New constellation symbols ( from google.com )

1. New Constellation Symbols
Calligraphic version |
There are symbols for the twelve classical constellations of the zodiac, which are
primarily used for astrological purposes. Two symbols have been proposed for
Ophiuchus, the thirteenth constellation of the zodiac - one in general use in
Japanese astrology and the other based on the rod of Aesclepius.
For the book One Hundred Year Star-Diary, I created symbols for a number of
meteor showers. My symbols for the showers that emanate from zodiacal
constellations were based on the symbols for those constellations. For the other
ones, I created new constellation symbols - representing Lyra, Orion, Perseus, Ursa
Minor, and the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis.
Having created symbols for those constellations, I wondered - could I make
symbols for the rest of them? Over the course of two years, I have done exactly
that. In some cases a diagram of the star pattern made a good symbol - in other
cases, I've illustrated the object, creature, or myth represented by the constellation.
For the more recent constellations I have sometimes taken inspiration from the
diagrams and drawings provided by the constellation's creator.
The constellations of the zodiac
Aries
Ram
Taurus
Bull
Gemini
Twins
Cancer
Crab
Leo
Lion
Virgo
Maiden
Libra
Scales
Scorpio
(Scorpius)
Scorpion

2. Ophiuchus
Snake-Holder
Sagittarius
Archer
Capricorn
(Capricornus)
Mer-Goat
Aquarius
Water-Bearer
Pisces
Fish
New constellation symbols
Andromeda
Princess
Antlia
Air Pump
Apus
Bird of Paradise
Aquila
Eagle
Ara
Altar
Auriga
Charioteer
Boötes
Herdsman
Caelum
Chisel
Camelopardalis
Giraffe
Canes Venatici
Canis Major Canis Minor Carina
Keel
Cassiopeia
Queen
Centaurus
Centaur

3. Cepheus
King
Cetus
Sea-Monster
Chamaeleon
Chameleon
Circinus
(Drafting)
Compass
Columba
Dove
Coma Berenices
Berenice's Hair
Corona Australis
Southern Crown
Corona Borealis
Northern Crown
Corvus Crater
Cup
Crux
Southern Cross
Cygnus
Swan
Delphinus
Dolphin
Dorado
Dolphinfish
Draco
Dragon
Equuleus
Little Horse
Eridanus
River
Fornax
Furnace
Grus
Crane
Hercules
Hero
Horologium
Clock
Hydra
Female Water-
Hydrus
Male Water-
Indus
Indian
Lacerta
Lizard

4. Snake Snake
Leo Minor
Little Lion
Lepus
Rabbit
Lupus
Wolf
Lynx
Lynx
Lyra
Lyre
Mensa
Table Mountain
Microscopium
Microscope
Monoceros
Unicorn
Musca
Fly
Norma
Carpenter's
Square
Octans
Octant
Orion
Hunter
Pavo
Peacock
Pegasus
Winged Horse
Perseus
Hero
Phoenix
Phoenix
Pictor
Easel
Piscis Austrinus
Southern Fish
Puppis
Poop Deck
Pyxis
Compass-Box
Reticulum Sagitta Sculptor Scutum Serpens

5. Reticle Arrow Sculptor's Tools Shield Snake
Sextans
Sextant
Telescopium
Telescope
Triangulum
Triangle
Triangulum
Australe
Southern Triangle
Tucana
Toucan
Ursa Major
Great Bear
Ursa Minor
Little Bear
Vela
Sail
Volans
Flying Fish
Vulpecula
Fox
Obsolete Constellations and Sub-Constellations
Quadrans Muralis
Mural Quadrant
Serpens Caput
Snake's Head
Serpens Cauda
Snake's Tail
Notes for selected constellations:
 Aquila, Cassiopeia, Delphinus, Orion, Sagitta, Triangulum, Triangulum
Australe, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor all contain very distinctive star
patterns. I've taken a few liberties with theirshapes, especially with
Triangulum Australe, to create symbols that aresimple enough to be
learnable and different from other astronomical andastrological symbols.
(Triangulum Australe also contains the
letter A.)
 Carina, Puppis, and Velaare the 3 parts of
the obsolete constellation Argo Navis,the
ship Argo. Their symbols fit together to
make a picture of the Argo.

6.  Antlia, the Air Pump, was named by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille. Its symbol is
based on Lacaille's original drawing of it in hisPlanisphere, published in
1756. Fornax, Reticulum, and Sculptor are also based on Lacaille's
depictions.
 Cepheus was a possibly mythical king of the Phoeniciankingdom of
Aethiopia. His Greek name, Kepheus, means "gardener". Hissymbol
combines a crown, a tree or flower, and the Phoenician letter for the"k"
sound.
 Coma Berenices commemorates Queen Berenice of Egyptsacrificing her hair
to Aphrodite. The symbol depicts a severed lock of hair.
 The symbols for Corona Australis and Corona Borealis, the Northern and
Southern Crowns, are simply crowns containing the letters A and B
respectively.
 Crux is a cross-shaped constellation visible in the southern hemisphere. It
points toward the south pole, which is why its symbolhas combined a cross
and an arrow.
 Draco has a number of interpretations, many based on adragon or serpent
guarding a tree or other object.
 Hercules's symbol is based on the story of the "Pillars of Hercules".
 Horologium's right ascension is about 3 hours, so it's appropriate for its
symbol to be showing 3:00.
 Hydra and Hydrus are female and male water-snakes in the north and south
of the southern hemisphere, respectively.Their symbols have their heads
facing north and south, and also slightlyresemble the feminine Venus and
masculine Mars symbols.
 Indus, the "Indian", was intended to represent anative of the Americas. In
illustrations it has often been depicted as aman with a handful of arrows, so
I've used those arrows as its symbol.
 Leo Minor's symbol is a simplification of Leo's symbol.Likewise, the symbol
for Canis Minor is a simplification of Canis Major's symbol, with Canes
Venaticibeing a further simplification. Vulpecula is a long-eared variant..
 Lynx is so-named because it is faint and one would need "the eyesight of a
lynx" to see it. The symbol is an eye with a feline vertical pupil.
 Mensa, which borders the Large Magellanic Cloud, is namedfor South
Africa's often-cloud-covered Table Mountain.
 Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, also contains an A.
 Quadrans Muralis is an obsolete constellation whichdepicts the astronomical
instrument called a Mural Quadrant. It's includedbecause it gives its name to
the Quadrantids meteor shower.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~