The Witch's Journal · cultural astronomy

Celestial Bestiary

Lions, lynxes, a cat that disappeared from maps and nebulae that only seem to have whiskers: a guide to distinguishing constellations, historical names and cosmic nicknames.

We look at the sky and fill in its gaps with stories. The same firmament can contain a lion, a lynx, a white tiger or a cat's smile without all of these names meaning the same.

Here we separate official constellations, historical figures, cultural astronomy, and nicknames by appearance, not scientific names.

Four ways to name the sky

Official constellationOne of the 88 regions delimited by the IAU.
Historical figureIt appeared in previous maps, but is not part of the current standard.
Cultural astronomyIt belongs to a tradition of organization of the firmament.
Astronomical nicknameA visual resemblance accompanying a catalog designation.

Official constellation

Leo

Official name: Leo

Leo is one of the 88 delimited celestial regions that make up the international constellation map.1

Official constellation

Leo Minor

Official name: Leo Minor

Leo Minor, the Lesser Lion, also appears on the current IAU list of 88 constellations.1

Official constellation

Lynx

Official name: Lynx

Lynx, the Lynx, completes the three feline figures present in the modern constellation standard.1

In modern astronomy, a constellation is a delimited region of the sky; its illustrated lines do not constitute a fixed official figure.1

Historical figure

Felis

Historical figure: Felis
Current proper name: Felis · star
Catalog designation: HD 85951

Jérôme Lalande proposed Felis at the end of the 18th century and the figure appeared in European atlases, but Felis is not part of the 88 modern constellations.3 1

The name Felis remains associated with the star HD 85951, within Hydra; this does not make the old figure a current constellation.4

Cultural astronomy

The White Tiger

Cultural figure: White Tiger

In traditional Chinese astronomy, the White Tiger belongs to a system of large celestial figures and is associated with autumn.2

It is not equivalent to a single IAU constellation: it organizes the firmament from another historical tradition.1

Astronomical nickname

Cat's Eye Nebula

Nickname: Cat's Eye
Catalog designation: NGC 6543

NGC 6543 is a planetary nebula in Draco, formed by material ejected in the final phases of a star.5

"Cat's Eye" describes the appearance of its layers and arches; its astronomical catalog identification is NGC 6543.5 8

Astronomical nickname

Cat's Paw Nebula

Nickname: Cat's Paw
Catalog designation: NGC 6334

NGC 6334 is a star-forming region in Scorpius, located approximately 4,000 light years away.6

“Cat's Paw” is a visual similarity applied to its clouds of gas, dust and young stars; NGC 6334 is the catalog designation.6 8

Astronomical nickname

Cheshire Cat Group

Nickname: Cheshire Cat
Catalog designation: SDSS J103842.59+484917.7

In SDSS J103842.59+484917.7, two galaxies look like eyes and several arcs of distant galaxies form a smile due to gravitational lensing.7

"Cheshire Cat" is the nickname of the group/system that allows studying a collision of groups of galaxies, not the physical explanation of the phenomenon.7 8