Jordanus: Difference between revisions

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[[File:KEE Jordanus piece hi.JPG|alt=historical globe gores (1612)|thumb|Globe gores of the 1612 celestial globe by van der Keere & Plancius on which Plancius introduced his last set of biblically inspired constellations, including Jordanus (highlighted). Note that the year 1625 mentioned in one of the cartouches is not the year of publication but the epoch for which the stellar coordinates were plotted.]]
[[File:Jordanis Constellation Position.jpg|alt=star chart|thumb|Jordanis Constellation Position on a modern map (CC BY Ultima Thulean)]]
[[File:Jordanis Constellation Position.jpg|alt=star chart|thumb|Jordanis Constellation Position on a modern map (CC BY Ultima Thulean)]]
[[File:Jordanus.jpg|thumb|Jordanus in Jakob Bartsch's Planisphaerium Stellatum 1661]]
[[File:Jordanus.jpg|thumb|Jordanus in Jakob Bartsch's Planisphaerium Stellatum 1661]]

Revision as of 12:18, 12 September 2024

historical globe gores (1612)
Globe gores of the 1612 celestial globe by van der Keere & Plancius on which Plancius introduced his last set of biblically inspired constellations, including Jordanus (highlighted). Note that the year 1625 mentioned in one of the cartouches is not the year of publication but the epoch for which the stellar coordinates were plotted.
star chart
Jordanis Constellation Position on a modern map (CC BY Ultima Thulean)
Jordanus in Jakob Bartsch's Planisphaerium Stellatum 1661

An obsolete Early Modern constellation made from eight unnamed Ptolemaic stars: Alpha and Beta CVn, Alpha, 31 and 38 Lyncis (according to Toomer), and three fainter stars of uncertain identity.

Etymology and History

It is the name of a (real) river with immens cultural significance, not only as a border between countries but also for several religions. The English word is a Latin loanword, derived from Semitic 'Yard|on' 'flow down' <√ירד reflecting the river's declivity (Arabic: نَهْر الْأُرْدُنّ, Nahr al-ʾUrdunn, Hebrew: נְהַר הַיַּרְדֵּן, Nəhar hayYardēn).

Constellation

The extinct constellation "Jordanus Fluvius" or "Jordanis" – the river Jordan – was invented by Petrus Plancius on his 1612 celestial globe.[1][2][3] The constellation first appeared in print in the book Usus Astronomicus Planisphaerii Stellati by Jacob Bartsch (1624), as his 26th constellation – "Iordanis" or "Iordanus". In the illustration of "Iordanis" on Bartsch's celestial globe Planisphaerium Stellatum... (1661), the star Alpha Lyncis appears as one of the prominent stars in the middle of the constellation. The extinct constellation also appeared as "Iordan" on Isaac Habrecht's (1628) Planiglobium coeleste et terrestre, "Fluvius Jordanis" in Carel Allard's (1708) Planisphaerii Coelestis Hemisphaerium Septentrionale and "Ior-Dan" in Corbinianus Thomas' (1730) Mercurii philosophici firmamentum firmianum. John Barentine (2016) notes that most of the area of Jordanis (and its aliases) was carved up in Hevelius's Lynx, Leo Minor, and Canes Venatici, which were subsequently adopted as constellations by the IAU in the 1920s.

Occurrence in historical maps

  • Keere & Plancius 1612 (unpreserved globe).
  • Bartsch, Jacob, 1624, Usus Astronomicus Planisphaerii Stellati, p. 57.
  • Habrecht, Isaac, 1628, Planiglobium coeleste et terrestre, Figura I.[4]
  • Cellarius, Andreas, 1660, Harmonia Macrocosmica, Plates 24, 25 & 26.[5]
  • Royer, Augustin, 1679, Cartes du ciel reduites en quatre tables.[6]
  • Coronelli, Vincenzo, 1693 & 1696, celestial globes.[7]
  • Allard, Carel, 1708, Planisphaerii Coelestis Hemisphaerium Septentrionale.[8]
  • Thomas, Corbinianus, 1730, Mercurii philosophici firmamentum firmianum, Frankfurt/Leipzig.

Transformation of Constellation

Mythology/ Cultural Significance

IAU Working Group Star Names

The name was suggested to the IAU WGSN to be used as a star name in 2023. Alpha and Beta CVn are already named (Cor Caroli and Chara), the brightest of the others is Alpha Lyncis (SIMBAD: 3.1 mag in V). As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN.

Weblinks

Reference

  1. Ridpath, Ian, "Star Tales: online edition".
  2. Barentine, John C., 2015, The Lost Constellations: A History of Obsolete, Extinct, or Forgotten Star Lore, Springer Praxis Books LINK, Chichester, UK, p. 201-216.
  3. Harper, David & Stockman, L.M., 2020, "Jordanus Fluvius – The River Jordan",
  4. ECHO link.
  5. Alvin link 1, Alvin link 2, Alvin link 3.
  6. Gallica link 1, Gallica link 2.
  7. Gallica link 1, Gallica link 2.
  8. Rijksmuseum link.