Many other star-groupings have been proposed from time to time; in some cases a separate name has been given to a part of an authoritatively accepted constellation, e.g. Ensis Orionis, the sword of Orion, or an ancient constellation may be subdivided, e.g. Argo (ship) into Argo, Malus (mast), Vela (sails), Puppis (stern), Carina (keel); and whereas some of the rearrangements, which have been mostly confined to the southern hemisphere, have been accepted, many, reflecting nothing but idiosyncrasies of the proposers, have deservedly dropped into oblivion. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, who made extended observations of the southern stars in 1751 and in the following years, and whose results were embodied in his posthumous Coelum australe stelliferum (1763), introduced the following new constellations:—Apparatus sculptoris (Sculptor’s workshop), Fornax chemica (Chemical furnace), Horologium (Clock), Reticulus rhomboidalis (Rhomboidal net), Caela sculptoris (Sculptor’s chisels), Equuleus pictoris (Painter’s easel), Pyxis nautica (Mariner’s compass), Antlia pneumatica (Air pump), Octans (Octant), Circinus (Compasses), Norma alias Quadra Euclidis (Square), Telescopium (Telescope), Microscopium (Microscope) and Mons Mensae (Table Mountain). Pierre Charles Lemonnier in 1776 introduced Tarandus (Reindeer), and Solitarius; J. J. L. de Lalande introduced Le Messier (after the astronomer Charles Messier) (1776), Quadrans muralis (Mural quadrant) (1795), Globus aerostaticus (Air balloon) (1798), and Felis (the Cat) (1799). Martin Poczobut introduced in 1777 Taurus Poniatovskii; Bode introduced the Honores Frederici (Honours of Frederick) (1786), Telescopium Herschelii (Telescope of Herschel) (1787), Machina electrica (Electrical machine) (1790), Officina typographica (Printing press) (1799), and Lochium funis (Log line); and M. Hell formed the Psalterium Georgianum (George’s lute).
The following list gives the names of the constellations now usually employed: they are divided into three groups:—north of the zodiac, in the zodiac, south of the zodiac. Those marked with an asterisk have separate articles.
| Northern (28). | |||
| *Andromeda | *Cepheus | *Hercules | Pegasus |
| *Aquila | *Coma Berenices | Lacerta | *Perseus |
| *Auriga | *Corona borealis | *Leo minor | *Sagitta |
| *Boötes | *Cygnus | Lynx | Serpens |
| Camelopardus | *Delphinus | *Lyra | Triangulum |
| *Canes venatici | Draco | { Ophiuchus | *Ursa major |
| *Cassiopeia | Equuleus | {*Serpentarius | *Ursa minor |
| *Vulpecula et Anser | |||
| Zodiacal (12). | |||
| *Aquarius | *Capricornus | *Libra | *Scorpio |
| *Aries | *Gemini | *Pisces | *Taurus |
| *Cancer | *Leo | *Sagittarius | *Virgo. |
| Southern (49). | |||
| Antlia (pneumatica) | Corona australis | Lepus | Pictor (Equuleus pictoris) |
| Apus | Corvus | Lupus | Piscis australis |
| *Ara | Crater | Mons Mensae | Recticulum |
| Caela sculptoris(Caelum) | Dorado | Microscopium | Sculptor (Apparatus sculptoris) |
| *Canis major | *Eridanus | Monoceros | Scutum Sobieskii |
| Canis minor | Fornax chemica | Musca australis | Sextans |
| Carina | Grus | Norma | Telescopium |
| *Centaurus | Horologium | Octans | Toucan |
| *Cetus | *Hydra | *Orion | Triangulum australe |
| Chameleon | Hydrus | Pavo | Vela |
| Circinus | Indus | Phoenix | Volans (Piscis volans) |
| Columba Noachi | |||
(C. E.*)
[1] The historical development of star-catalogues in general, regarded as statistics of the co-ordinates, &c., of stars, is given in the historical section of the article [Astronomy]. See also E. B. Knobel, “Chronology of Star Catalogues,” Mem. R.A.S. (1877).
CONSTIPATION (from Lat. constipare, to press closely together, whence also the adjective “costive”), the condition of body when the faeces are unduly retained, or there is difficulty in evacuation, tightness of the bowels (see [Digestive Organs]; and [Therapeutics]). It may be due to constitutional peculiarities, sedentary or irregular habits, improper diet, &c. The treatment varies with individual cases, according to the cause at work, laxatives, dieting, massage, &c., being prescribed.
CONSTITUENCY (from “constituent,” that which forms a necessary part of a thing; Lat. constituere, to create), a political term for the body of electors who choose a representative for parliament or for any other public assembly, for the place or district possessing the right to elect a representative, and for the residents generally, apart from their voting powers, in such a locality. The term is also applied, in a transferred sense, to the readers of a particular newspaper, the customers of a business and the like.