Abstract
This highly contrived figure was devised by Gottfried Kirch in 1684 as an attempt to draw the attention (and patronage) of the Elector of Saxony at the time, Johann Georg III (1647–1691). It consisted of nine unformed stars between visual magnitude + 3. 7 and + 5. 2 in the area where the edges of the traditional figures of Boötes, Serpens, Libra, and Virgo converged; the point where the swords in Kirch’s figure cross is very close to the position of the bright, edge-on galaxy NGC 5746. He published the suggested constellation along with a description of Scutum Sobieski in Acta Eruditorum, the first scientific journal in the region of Europe that later became Germany. Kirch included a lengthy description with his engraving of the new constellation (Fig. 6.1), presented here in its entirety along with an English translation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
- 2.
Anton (or Antonius) Maria Schyrleus of Rheita (1604–1660) was an astronomer and optician who invented the erecting eyepiece for early Galilean telescopes.
- 3.
Kirch alludes to the Biblical prophets Enoch and Elijah who were assumed bodily into heaven in the Old Testament in 2 Kings 2:11 (“As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind,” NIV) and Genesis 5:24 (“ Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away,” NIV), respectively. In this reference to “the eyes of Enoch and Elijah”, Kirch may have intended to suggest whatever Schyrleus saw was previously known only to God.
- 4.
Michael Florent van Langren (“Langrenus,” 1598–1675) was a Dutch astronomer and cartographer who named many prominent lunar features and established the convention of calling the dark areas on the lunar disc after bodies of water. He also named a rather prominent lunar crater after himself, a name that persists officially to this day.
- 5.
Robur Carolinum, the Royal Oak; see Volume 1.
- 6.
Referring to “Uranographia,” the alternate title of Hevelius’ Firmamentum Sobiescianum (1687).
- 7.
“Translated and communicated by Sir J.F.W. Herschel, Bart.”
- 8.
Pomum Imperiale (Chap. 13).
- 9.
Sceptrum Brandenburgicum; see Volume 1.
- 10.
Mons Maenalus; see Volume 1.
References
Allen, Richard Hinckley. 1899. Star Names: Their Lore And Meaning. New York: Dover.
Bakich, Michael E. 1995. The Cambridge guide to the constellations. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Hevelius, Johannes. 1687. Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia. Danzig: Johann Zacharias Stoll.
Hevelius, Johannes. 1690. Prodromus Astronomiae. Danzig: Johann Zacharias Stoll.
Kirch, Gottfried. 1684. Scutum Sobiescianum, et Enses Electorales Saxonici, Novi in Coelo Asterismi. Acta Eruditorum, 395–396.
Olbers, Heinrich W. M. 1841. On a Reformation of the Constellations, and a Revision of the Nomenclature of the Stars. Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society of London, V(13), 101–105.
Ridpath, Ian. 1989. Star Tales. Cambridge, UK: Lutterworth Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Barentine, J.C. (2016). Gladii Electorales Saxonici. In: Uncharted Constellations. Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27619-9_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27619-9_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27618-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27619-9
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)