One of the 12 new constellations introduced at the end of the 16th century by
the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman. Volans
represents a real type of fish found in tropical waters that can leap out of
the water and glide through the air on wings. Sometimes the fish landed on the
decks of ships and were used for food. In the sky the flying fish is imagined
being chased by the predatory Dorado.
The constellation was first depicted in 1598 on a globe by the Dutchman Petrus
Plancius under the name Vliegendenvis. Bayer in 1603 called it Piscis Volans, the Latin title by which it became generally known
until the mid 19th century. In 1844 the English astronomer John Herschel proposed shortening it to just Volans. Francis Baily adopted this suggestion in his British Association Catalogue of 1845, and it has been known as that ever since.
Its brightest stars are of only fourth magnitude, none are named, and there are
no legends associated with it.
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Volans, under its original name Piscis Volans, shown leaping against the side of the ship Argo in the Uranographia of Johann Bode (1801).
© Ian Ridpath. All rights reserved
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