Stellio: Difference between revisions
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==Etymology and History== |
==Etymology and History== |
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[[File:Laudakia stellio 003.jpg|alt=photograph of stellion|thumb|Roughtail Rock Agama. The photo was taken in southern Israel, in Negev desert (CC BY SA Клара Матусевич /Klara Matusevich).]] |
[[File:Laudakia stellio 003.jpg|alt=photograph of stellion|thumb|Roughtail Rock Agama. The photo was taken in southern Israel, in Negev desert (CC BY SA Клара Матусевич /Klara Matusevich).]] |
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Latin "Stellio", literally "star lizard", derives from "stella" (star). It designates a newt, an olive-green lizard with spotted back, typically found in the rocky areas around the Mediterranean. It is also known as "stellion" or "rock agama"; scientific name is ''Stellagama Stellio'' of the family of the ''Agamidae''. |
Latin "Stellio", literally "star lizard", derives from "stella" (star). It designates a [https://www.britannica.com/animal/newt newt], an olive-green lizard with spotted back, typically found in the rocky areas around the Mediterranean. It is also known as "stellion" or "rock agama"; scientific name is ''Stellagama Stellio'' of the family of the ''Agamidae''. |
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In [https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133606 the introduction of their atlas], Jan and Elizabeta Hevelius claim that they have named this region after a lizard because the lizard is squeezed into such a narrow gap between existing constellations that no larger animal could fit there.<ref>Ian Ridpath ([http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/lacertahevelius.html# Website], 2024). Hevelius on the constellation "Lacerta or Stellio". </ref> |
In [https://www.e-rara.ch/zut/content/zoom/133606 the introduction of their atlas], Jan and Elizabeta Hevelius claim that they have named this region after a lizard because the lizard is squeezed into such a narrow gap between existing constellations that no larger animal could fit there.<ref>Ian Ridpath ([http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/lacertahevelius.html# Website], 2024). Hevelius on the constellation "Lacerta or Stellio". </ref> |
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Revision as of 19:12, 19 August 2024
Hevelius, who invented the constellation Lacerta, gave it the alternative name Stellio in their star catalogue and star chart.
Etymology and History
Latin "Stellio", literally "star lizard", derives from "stella" (star). It designates a newt, an olive-green lizard with spotted back, typically found in the rocky areas around the Mediterranean. It is also known as "stellion" or "rock agama"; scientific name is Stellagama Stellio of the family of the Agamidae.
In the introduction of their atlas, Jan and Elizabeta Hevelius claim that they have named this region after a lizard because the lizard is squeezed into such a narrow gap between existing constellations that no larger animal could fit there.[1]
Mythology
It is not preserved why they applied an alternative name here, "Lacerta sive Stellio" (The Lizard or the Stellion), but it might be a pun as there are real animals called "star lizards" while they formed the image of a lizard out of stars.
IAU Working Group Star Names
The name "Stellio" is suggested for the main star of Lacerta, alpha Lacertae.
It was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2024. As this star is ..., the WGSN chose ... in the IAU-CSN.
