Sagittarius constellation
Sagittarius constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Sagittarius (the archer), Corona Australis (the southern crown), Microscopium (the microscope), and Telescopium (the telescope). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Scorpio constellation
Scorpio constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellation Scorpio (the scorpion). For all 32 cards, see images V700/172-203.
Virgo constellation
Virgo constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellation Virgo (the virgin). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Leo constellations
Leo constellations. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Leo (the lion, also known as the great lion), and Leo Minor (the little lion). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Cancer constellation
Cancer constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellation Cancer (the crab). For all 32 cards, see images V700/172-203.
Gemini constellation
Gemini constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellation Gemini (the twins). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Taurus constellation
Taurus constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellation Taurus (the bull). For all 32 cards, see images V700/172-203.
Aries and Musca Borealis constellations
Aries and Musca Borealis constellations. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Aries (the ram), and Musca Borealis (the northern fly, formerly Vespa the wasp; obsolete). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Cygnus and Lyra constellations
Cygnus and Lyra constellations. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Lacerta (the lizard), Cygnus (the swan), Lyra (the lyre, a musical instrument), Vulpecula (the little fox), and Anser (the goose; obsolete). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Delphinus and Aquila constellations
Delphinus and Aquila constellations. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Delphinus (the dolphin), Sagitta (the arrow), Aquila (the eagle), and Antinous (a lover of the Roman Emperor Hadrian; obsolete). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Taurus Poniatovii constellation
Taurus Poniatovii constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. This card shows the constellations Taurus Poniatovii (Poniatowski's bull, created in 1777 to honour Stanislaus Poniatowski, king of Poland; obsolete), Ophiuchus (also called Serpentarius, the serpent holder), Scutum (the shield, also known as Sobieski's Shield, created in 1683 to honour John III Sobieski, King of Poland), and Serpens (the snake). For the full set of 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Lynx constellation
Lynx constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Lynx (the lynx), and Telescopium Herschelii (Herschel's telescope, created in 1781 to honour William Herschel; obsolete). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Perseus constellation
Perseus constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Perseus (a hero from Greek mythology who slew the gorgon Medusa) and Caput Medusae (Medusa's head, not an official constellation). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Andromeda constellation
Andromeda constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. This card shows the constellations Gloria Frederici (Glory of Frederick, created in 1787 in honour of Frederick the Great of Prussia; obsolete), Andromeda (the chained maiden, from Greek mythology), and Triangula (the triangles, referring to Triangulum and Triangulum Minor; the latter being obsolete). For the full set of 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Cepheus constellation
Cepheus constellation. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellation Cepheus (a king in Greek mythology). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Draco and Ursa Minor constellations
Draco and Ursa Minor constellations. Illustrated card from a 19th century astronomical teaching aid called Urania's Mirror, after the Greek muse of astronomy. There are 32 cards in total. The cards are pierced with holes corresponding to the brightest stars so the pattern of the constellations can be seen when held up to the light. The cards were published in London, England, and it is thought they date from around 1825. This card shows the constellations Draco (the dragon), and Ursa Minor (the little bear). For all 32 cards, see V700/172-203.
Early photograph of the Moon, 1865
Early photograph of the Moon. This photograph was taken on 6 March 1865, by the US astronomer Lewis Morris Rutherfurd (1816-1892). Rutherfurd, who's signature is at lower right, was renowned for his early photographs of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars. This photograph was taken from New York, USA, with the Moon in its first quarter. The first photograph of the Moon had been taken in 1840.
Halley's Comet observations, 1835
Halley's Comet observations, 1835. Astronomical drawings by Sir John Frederick William Herschel (1792-1871) of Halley's Comet, as seen in the appearance of 1835. At the time, Herschel, was in South Africa, cataloguing the stars of the sky of the southern hemisphere. He was in South Africa from 1834-1838, and published these observations in 1847 in Results of Astronomical Observations made at the Cape of Good Hope. Four illustrations are shown here, numbered 1-2 from left to right across top, and then 3-4 from left to right across bottom. They show the comet increasing in size and brightness as it approaches the Sun. Halley's Comet, recognized as such by Edmund Halley in 1682, appeared again in 1758, 1835, 1910 and 1986. For observations of sunspots Herschel also made from South Africa, see V700/168.
18th century astrology
Sun and signs of the Zodiac. Historical artwork of the Sun and Moon surrounded by the twelve signs of the zodiac. The four seasons are depicted in the corners. 18th century engraving from Rome, Italy.
Tornado
Tornado. Coloured historical artwork of a mother and child fleeing from a tornado. A tornado is a rapidly rotating funnel of air that can form below certain types of storm clouds. High wind speeds within the rotating funnel can cause immense destruction. Engraving from The Atmosphere by Camille Flammarion, in 1873.