Constellation Map: Flamsteed's Gemini

Deborah Warner, The Sky Explored. Celestial Cartography 1500-1800 (New York, 1979), pp. 80-82.
53.34 cm x 68.58 cm
Made in England in 1729
ID Number: PH.329962
Catalog number: 329962
Accession number: 286289

John Flamsteed (1646-1719) was appointed the post of Astronomer Royal in 1675 from the Royal Greenwich Observatory. He was born in Denby, Derbyshire, England and was the only son in the family. He attended Jesus College, Cambridge, but had to delay his studies due to illness. During that delay he studied many subjects including astronomy due to his interest in a solar eclipse. He became an ordained deacon and made several attempts to do projects involving astronomy at some point. His dedication to pursue the topic leads him to the profession he was most known for, although he did mistake Uranus for a star.

Was original described by Ptolemy and is Latin for "twins". It is in the 7th right ascension at a +20 degree declination in the NQ2 quadrant. The two most notable stars in this constellation are Pollux and Castor A, named after the Roman mythology of the same name. Pollux is an evolved star 34 light years away from the sun while as Castor A is comprised of 3 binary pairs of 6 stars and appear paler than Pollux. The Gemini constellation appears overhead in the months of January and February and the sun can be seen in it from the end of June to the end of July.