Poniatowski's Bull

PONIATOWSKI'S BULL OF OPHIUCHUS

TAURUS PONIATOVII

The vee-shaped set of stars pointing downward at the center of the picture, reminiscent of a bull's head and horns and set in northeastern Ophiuchus, is the defunct constellation -- now an asterism -- Poniatowski's Bull (Taurus Poniatovii), which honors Stanislaus Poniatowski, King of Poland from 1764 to 1795. Flamsteed numbers all belong to Ophiuchus. All but 70 Oph were once thought to be members of the cluster Collinder 359 (as was Gamma Oph). Only 67 Oph survives membership, making Poniatowski's Bull something of a false cluster like Vulpecula's Coathanger. Fast-moving Barnard's Star, not visible in the picture, lies within the labelled circle. To the right of the Bull is the open cluster IC 4665.