One of the least imaginative constellations, Triangulum Minus was invented in
1687 by Johannes Hevelius. It was formed from three 5th-magnitude stars 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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