One of the least imaginative constellations, Triangulum Minus was invented in
1687 by Johannes Hevelius. It was formed from three 5th-magnitude stars first
catalogued by Hevelius himself. Triangulum Minus lay just south of the existing
celestial triangle, Triangulum, which Hevelius renamed Triangulum Majus. The
little triangle achieved surprisingly wide acceptance among astronomers, but
ultimately was doomed to oblivion when the constellations came to be
rationalized. Its stars were transferred to Triangulum proper where they are
now known as 6, 10 and 12 Trianguli.
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Triangulum Minus shown on the Firmamentum Sobiescianum star atlas of Johannes Hevelius, published posthumously in 1690. Hevelius showed the constellations as they would appear on a celestial globe rather than as seen in the sky; for a view of the two triangles the right way round on the star chart of John Flamsteed, see Triangulum. Next to Triangulum Minus is another doomed constellation, Musca Borealis, which was invented by Petrus Plancius. Image © Tartu Observatory Virtual Museum.
© Ian Ridpath. All rights reserved
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