Capricornus Constellation, Zodiac Sign, 1482

Capricornus Constellation, Zodiac Sign, 1482

Capricornus is one of the constellations of the zodiac, it is often called Capricorn, especially when referring to the corresponding astrological sign. Its name is Latin for "horned goat" or "goat horn", and it is commonly represented in the form of a sea-goat: a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish. Capricornus was one of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy and is now one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. Capricorn is the tenth astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Capricornus. It spans the 270-300th degree of the zodiac, between 270 and 305.25 degree of celestial longitude. The Sun transits this area of the zodiac from December 22 to January 19 each year. Poeticon astronomicon is a star atlas whose authorship is disputed. The work was originally attributed to the Roman historian Gaius Julius Hyginus (64 BC - AD 17). The book lists most of the constellations in the same order as Ptolemy's Almagest (2nd century AD) which has led many to believe that a more recent Hyginus created the text. The Poeticon astronomicon was not formally published until 1482, by Erhard Ratdolt. He commissioned a series of woodcuts, but the relative positions of the stars bear little resemblance to the descriptions given by Hyginus in the text or the actual positions of the stars in the sky.

Album / Science Source / U.S. Naval Observatory Library

Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?

3300 x 4942 px | 46.7 MB

27.9 x 41.8 cm | 11.0 x 16.5 in (300 dpi)