CLASSICAL STAR ATLASES

BAYER'S LEPUS

Lepus, the Hare, from Bayer's Uranometria of 1603. The lower half of Orion, his Belt prominent, lies above Lepus, while Eridanus, the River, winds to the right. Sirius, in Canis Major, is to the left. Bayer assigned Greek letters according to the specific constellation. Sirius therefore came out Pi Leporis and Rigel in Orion Xi Leporis; these stars are now always known as Alpha Canis Majoris and Beta Orionis.

Courtesy of the Rare Book Room and Special Collections Library of the University of Illinois