Grus (constellation)
Encyclopedia
Grus is a constellation
in the southern sky. Its name is Latin
for the crane
, a species of bird. It was introduced in the late sixteenth century.
(the southern fish). The Arabic
name of Gamma Gruis
(al-dhanab, "the tail") reflects this origins.
The stars were first defined as a separate constellation by Petrus Plancius
, who created twelve new constellations based on the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser
and Frederick de Houtman
. Grus first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 (or 1598) in Amsterdam
by Plancius with Jodocus Hondius
. Its first depiction in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer
's Uranometria
of 1603.
An alternative name for the constellation, Phoenicopterus (Latin for flamingo
), was used briefly during the early 17th century.
sone of them are located in the Black Tortoise of the North
(北方玄武, Běi Fāng Xuán Wǔ), while rest were placed among the Southern Asterisms (近南極星區, Jìnnánjíxīngōu) by Xu Guangqi
, based on knowledge of western star charts.
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
in the southern sky. Its name is Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for the crane
Crane (bird)
Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...
, a species of bird. It was introduced in the late sixteenth century.
History
The stars that form Grus were originally considered part of Piscis AustrinusPiscis Austrinus
Piscis Austrinus is a constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere. The name is Latin for "the southern fish" in contrast with the larger constellation Pisces, which represents a pair of fishes. Prior to the 20th century, it was also known as Piscis Notius...
(the southern fish). The Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
name of Gamma Gruis
Gamma Gruis
Gamma Gruis is a 3rd-magnitude star in the constellation Grus. It is also known as Al Dhanab, "the Tail ". It once belonged to the Ptolemaic constellation Piscis Austrinus....
(al-dhanab, "the tail") reflects this origins.
The stars were first defined as a separate constellation by Petrus Plancius
Petrus Plancius
Petrus Plancius was a Dutch astronomer, cartographer and clergyman. He was born as Pieter Platevoet in Dranouter, now in Heuvelland, West Flanders. He studied theology in Germany and England...
, who created twelve new constellations based on the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser
Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser
Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser , a.k.a. Petrus Theodori, was a Dutch navigator who mapped the southern sky....
and Frederick de Houtman
Frederick de Houtman
Frederick de Houtman , or Frederik de Houtman, was a Dutch explorer who sailed along the Western coast of Australia en route to Batavia.-Biography:...
. Grus first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 (or 1598) in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
by Plancius with Jodocus Hondius
Jodocus Hondius
Jodocus Hondius , sometimes called Jodocus Hondius the Elder to distinguish him from his son Henricus Hondius II, was a Flemish artist, engraver, and cartographer...
. Its first depiction in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer
Johann Bayer
Johann Bayer was a German lawyer and uranographer . He was born in Rain, Bavaria, in 1572. He began his study of philosophy in Ingolstadt in 1592, and moved later to Augsburg to begin work as a lawyer. He grew interested in astronomy during his time in Augsburg...
's Uranometria
Uranometria
Uranometria is the short title of a star atlas produced by Johann Bayer.It was published in Augsburg, Germany, in 1603 by Christophorus Mangus under the full title Uranometria : omnium asterismorum continens schemata, nova methodo delineata, aereis laminis expressa. This translates to...
of 1603.
An alternative name for the constellation, Phoenicopterus (Latin for flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
), was used briefly during the early 17th century.
Equivalents
The stars that correspond to Grus cannot all be seen from China. In Chinese astronomyChinese astronomy
Astronomy in China has a very long history, with historians considering that "they [the Chinese] were the most persistent and accurate observers of celestial phenomena anywhere in the world before the Arabs."...
sone of them are located in the Black Tortoise of the North
Black Tortoise (Chinese constellation)
The Black Tortoise is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the Black Warrior of the North , and is known as Xuanwu in Chinese, Genbu in Japanese, Hyeonmu in Korean and Huyền Vũ in Vietnamese. It represents the north and the winter season...
(北方玄武, Běi Fāng Xuán Wǔ), while rest were placed among the Southern Asterisms (近南極星區, Jìnnánjíxīngōu) by Xu Guangqi
Xu Guangqi
Xu Guangqi , was a Chinese scholar-bureaucrat, agricultural scientist, astronomer, and mathematician in the Ming Dynasty. Xu was a colleague and collaborator of the Italian Jesuits Matteo Ricci and Sabatino de Ursis and they translated several classic Western texts into Chinese, including part of...
, based on knowledge of western star charts.
See also
- List of the star names in Grus
- Grus (Chinese astronomy)
- List of brightest stars