The story of our night sky is a tapestry woven over millennia, with threads added by countless cultures and keen-eyed observers. Among those who stitched significant new patterns into this celestial fabric was Johannes Hevelius, a remarkable astronomer, brewer, and councilman from Gdańsk. In the latter half of the 17th century, a time brimming with scientific curiosity, Hevelius turned his gaze upwards, not just to chart what was known, but to delineate what he perceived as the unformed spaces, the gaps between the ancient figures. His work culminated in a magnificent star atlas that would introduce new, enduring members to the heavenly family.
A Glimpse into a Star-Gazer’s World
Johannes Hevelius, or Jan Heweliusz as he was known in his native Poland, was a figure of immense dedication. Born in 1611, he inherited a prosperous brewing business, which provided him with the financial means to pursue his true passion: astronomy. He built a remarkable observatory atop the connected roofs of three of his houses, which he named Sternenburg (Star Castle). This observatory was equipped with large, often personally designed and constructed instruments. Hevelius was renowned for his keen eyesight and meticulous observational skills, preferring to measure star positions with naked-eye instruments, believing them to be more accurate than the early telescopes fitted with rudimentary micrometers for such tasks, though he did use telescopes for observing celestial details like lunar topography and sunspots.
The Celestial Canvas: Firmamentum Sobiescianum
The masterwork that introduced Hevelius’s new constellations to the world was his star atlas, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, sive Uranographia, published posthumously in 1690 by his wife and collaborator, Elisabeth Koopman Hevelius. The title itself, “The Firmament of Sobieski,” pays homage to his patron, King John III Sobieski of Poland, a celebrated military hero, particularly for his role in the Battle of Vienna in 1683. This atlas was part of a larger compendium of his astronomical work, including his influential star catalog, the Prodromus Astronomiae. The Firmamentum Sobiescianum contained 56 beautifully engraved star charts, depicting the traditional constellations as well as the new ones Hevelius proposed. Unlike many atlases of the time that showed figures as seen from outside the celestial sphere (as if looking at a globe), Hevelius depicted them as they would be seen from Earth, a more naturalistic approach for observers.
Filling the Gaps in the Heavens
Why did Hevelius feel the need to create new constellations? The sky known to Ptolemy and earlier astronomers wasn’t entirely filled. There were regions, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, between the established, ancient constellations that appeared relatively sparse or lacked a clear, defined pattern. These were often referred to as “unformed stars.” Hevelius, with his detailed mapping, saw an opportunity to organize these areas. Introducing new constellations was also a way to honor patrons, commemorate events, or simply to leave a personal mark on the science he so loved. It was an age where celestial cartography was still evolving, and astronomers with the skill and resources could indeed propose new sky figures.
Hevelius’s Enduring Stellar Menagerie
Hevelius proposed around a dozen new constellations, but seven of them have stood the test of time and are among the 88 officially recognized constellations by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). These were not arbitrary additions; they were carefully delineated based on star patterns he meticulously observed. Let’s explore these celestial survivors:
Scutum Sobiescianum – The Shield of Sobieski
Perhaps the most famous of his introductions, Scutum (The Shield) was originally named Scutum Sobiescianum, “Shield of Sobieski.” This was a direct tribute to King John III Sobieski, commemorating his victory at the Battle of Vienna. Hevelius placed this constellation in a star-rich area of the Milky Way, south of Aquila and Serpens Cauda. Today, it is simply known as Scutum, a small but distinct constellation. It hosts the brilliant Scutum Star Cloud, one of the brightest sections of the Milky Way.
Canes Venatici – The Hunting Dogs
North of Coma Berenices and west of Ursa Major, Hevelius delineated Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. These two dogs, named Asterion and Chara, are depicted as being held on a leash by Boötes, the Herdsman, as they chase the Great Bear (Ursa Major). The brightest star in this constellation, Cor Caroli (Charles’s Heart), was actually named earlier by Sir Charles Scarborough in honor of King Charles I of England, but Hevelius incorporated it into his new constellation. Canes Venatici is home to several notable deep-sky objects, including the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51).
Leo Minor – The Little Lion
Nestled between the much larger and more prominent constellations of Leo (The Lion) and Ursa Major (The Great Bear), Hevelius identified a fainter grouping of stars which he named Leo Minor, the Little Lion. It’s a relatively dim constellation, and Hevelius himself noted that one needed good eyesight to pick out its form. It serves as a smaller companion to its more majestic namesake, filling a patch of sky that previously lacked a specific identity.
Lynx – The Elusive Cat
Another of Hevelius’s creations born from faint stars is Lynx. This constellation is found in a rather dark area of the sky, between Auriga, Gemini, Ursa Major, and Camelopardalis. Hevelius, with a touch of characteristic humor, is said to have chosen the name Lynx because one would need the sharp eyesight of a lynx to even see its constituent stars. It’s a long, somewhat meandering pattern of generally faint stars, a testament to Hevelius’s diligence in charting even the less obvious stellar arrangements.
Vulpecula – The Little Fox (and Goose)
Originally, Hevelius named this constellation Vulpecula cum Anser, the Little Fox with the Goose. His charts depicted a fox holding a goose in its jaws. Located in the midst of the Summer Triangle (formed by Vega, Deneb, and Altair), Vulpecula is a relatively faint constellation. Over time, the goose has largely been dropped from common nomenclature, and the constellation is now generally known simply as Vulpecula, the Fox. It is famously home to the Dumbbell Nebula (M27), the first planetary nebula ever discovered.
Lacerta – The Lizard
Squeezed between the prominent constellations of Cygnus, Cepheus, Andromeda, and Pegasus, Hevelius traced out the pattern of Lacerta, the Lizard. It’s a small, W-shaped asterism of stars, somewhat resembling a smaller version of Cassiopeia. While not containing exceptionally bright stars, Lacerta fills another of those previously “empty” patches of the northern sky, a nimble celestial reptile slithering among giants.
Sextans – The Heavenly Sextant
Sextans, the Sextant, was named by Hevelius to honor the astronomical instrument that was crucial to his work. He originally called it Sextans Uraniae, “Urania’s Sextant,” after the muse of astronomy. This was a poignant tribute, as many of Hevelius’s beloved instruments, including a large sextant, had been destroyed in a devastating fire at his Sternenburg observatory in 1679. Hevelius, despite this immense personal and professional loss, rebuilt his observatory and continued his work. Sextans is a faint equatorial constellation located south of Leo and east of Hydra.
Hevelius also proposed other figures like Cerberus (a three-headed dog associated with Hercules, now considered part of Hercules) and Mons Maenalus (Mount Maenalus, under the feet of Boötes, now part of Boötes). These, however, did not gain the same traction and were eventually absorbed into existing constellations or faded from use, illustrating the dynamic nature of celestial cartography where only the most useful or widely accepted delineations survive.
Johannes Hevelius, a towering figure of 17th-century astronomy, gifted the world seven new constellations that endure to this day. His magnificent star atlas, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, was not merely a catalog but a work of art and dedication. These celestial patterns, filling previously unmapped regions, are a testament to his meticulous observational skill and lasting impact on how we view the night sky.
Crafting the Cosmos: Observation and Dedication
The creation of these constellations and the accompanying star catalog was no small feat. Hevelius was known for his incredibly precise measurements of star positions, often achieved without the aid of telescopic sights on his larger instruments, relying instead on his keen vision and finely crafted open sights. His Prodromus Astronomiae, published alongside the atlas, contained the positions of 1,564 stars, a significant increase over previous catalogs and noted for its accuracy for the time. The engravings for the Firmamentum Sobiescianum were also of high quality, making the atlas both a scientific tool and a work of art. It is important to remember that his wife, Elisabeth, played a crucial role in completing and publishing his works after his death in 1687, ensuring his legacy.
A Legacy Etched in Starlight
The acceptance of new constellations is not automatic. It depends on their usefulness to other astronomers, their clear delineation, and often, the reputation of their proposer. Hevelius’s standing in the astronomical community was high, and his atlas was widely disseminated. His proposed figures filled genuine gaps in the celestial map, making them practical additions. While some of his more fanciful or obscure suggestions faded, the seven we know today gradually became standard fixtures on star charts throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Their status was formally cemented in the 1920s when the International Astronomical Union officially adopted the modern list of 88 constellations, including these seven contributions from the dedicated astronomer of Gdańsk. Through these constellations, Johannes Hevelius’s name remains linked to the stars he so diligently charted, allowing future generations to look up and see the Shield, the Dogs, the Little Lion, the Lynx, the Fox, the Lizard, and the Sextant, all thanks to his vision.
