Ophiuchus and Serpens Constellations, 1729
Ophiuchus is a large constellation located around the celestial equator. It is commonly represented as a man grasping the snake that is represented by the constellation Serpens. Serpens is unique among the modern constellations in being split into two non-contiguous parts, Serpens Caput (Serpent's Head) to the west and Serpens Cauda (Serpent's Tail) to the east. They were two of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy and they remain two of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. The Atlas Coelestis is a star atlas published posthumously in 1729, based on observations made by the First Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed. The Atlas, the largest that ever had been published and the first comprehensive telescopic star catalogue and companion celestial atlas, contains 26 maps of the major constellations visible from Greenwich, with drawings made in the Rococo style by James Thornhill. One of his main motivations to produce the Atlas, was to correct the representation of the figures of the constellations, as made by Bayer's, Uranometria (1603). Bayer represented the figures viewed from behind (not from the front, as was done since the time of Ptolemy), which reversed the placement of stars and created unnecessary confusion.
Size: 3600px × 2848px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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