Argo Navis
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Argo Navis (or simply Argo) was a large southern constellation representing the Argo, the ship used by Jason and the Argonauts in Greek mythology. The abbreviation was "Arg" and the genitive was "Argūs".
It is the only one of Ptolemy's list of 48 constellations that is no longer officially recognised as a constellation, having been broken up by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille into Carina (the keel of the ship), Puppis (the poop), and Vela (the sails). Were it still considered a single constellation, it would be the largest of all, being larger than Hydra.
When Argo Navis was split, its Bayer designations were also split. Carina has the α and β, Vela has γ and δ, Carina has ε, Puppis has ζ, and so on.
The constellation Pyxis (the compass) occupies an area which in antiquity was considered part of Argo's mast. But Pyxis is not usually considered part of Argo Navis, and in particular its Bayer designations are separate from those of Carina, Puppis and Vela.
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| The 48 Constellations listed by Ptolemy |
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| Andromeda • Aquarius • Aquila • Ara • Argo Navis • Aries • Auriga • Boötes • Cancer • Canis Major • Canis Minor • Capricornus • Cassiopeia • Centaurus • Cepheus • Cetus • Corona Australis • Corona Borealis • Corvus • Crater • Cygnus • Delphinus • Draco • Equuleus • Eridanus • Gemini • Hercules • Hydra • Leo • Lepus • Libra • Lupus • Lyra • Ophiuchus • Orion • Pegasus • Perseus • Pisces • Piscis Austrinus • Sagitta • Sagittarius • Scorpius • Serpens • Taurus • Triangulum • Ursa Major • Ursa Minor • Virgo |
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Constellations changed by Lacaille in 1763 |
| Argo Navis split into Carina | Puppis | Vela |
| Eridanus split into Eridanus | Fornax |
| Sagittarius | Corona Australis altered to create Telescopium |
| Centaurus | Lupus altered to create Circinus |
