The Hero Hercules, from
Bayer's Uranometria of 1603.
In more ancient times called "the Kneeler," Hercules is
commonly positioned upside-down. Rasalgethi (Alpha Herculis) marks
the Hero's head. Just down and to the left is Rasalhague
in Ophiuchus. Lyra (with the bright star Vega)
is to the left of Hercules, Cygnus (with Deneb) ever farther to the left, its
figure distorted by the flat map. The Milky Way runs down
and to the right through Cygnus.
Courtesy of the Rare Book Room and Special Collections Library
of the University of Illinois
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