Equuleus - Revision history

Sushoff at 07:43, 29 July 2026

2026-07-29T07:43:12Z

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 [[File:Equuleus IAU.svg|alt=star chart|thumb|Equ star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]
 One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations|88 IAU constellations]]. It was invented in the first century BCE, called ''Protomê Hippou'' (Forepart of the Horse) by Geminos and ''Hippou Protomes'' in the Almagest (138 CE). Geminos attributes the constellation to Hipparchus but this cannot be confirmed by the surviving fragments and texts.

IanRidpath: /* Rudolphine Tables (1627) */ Copy edit

2026-07-22T22:51:06Z

Rudolphine Tables (1627): Copy edit

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:51, 22 July 2026
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	==== Rudolphine Tables (1627) ====		==== Rudolphine Tables (1627) ====
	[[File:Equ EquiSectio RudolphTab.png\|thumb\|Equ in Rudolphine Tables (Kepler 1627).]]		[[File:Equ EquiSectio RudolphTab.png\|thumb\|Equ in Rudolphine Tables (Kepler 1627).]]
	~~TheTabulae~~ Rudolphinae were ordered and dedicated to Emperor Rudolph II of the Holy Roman Empire. The main purpose was to allow the computation of the positions of the ~~then known~~ five classically known planets, but the tables also consist of a star catalogue. They were published by Johannes Kepler (1627), including earlier work and observational data by Tycho Brahe. The original Latin title is "Tabulæ Rudolphinæ, Quibus Astronomicæ Scientiæ, Temporum longinquitate collapsæ Restauratio continetur".		The Tabulae Rudolphinae were ordered and dedicated to Emperor Rudolph II of the Holy Roman Empire. The main purpose was to allow the computation of the positions of the five classically known planets, but the tables also consist of a star catalogue. They were published by Johannes Kepler (1627), including earlier work and observational data by Tycho Brahe. The original Latin title is "Tabulæ Rudolphinæ, Quibus Astronomicæ Scientiæ, Temporum longinquitate collapsæ Restauratio continetur".

	An alternative name for Equuleus is given: '''Equi Sectio''', the Horse Part		An alternative name for Equuleus is given: '''Equi Sectio''', the Horse Part

IanRidpath: /* Weblinks */ Added link

2026-07-22T14:34:34Z

Weblinks: Added link

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, 22 July 2026
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	== Weblinks ==		== Weblinks ==
	* [https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017055 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database – Equus Minor]		* [https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017055 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database – Equus Minor]
			* Ian Ridpath's ''Star Tales'' [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/equuleus.html – Equuleus]

	== References ==		== References ==

Sushoff: /* Origin of Constellation */

2026-07-19T07:54:34Z

Origin of Constellation

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:54, 19 July 2026
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	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	[[File:Del-etc Farnese Stellarium.png\|thumb\|Delphinus on the Farnese Globe, mapped to Stellarium: it also covers the area of Equuleus (which was only invented in Roman times).]]		[[File:Del-etc Farnese Stellarium.png\|thumb\|Delphinus on the Farnese Globe, mapped to Stellarium: it also covers the area of Equuleus (which was only invented in Roman times).]]
	<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref>The small constellation is missing from the Farnese Globe, the Mainz Globe and the Kugel Globe, and it is not mentioned by Hipparchus, Eratosthenes and Aratos. Only Geminos (1st century BCE) mentions this constellation, and Ptolemy's Almagest finally establishes it.		<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref>The small constellation is missing from the Farnese Globe, the Mainz Globe and the Kugel Globe, and it is not mentioned by Hipparchus<ref>Hipparchus, Commentary, edition: Heiberg (18xx), still standard: German translation: Manitius (1894)</ref><ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M (2017). Hipparchs Himmelsglobus – Ein Bindeglied in der babylonisch-griechischen Astrometrie?, Springer Research, Wiesbaden, New York</ref>, Eratosthenes<ref>Ératosthènes de Cyrène: Catastérrismes, translated by Pamìas, Jordi und Zucker, Arnaud, Les Belles Lettres, Paris 2013</ref> and Aratos<ref>Aratus, Phaenomena, Engl. translation by Kidd, Douglas, Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries, 34, Cambridge Univ. Press 1997</ref>. Only Geminos (1st century BCE) mentions this constellation, and Ptolemy's Almagest finally establishes it.

	The stars in the area of Equuleus are rather faint (brightest one has V~3.9 mag) and did not form a separate constellation. On the Farnese Globe, they are part of the dolphin's tail ([[Delphinus]]).		The stars in the area of Equuleus are rather faint (brightest one has V~3.9 mag) and did not form a separate constellation. On the Farnese Globe, they are part of the dolphin's tail ([[Delphinus]]).
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	=== Origin of Constellation ===		=== Origin of Constellation ===
	The constellation is not mentioned by Aratus<ref>Aratus, Phaenomena, Engl. translation by Kidd, Douglas, Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries, 34, Cambridge Univ. Press 1997</ref>, Eratosthenes<ref>Ératosthènes de Cyrène: Catastérrismes, translated by Pamìas, Jordi und Zucker, Arnaud, Les Belles Lettres, Paris 2013</ref>, and Hipparchus<ref>Hipparchus, Commentary, edition: Heiberg (18xx), still standard: German translation: Manitius (1894)</ref><ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M (2017). Hipparchs Himmelsglobus – Ein Bindeglied in ~~der babylonisch-griechischen Astrometrie?~~, ~~Springer Research, Wiesbaden, New York</ref>~~.		The constellation only occurs in Roman time, but no reasons or mythology for this invention is given.

	==== Geminos ''Protomê Hippou'' ====		==== Geminos ''Protomê Hippou'' ====

Sushoff: /* Ptolemy' Almagest */

2026-07-19T07:51:32Z

Ptolemy' Almagest

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:51, 19 July 2026
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	=== Origin of Constellation ===		=== Origin of Constellation ===
			The constellation is not mentioned by Aratus<ref>Aratus, Phaenomena, Engl. translation by Kidd, Douglas, Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries, 34, Cambridge Univ. Press 1997</ref>, Eratosthenes<ref>Ératosthènes de Cyrène: Catastérrismes, translated by Pamìas, Jordi und Zucker, Arnaud, Les Belles Lettres, Paris 2013</ref>, and Hipparchus<ref>Hipparchus, Commentary, edition: Heiberg (18xx), still standard: German translation: Manitius (1894)</ref><ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M (2017). Hipparchs Himmelsglobus – Ein Bindeglied in der babylonisch-griechischen Astrometrie?, Springer Research, Wiesbaden, New York</ref>.

	==== Geminos ''Protomê Hippou'' ====		==== Geminos ''Protomê Hippou'' ====
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	!		!
	!Ἵππου προτομῆς ἀστερισμóς.		!Ἵππου προτομῆς ἀστερισμóς.
	!Bust of Horse-Constellation		!Bust of Horse-Constellation<ref>Ptolemy’s Almagest, Engl. translation by Toomer, G.J., Princeton Uni. Press, 1998, Orig.: London, 1984</ref>
	!		!
	\|-		\|-

Sushoff: /* Origin of Constellation */

2026-07-19T07:47:45Z

Origin of Constellation

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:47, 19 July 2026
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	==== Geminos ''Protomê Hippou'' ====		==== Geminos ''Protomê Hippou'' ====
	The term "protomê" in principle can designate any forepart, e.g. a bust of a statue or a face of an animal.		The term "protomê" in principle can designate any forepart, e.g. a bust of a statue or a face of an animal.<ref>James Evans & J. Lennart Berggren (2007). Geminos's Introduction to the Phenomena. A Translation and Study of a Hellenistic Survey of Astronomy. Princeton University Press</ref>

	==== Ptolemy' Almagest ====		==== Ptolemy' Almagest ====

Sushoff at 17:24, 18 July 2026

2026-07-18T17:24:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 18 July 2026
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	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
			[[File:Del-etc Farnese Stellarium.png\|thumb\|Delphinus on the Farnese Globe, mapped to Stellarium: it also covers the area of Equuleus (which was only invented in Roman times).]]
	<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref>The small constellation is missing from the Farnese Globe, the Mainz Globe and the Kugel Globe, and it is not mentioned by Hipparchus, Eratosthenes and Aratos. Only Geminos (1st century BCE) mentions this constellation, and Ptolemy's Almagest finally establishes it.		<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref>The small constellation is missing from the Farnese Globe, the Mainz Globe and the Kugel Globe, and it is not mentioned by Hipparchus, Eratosthenes and Aratos. Only Geminos (1st century BCE) mentions this constellation, and Ptolemy's Almagest finally establishes it.

Ericmamajek: /* Greek Mythology */

2026-07-16T03:43:30Z

Greek Mythology

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:43, 16 July 2026
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	== Greek Mythology ==		== Greek Mythology ==
	<ref name=":0" />The Greek myth revolves around Hippe, the daughter of the centaur Cheiron. When she got pregnant, she hid from her father. As he was looking for her, she was turned into a mare by the merciful gods. So she gave birth to a foal, which is depicted here.		<ref name=":0" />The Greek myth revolves around Hippe, the daughter of the centaur Cheiron. When she got pregnant, she hid from her father. As he was looking for her, she was turned into a mare by the merciful gods. So she gave birth to a foal, which is depicted here.z

			From Robert Goodacre (1828) "''A Glossary: or, Explanation of the Principal Terms Used in the Sciences of Astronomy and Geography with a Description of the Principal Stars and Constellations of the Heavens, Fifth Edition''": "''Equuleus, (the LITTLE HORSE,) a constellation of the northern hemisphere, called also EQUI SECTIO, from its representation as a horse's head; it is between Delphinus and Pegasus, which it precedes, and whose brother he was. 'Pennisque fugacem Pegason et fratrem matris de sanguine natos''.' ''- OVID''."

			https://www.theoi.com/Ther/HipposPegasos.html

			"''Ovid, Metamorphoses'' 4. 786 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "''While deep sleep held fast Medusa and her snakes, he [Perseus] severed her head clean from her neck; and'' ''from their mother's blood swift-flying Pegasus and his brother [Khrysaor (Chrysaor)] sprang . . . she [Medusa], it's said, was violated in Minerva's [Athena's] shrine by the Lord of the Sea (Rector Pelagi) [Poseidon]''."

			(so by this translation, the brother of Pegasus, born from Medusa's blood, was Khrysaor, which was ''not'' a horse or horse-like being, so perhaps this explanation from the early 19th century which propagated this interpretation of Equuleus tied to Ovid was not correct?)

	Elijah Hinsdale Burritt (1836) in the "''The Geography of the Heavens, and Class Book of Astronomy Accompanied by a Celestial Atlas''": "''This constellation [Equuleus] is supposed to be the brother of Pegasus, named Celeris, given by Mercury to Castor, who was so celberated for his skill in the management of horses...''"		Elijah Hinsdale Burritt (1836) in the "''The Geography of the Heavens, and Class Book of Astronomy Accompanied by a Celestial Atlas''": "''This constellation [Equuleus] is supposed to be the brother of Pegasus, named Celeris, given by Mercury to Castor, who was so celberated for his skill in the management of horses...''"

Ericmamajek: /* Greek Mythology */

2026-07-16T03:23:52Z

Greek Mythology

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:23, 16 July 2026
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	== Greek Mythology ==		== Greek Mythology ==
	<ref name=":0" />The Greek myth revolves around Hippe, the daughter of the centaur Cheiron. When she got pregnant, she hid from her father. As he was looking for her, she was turned into a mare by the merciful gods. So she gave birth to a foal, which is depicted here.		<ref name=":0" />The Greek myth revolves around Hippe, the daughter of the centaur Cheiron. When she got pregnant, she hid from her father. As he was looking for her, she was turned into a mare by the merciful gods. So she gave birth to a foal, which is depicted here.

			Elijah Hinsdale Burritt (1836) in the "''The Geography of the Heavens, and Class Book of Astronomy Accompanied by a Celestial Atlas''": "''This constellation [Equuleus] is supposed to be the brother of Pegasus, named Celeris, given by Mercury to Castor, who was so celberated for his skill in the management of horses...''"

			R. H. Allen (1899) "''Star Lore: Their Names and Meaning''": "''Some of the mythologists said that the constellation represented Celeris, the brother of Pegasus, given by Mercury to Castor; or Cyllarus, given to Pollux by Juno; or the creature struck by Neptune's trident from the earth when contesting with Minerva for superiority; but it also was connected with the story of Philyra and Saturn.''"

	== IAU WGSN ==		== IAU WGSN ==

Sushoff at 11:07, 15 July 2026

2026-07-15T11:07:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:07, 15 July 2026
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	[[File:Equuleus IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Equ star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]		[[File:Equuleus IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|Equ star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]
	One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. It was invented in the first century BCE, called ''Protomê Hippou'' (Forepart of the Horse) by Geminos and ''Hippou Protomes'' in the Almagest (138 CE). Geminos attributes the constellation to Hipparchus but this cannot be confirmed by the surviving fragments and texts.		One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations\|88 IAU constellations]]. It was invented in the first century BCE, called ''Protomê Hippou'' (Forepart of the Horse) by Geminos and ''Hippou Protomes'' in the Almagest (138 CE). Geminos attributes the constellation to Hipparchus but this cannot be confirmed by the surviving fragments and texts.

			The constellation is not depicted on any of the three ancient globes: neither on the Mainz Globe or Farnese Globe which date to the 2nd century CE, nor on the Kugel Globe (that shows Indian and East Asian influence and likely dates to the 4th century CE or later).

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==