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Robur Carolinum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robur Carolinum in Johannes Hevelius's Uranographia.

Robur Carolinum (Latin for Charles' oak) is a former constellation created by the English astronomer Edmond Halley in 1679. The name refers to the Royal Oak where Halley's patron, King Charles II of Britain, was said to have hidden from the troops of Oliver Cromwell after the Battle of Worcester.[1] It was between the constellations of Centaurus and Carina, extending into half of Vela.

Robur Carolinum was included in some star atlases for over a century, but it was eventually retired. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille complained that it took some of the finest stars from Argo Navis.[2] Its brightest star was Beta Carinae (β Car) or Miaplacidus, which was known as α Roburis or α Roburis Carolii.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Ridpath, Ian. "Robur Carolinum". Star Tales. self-published. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b Richard Hinckley Allen, Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Vol. 1 (New York: Dover Publications, 1899, p. 349.)