 |
Sextans is one of seven constellations introduced by Johannes
Hevelius (1611-1687), a Polish astronomer mostly known for his charts of
the lunar surface. His catalogue of 1564 stars, Prodromus Astronomiae
was published by his wife three years after his death. It was in
this catalogue that he included the seven new constellations: Canes
Venatici, Lacerta, Leo Minor, Lynx, Scutum, Sextans, and Vulpecula.
Rather than rely on the telescope, Hevelius usually used the sextant to
do his viewing. He commemorates the instrument here. The simple
constellation shows two straight lines. |
