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On Sat Apr 16 2005, Frank Reed wrote:

> The Alkaid vs Benetnasch puzzle has led me to this question: when was
> the list of 57 navigational stars established? Anyone know?

I was looking through the star table given in Maskelyne's Tables Requisite
last night (from 1796). It gives 60 navigational stars but only 41 are the
same as the current 57 navigational stars.

Stars on the old list but not on the new:
Algenib, Mirach, Mira, Algol, Mintaka, Paet, Wezen, Aludra, Naos, Suhail
al Muhlif, delta Vela, Merak, Becrux, Thuban, Zuben elschemali, Unukalhai,
Rasalgethi, Castor, and Scheat.

Stars on the new list but not on the old:
Acamar, Adhara, Alioth, Alnilam, Atria, Avior, Enif, Gienah, Kaus
Australis, Kochab, Menkent, Nunki, Sabik, Schedar, Shaula, and Suhail.

Here are the stars on the old list:

Extremity of the wing of Pegasus, Algenib
In the head of the Phoenix
Bright star in the tail of the Whale
In the girdle of Andromeda
The Spring of the River Erida, Achernar
In the following horn of the Ram
In the neck of the Whale
In the jaw of the Whale
In the head of Medusa, Algol
The bright star in Perseus
The Southern eye of the Bull, Aldebaran
In the left shoulder of Auriga, Capella
The bright foot of Orion, Rigel
Northern horn of the Bull
The Western shoulder of Orion
Proceeding star in the belt of Orion
Bright star in the Dove
The Eastern shoulder of Orion
In the poop of the Ship Argo, Canopus
In the mouth of the greater Dog, Sirius
In the back of the greater Dog
In the tail of hte greater Dog
In the head of the Northern Twin, Castor
The lesser Dog, Procyon
In the head of the Southern Twin, Pollux
In the row-lock of the Ship Argo
In the poop of the Ship Argo
In the middle of the Ship Argo
In the oars of the Ship Argo
The heart of the female Hydra
The Lion's heart, Regulus
Southern.star in the squ.of the great Bear
Northern.star in the squ.of the great Bear
The Lion's tail
In the foot of the Cross
In the top of the Cross
In the following arm of the Cross
The Virgin's Spike
Last star in the tail of the great Bear
The Western foot of the Centaur
In the tail of the Dragon
The bright star in Bootes, Arcturus
Eastern foot of the Centaur
The Southern scale of Libra
The Northern scale of Libra
Bright star in the Crown
In the neck of the Serpent
The Scorpion's heart, Antares
In the head of Hercules
In the head of Ophiuchus
In the head of the Dragon
The bright star in the Harp, Lyra
Bright star in the Eagle, Altair
The Eye of the Peacock
The tail of the Swan
The Western wing of the Crane
In the mouth of the South.Fish, Fomalhaut
In the shoulder of Pegasus
In the wing of Pegasus, Markab
The head of Andromeda

Ken Muldrew.

   

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