Description
The maps below provide graphical representations of Ulugh Beg's catalog. They represent star positions and magnitudes according to Knobel's version of the catalog (see the catalog page) and alternative positions from Baily's version (derived from Hyde's and Sharpe's), along with bright stars according to modern catalogs (the same stars as on these reference maps).
The catalog's equinox, the beginning of year 841 of the Hegira, corresponds to July 5, 1437 (Julian Calendar), or
| Julian Day | 2,246,108 |
| Besselian epoch | B1437.53… |
| Julian epoch | J1437.54… |
The corresponding obliquity of the ecliptic is close to 23°30'44" according to the IAU 2006 precesion model. It is the value used for the maps.
Map features
The representation of catalog stars and general features of the maps are described on the historical catalogs page.
The maps show star designations consisting of an optional constellation abbreviation and number within the constellation. As for Ptolemy's catalog, a tilde (~) character before the number or between the constellation abbreviation and the number denotes informes stars.
The maps also show the Arabic star names as transliterated by Hyde (Sharpe's and Baily's versions sometimes vary a little). Some stars have two names: for instance, 313 Peg 1 is Sirra Al Pharas (the horse's navel) and Râs Al Mar,a Al Mosálsala (the head of the woman in chains). Both names are shown. Some names are assigned to more than one consecutive catalog stars. In that case the name is assigned to the first star of the group, followed in parentheses by the number of stars to which it applies. Hyde's and Sharpe's versions assign additional collective names to some groups of stars: for instance, the Hyades are collectively labeled Al Debarân. These names are few and not shown on the maps; here is the list:
| Star designations | Group name | Meaning according to Allen [1] |
|---|---|---|
| UMa 16–19 | Feretrum | the bier (p. 433) |
| UMa 24–27 | Filiæ | the daughters (mourners of the bier) (pp. 440–441) |
| Peg 1–2 | Phergh Muáccher | the hind spout of the water-jar (p. 35) |
| Peg 3–4 | Phergh Mokáddem | the fore spout of the water-bucket (p. 325) |
| Tau 11–15 | Al Debarân | the follower [of the Pleiades] (p. 383) |
| Hya 1–7 | min Al A,zal | "belonging to the uninhabited spot" (p. 249) |
A dotted line connects catalog stars with corresponding reference stars according to the identifications retained in the file ident_o.dat (see the identifications page for details).
Maps by constellation
The maps below represent the stars of UlughBeg's catalog one constellation at a time.
Northern constellations
Ursa Minor
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Ursa Major
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UMa (in Lynx)
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Draco
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Cepheus
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Boötes
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Corona Borealis
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Hercules
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Lyra
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Cygnus
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Cassiopeia
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Perseus
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Auriga
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Ophiuchus
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Serpens Caput
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Serpens Cauda
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Sagitta
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Aquila
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Delphinus
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Equuleus
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Pegasus
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Andromeda
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Triangulum
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Zodiacal constellations
Aries
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Taurus
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Gemini
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Cancer
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Leo
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Leo (in Coma)
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Virgo
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Libra
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Scorpius
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Sagittarius
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Capricornus
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Aquarius
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Pisces
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Southern constellations
Cetus
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Orion
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Eridanus (N)
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Eridanus (S)
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Lepus
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Canis Major
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CMa (in Col)
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CMa (in Mon)
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Canis Minor
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Navis (Puppis)
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Navis (Vela)
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Navis (Carina)
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Hydra (West)
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Hydra (East)
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Crater
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Corvus
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Centaurus
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Lupus
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Ara
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Corona Australis
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Piscis Austrinus
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Maps by coordinate range
The maps below represent the same data, but they are delimited by equatorial coordinate lines (of the B1875.0 equatorial coordinate system, the reference for constellation boundaries). They show the star numbers and names in all constellations at the same time. They use the stereographic projection as well.
North Pole
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90° ~ 65° | |||||
| 22h ~ 18h | 18h ~ 14h | 14h ~ 10h | 10h ~ 6h | 6h ~ 2h | 2h ~ 22h | |
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70° ~ 20° |
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25° ~ -25° |
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-20° ~ -70° |
| 22h ~ 18h | 18h ~ 14h | 14h ~ 10h | 10h ~ 6h | 6h ~ 2h | 2h ~ 22h | |
Maps by hemisphere
The following maps show entire celestial hemispheres at once, for a more global view of the catalog. They use the azimuthal equidistant projection to avoid excessive distortion between the center and edges of the map.
North
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Capricorn
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Libra
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Cancer
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Aries
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South
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References
[1] Richard Hinckley Allen, Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, New York: Dover Publications, Inc. (1963).