Phoenix in Chinese astronomy

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The modern constellation Phoenix lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎, Xī Fāng Bái Hǔ), and The Southern Asterisms (近南極星區, Jìnnánjíxīngōu), that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

Phoenix (constellation) minor constellation in the southern sky

Phoenix is a minor constellation in the southern sky. Named after the mythical phoenix, it was first depicted on a celestial atlas by Johann Bayer in his 1603 Uranometria. The French explorer and astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille charted the brighter stars and gave their Bayer designations in 1756. The constellation stretches from roughly −39° to −57° declination, and from 23.5h to 2.5h of right ascension. The constellations Phoenix, Grus, Pavo and Tucana, are known as the Southern Birds.

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According to the quadrant, constellation Phoenix in Chinese sky is not fully seen. Ankaa (Alpha Phoenicis) are bright stars in this constellation that possibly never seen in Chinese sky.

Alpha Phoenicis star in the constellation Phoenix

Alpha Phoenicis, formally named Ankaa is the brightest star in the constellation of Phoenix.

The name of the western constellation in modern Chinese is 鳳凰座 (fèng huáng zuò), which means "the phoenix constellation".

Stars

The map of Chinese constellation in constellation Phoenix area consists of :

Four SymbolsMansion (Chinese name)RomanizationTranslationAsterisms (Chinese name)RomanizationTranslationWestern star nameChinese star nameRomanizationTranslation
White Tiger of the West (西方白虎) 畢Bì Net
天園TiānyuánCelestial Orchard δ Phe [1] 天園一Tiānyuányī1st star
-近南極星區 (non-mansions)Jìnnánjíxīngōu (non-mansions) The Southern Asterisms (non-mansions)火鳥HuōdiǎoFirebird
ι Phe [2] 火鳥二Huōdiǎoèr2nd star
σ Phe [2] 火鳥三Huōdiǎosān3rd star
ε Phe [2] 火鳥四Huōdiǎosì4th star
κ Phe [2] 火鳥五Huōdiǎowu5th star
α Phe [2]
火鳥六Huōdiǎoliù6th star
八魁距星BākuíjùxīngSeparated star of Net for Catching Birds constellation
八魁南大星BākuínándàxīngBig star in the south of Net for Catching Birds constellation
μ Phe [2] 火鳥七Huōdiǎoqī7th star
λ1 Phe [2] 火鳥八Huōdiǎobā8th star
β Phe [2] 火鳥九Huōdiǎojiǔ9th star
γ Phe [2] 火鳥十Huōdiǎoshí10th star
HD 222095 火鳥增一Huōdiǎozēngshí1st additional star
水委ShuǐwěiCrooked Running Water
ζ Phe [2] 水委二Shuǐwěièr2nd star
η Phe [2] 水委三Shuǐwěisān3rd star

See also

Chinese constellations groupings used in traditional Chinese culture to organize the stars

Traditional Chinese astronomy has a system of dividing the celestial sphere into asterisms or constellations, known as "officials".

Related Research Articles

Chinese star names are named according to ancient Chinese astronomy and astrology. The sky is divided into star mansions and asterisms. The system of 283 asterisms under Three Enclosures and Twenty-eight Mansions was established by Chen Zhuo of the Three Kingdoms period, who synthesized ancient constellations and the asterisms created by early astronomers Shi Shen, Gan De and Wuxian. Since the Han and Jin Dynasties, stars have been given reference numbers within their asterisms in a system similar to the Bayer or Flamsteed designations, so that individual stars can be identified. For example, Deneb is referred to as 天津四.

The modern constellation Andromeda lies across two of the quadrants, symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North and the White Tiger of the West, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Aquarius is located within the northern quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the Black Tortoise of the North.

The modern constellation Boötes lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Capricornus is located within the northern quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the Black Tortoise of the North

The modern constellation Centaurus lies across two of the quadrants symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermillion Bird of the South, and the Southern Asterisms.

The modern constellation Cetus lies across two of the quadrants, symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North and the White Tiger of the West, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

The modern constellation Coma Berenices lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

The modern constellation Draco lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

The modern constellation Eridanus lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the White Tiger of the West, and The Southern Asterisms, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

The modern constellation Leo lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Vermilion Bird of the South, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Libra is located within the eastern quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the Azure Dragon of the East.

The modern constellation Hydra lies across two of the quadrants, symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East and the Vermilion Bird of the South, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

The modern constellation Ophiuchus lies across two of the quadrants symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East and The Black Tortoise of the North, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

The modern constellation Orion lies across two of the quadrants, symbolized by the White Tiger of the West and Vermilion Bird of the South, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Pegasus is located within the northern quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the Black Tortoise of the North.

The name of the IAU constellation Scorpius in modern Chinese is 天蝎座.

The modern constellation Serpens lies across one of the quadrants, symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Taurus is located within the western quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎).

The modern constellation Virgo lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.

References

  1. ↑ (in Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 13 日
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 (in Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 27 日
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