Lacerta

Lacerta

Lacerta (Lizard, Lac) is one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Its name is Latin for lizard. A small, faint constellation, it was created in 1687 by the astronomer Johannes Hevelius (As an astronomer he gained a reputation as "the founder of lunar topography" and described ten new constellations, seven of which are still recognized by astronomers). Its brightest stars form a "W" shape similar to that of Cassiopeia, and it is thus sometimes referred to as 'Little Cassiopeia'. It is located between Cygnus, Cassiopeia and Andromeda on the northern celestial sphere.

Centred on a region of the sky without apparently bright stars, Lacerta was apparently not regarded as a constellation by ancient Western astronomers. Johannes Hevelius created the constellation in 1687 and initially christened it "Stellio", a newt with star-like dorsal spots found along the Mediterranean coast.

Other Europeans who sought to name this new constellation included Augustin Royer, who created Sceptrum (the Hand of Justice and Sceptre) to honor Louis XIV in 1670, and Johann Elert Bode, who created Frederici Honores (Frederick's Glory) to honor Frederick the Great in 1787. Both Sceptrum and Frederici Honores are now obsolete, while Lacerta still survives.

53 Eridani (53 Eri) is a star in the constellation Eridanus. It has the traditional name Sceptrum (Latin "scepter") .53 Eridani was one of the brighter stars, designated "p Sceptri (Brandenburgici)", in the obsolete constellation Sceptrum Brandenburgicum.

Bordering constellations
Andromeda | Cassiopeia | Cepheus | Cygnus | Pegasus
Wikipedia

 


Lists of stars by constellation
WallHapp Catalogue (WH)

List of stars in lacerta
WallHapp Catalogue (WH)