Lost
Constellations

Star Lore

Rhombus

Rhombus is a now obsolete constellation in the southern hemisphere, designed in 1621 by Isaac Habrecht II.

In 1621, German mathematician and astronomer Isaac Habrecht II manufactured a celestial globe. It was one of the first publications to show the constellations designed by Dutch-Flemish astronomer and cartographer Petrus Plancius.

In addition to six constellations designed by Plancius in 1612 and 1613, the globe also showed Habrecht's own invention in the southern sky, the Rhombus.

Habrecht also included his constellation in Planiglobium coeleste et terrestre, a star map he published in 1628. Rhombus in Planiglobium Coeleste
Source: Ian Ridpath Habrecht's celestial globe
Source: Christie's

Rhombus was made of stars between the main stars of the constellations Hydrus and Dorado, two constellations designed in 1598 by Keyser and de Houtman.

By modern designation, the constellation consisted of α and β Reticuli and of γ and ν Hydri.

In 1706, it appeared under the name Quadratum on a planisphere, published by Carel Allard.

In 1730 and 1731, Rhombus was shown on a plate of the southern constellations in two star maps by Corbinianus Thomas. Firmamentum Firmianum, 1731
Source: atlascoelestis.com

In 1763, French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille used the location (and partially the name) for his creation le Reticule Romboide (the Rhomboide Eyepiece).

De Lacaille's constellation was slightly smaller and did not use the stars of Hydrus. In 1879 the constellation became Reticulum and as such, in 1922 it was accepted by the IAU as one of the 88 official constellations.

Sources: Ian Ridpath, John C. Barentine: The Lost Constellations

Back to Star Lore
Start Page

Back to Obsolete
Constellations

Back to Space Page

Back to English
Main Page

Back to Start Page