Triangulum Australe: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Triangulum Australe IAU.svg|alt=star chart|thumb|TrA star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]] | [[File:Triangulum Australe IAU.svg|alt=star chart|thumb|TrA star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]] | ||
One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations|88 IAU constellations]]. The constellation was invented by Dutch sailors in the 1590s. | One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations|88 IAU constellations]]. The constellation was invented by Dutch sailors in the 1590s. | ||
==Etymology and History== | ==Etymology and History== | ||
[[File:DeHoutman ZuyderTrianghel.JPG|alt=screenshot(s) of text|thumb|de Houtman (1603) "den Zuyder Trianghel", the Southern triangle (TrA). screenshot of star catalogue.]] | [[File:DeHoutman ZuyderTrianghel.JPG|alt=screenshot(s) of text|thumb|de Houtman (1603) "den Zuyder Trianghel", the Southern triangle (TrA). screenshot of star catalogue.]] | ||
=== Origin of Constellation === | |||
The Southern Triangle consists of quite distinctive stars that form an equilateral triangle. It is located under the front hooves of the Centaur. This constellation was formed by navigators Pieter D. Keyser and Frederick de Houtman on the first Dutch East India expedition, so it probably served as a guide for them. However, they did not record the reasons for their names, and the triangle does not point in any particular direction. It is possible that they only used it to correctly identify the bright stars of Centaurus. | |||
For the French mathematician Lacaille, who published a new star catalogue in 1756 after a stay in Cape Town, this Southern Triangle, together with his gap-filling constellations of technical drawing, forms a meaningful unit: He named the constellation Norma (ruler and set square), which he newly invented, because it is located near this triangle already defined by sailors. For him, these are all drawing tools. | |||
=== Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation === | === Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation === | ||
Latest revision as of 10:33, 26 February 2026
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann
One of the 88 IAU constellations. The constellation was invented by Dutch sailors in the 1590s.
Etymology and History
Origin of Constellation
The Southern Triangle consists of quite distinctive stars that form an equilateral triangle. It is located under the front hooves of the Centaur. This constellation was formed by navigators Pieter D. Keyser and Frederick de Houtman on the first Dutch East India expedition, so it probably served as a guide for them. However, they did not record the reasons for their names, and the triangle does not point in any particular direction. It is possible that they only used it to correctly identify the bright stars of Centaurus.
For the French mathematician Lacaille, who published a new star catalogue in 1756 after a stay in Cape Town, this Southern Triangle, together with his gap-filling constellations of technical drawing, forms a meaningful unit: He named the constellation Norma (ruler and set square), which he newly invented, because it is located near this triangle already defined by sailors. For him, these are all drawing tools.
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
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TrA in Fortin's Atlas Céleste, 3rd edition (1795).
