Bayer, Johann
Johann Bayer (1572 - March 7, 1625) was a German lawyer and celestial cartographer. Bayer was born in Rain, Lower Bavaria. In 1592, he began studying philosophy and law at the University of Ingolstadt. Upon completing university, he began legal practice in Augsburg, becoming legal adviser to the city council in 1612. In addition to the law, he studied archaeology, mathematics, and especially astronomy. His work codifying the positions of stars and other celestial objects on the celestial sphere had remains in use today. His star atlas Uranometria Omnium Asterismorum, published in 1603 in Augsburg, was the first atlas to cover the entire celestial sphere. It drew upon the work of Tycho Brahe and Alessandro Piccolomini, but was far more encyclopedic: Bayer's catalog included a thousand more stars than its precursors. Uranometria also introduced a new system of star designation, now known as the Bayer Designation. In addition to the classical constellations of the northern hemisphere, Bayer included in his work a dozen further constellations, invented to fill the night sky of the Southern Hemisphere - which Ancient Greece and Rome had never seen. The crater Bayer on the Moon is named after him.
Auriga from the most important 17th century celestial atlas.
[Auriga]. / Tabula Duodecima Auriga et Erichthonius [handwritten on verso].
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A charming c. 1640 example of Johannes Bayer's celestial chart of the zodiacal constellation Auriga ('the charioteer'), published in his seminal Uranometria, one of the most important celestial atlases of the early modern period. As the forerunner of all later celestial atlases, the significance and relevance of this work are emphasized by its continued publication throughout the mid-17th century. (more details)
Boötes from the most important 17th century celestial atlas.
[Boötes]. / Tabula. Quinta Bootes. [handwritten on verso]
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A lovely c. 1640 example of Johannes Bayer's celestial chart of the zodiacal constellation Boötes (the 'herdsman' or 'ploughman'), published in his seminal Uranometria, one of the most important celestial atlases of the early modern period. As the forerunner of all later celestial atlases, the significance and relevance of this work are emphasized by its continued publication throughout the mid-17th century. (more details)
Aquarius from the most important 17th century celestial atlas.
[Aquarius].
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This is a beautiful Johann Bayer's celestial chart of the zodiacal constellation Aquarius. It was engraved for Bayer's seminal 1603 celestial atlas, Uranometria: omnium asterismorum content schemata, nova methodo delineata, aereis laminis expressa. As the forerunner of all later celestial atlases, the importance and relevance of this work are emphasized by its continued publication throughout the mid-17th century. (more details)
Christianizing Celestial Nomenclature.
Contellatio XLI. [Iordanis Fluvii.]
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A lovely hand-colored 1627 celestial chart of the Hydra constellation, reimagined as the River Jordan, with surrounding constellations similarly replaced by Biblical imagery. It appeared in Julius Schiller's rare 1627 star atlas Coelum Stellatum Christianum, which aimed, but failed, to supplement classical zodiac Greco-Roman celestial nomenclature for Christian-themed naming conventions. (more details)
Father of the Israelites.
Constellatio XLV. [Sancti Israelis Sive Jacobi Patriarchæ].
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A hand-colored example of Julius Schiller's 1627 depiction of the Lupus Constellation, represented by the Biblical figure Jacob. It appeared in Schiller's rare star atlas Coelum Stellatum Christianum, which aimed but failed to have fellow astronomers exchange the classical zodiac and Greco-Roman figures for Christian icons. (more details)
The Papal Crown.
Contellatio XIX. [Mitrae Pontificalis S. Petri].
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A beautiful 1627 celestial chart of the Triangulum constellation, reimagined as an angel holding the Papal tiara, with surrounding constellations similarly replaced by Biblical imagery. It appeared in Julius Schiller's rare 1627 star atlas Coelum Stellatum Christianum, which aimed, but failed, to have fellow astronomers exchange the classical zodiac and Greco-Roman figures for Christian ones. (more details)
Failed Effort to Rename the Heavens.
Constellatio LIII. [Abelis Iusti].
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A hand-colored 1627 celestial map of the Volans and Dorado constellations as the Biblical figure Abel. It appeared in Julius Schiller's rare 1627 star atlas Coelum stellatum Christianum. Schiller's atlas aimed, but failed, to have fellow astronomers replace the classical zodiac and Greco-Roman figures with Christian ones. (more details)