Argo Navis

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The constellation Argo Navis drawn by Johannes Hevelius in 1690
The constellation Argo Navis drawn by Johannes Hevelius in 1690

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, β and ε, Vela has γ and δ, 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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Constellation history
Obsolete constellations including Ptolemy's Argo Navis
Anser • Antinous • Argo Navis • Asterion • Cerberus • Chara • Custos Messium • Felis • Frederici Honores/Gloria Frederici • Gallus • Globus Aerostaticus • Jordanus • Lochium Funis • Machina Electrica • Malus • Mons Maenalus • Musca Borealis • Noctua • Officina Typographica • Polophylax • Psalterium Georgii/Harpa Georgii • Quadrans Muralis • Ramus Pomifer • Robur Carolinum • Sceptrum Brandenburgicum • Sceptrum et Manus Iustitiae • Solarium • Tarandus vel Rangifer • Taurus Poniatovii • Telescopium Herschelii • Testudo • Tigris • Triangulum Minor • Turdus Solitarius • Vultur
obsolete constellation names
Apis • Phoenicopterus • Serpentarius • Vespa • Xiphias