four of them)? Or was that an earlier change that the IAC approved?
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For long years Argus Navis was the most extensive constellation in the sky. Argus means "fast" and refers to the name of the ancient mythological ship which carried the Argonauts(*). In order to designate its main stars it was becoming necessary to multiply the letters of the Greek alphabet, circumstance that made it imperative to divide the asterism. As early as 1603, the astronomer Johan Bayer already distinguished in his observation records four parts of the ship: the Keel, the Poop, the Mast and the Sails. In 1752 the French astronomer Lacaille proposed taking the Mast to set up the constellation of Pyxis (the Compass). After a season studying the southern sky in 1877, in Argentina, the American astronomer B. Gould strongly suggested the definitive division of Argus in three distinct constellations: Carina (the Keel), Puppis (the Poop) and Vella (the Sails). Argus was officially extinct in 1925 after deliberate decision of the IAU.
(*) Its name designates the ship of the so called "argonauts", assembled in the port of Pegasae, in Thessalia, with the help of the goddess Palas-Athena (Minerva), in order to allow Jason and his fellows to travel in search of the Golden Fleece. It is not to be confounded with Argos Panoptes, another Greek deity (Argos of the hundred eyes, "all-eyes", the one who sees everything).
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Argos on 2001-11-27 19:37 ]</font>