Portal:Poland/Selected picture/63

A star chart depicting the constellations Serpens, Serpentarius, Scutum Sobiescianum, and Taurus Poniatovii

Scutum (constellation)

Credit: Sidney Hall

Plate 12 from Urania's Mirror, a set of star charts published in Britain in 1824. The two constellations to the left of Serpentarius (Serpent-bearer, now called Ophiuchus) were named by Polish astronomers after the coats of arms of their kings. Scutum Sobiescianum (Sobieski's Shield), created by Johannes Hevelius in honor of King John III Sobieski, who bore the Janina coat of arms, is now known simply as Scutum. The now-obsolete Taurus Poniatovii (Poniatowski's Bull) was named by Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt for King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, who used the Ciołek coat of arms.