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66 Pickering Ancient StarCat Re-identifications 2002 Sept DIO 12 ‡5 1/4 is perfectly acceptable, and indeed this becomes the first (and so far only) example of a lost Hipparchan 1/4-degree fractional longitude being recovered. E The Strange Case of Pi Hydrae E1 The odd case of π Hydrae (PK918) has been noted by others (e.g., Graßhoff 1990), who have pointed out that not only does this star have a huge error — over five degrees — but also that the same error appears in this star’s position in the Commentary, proof positive that the ASC coordinates were taken from Hipparchos and not observed independently. E2 But until now, there has been no compelling explanation for the five-degree error. The mystery is cleared up when we realized that other stars in Hydra (PK901, PK920) were observed equatorially, then converted to ecliptical coordinates. It then becomes clear that almost the entire error in the position of π Hya is in declination. Converting back to the original equatorial coordinates (after subtracting Ptolemy’s 2 ◦ 2/3 precession), the Hipparchan equatorial coordinates would have been δ = −20.5, α = 182 ◦ .5. The actual declination of π Hya was very nearly −15 ◦ .5 at Hipparchos’ epoch. So the error is a simple scribal slip: the written number ιɛ (15) was misread as κ (20) due to a malformed or missing cross-stroke on the ɛ. E3 Astoundingly, Ptolemy may have observed this star himself, and then thrown away his own correct observation in favor of Hipparchos’ huge error! In the Almagest VII.1, Ptolemy records 10 that π Hya is on a straight line with α Lib and β Lib. This observation is true for the actual star; but it is not true for the erroneous position of π Hya as recorded in the ASC. Just prior to this, Ptolemy claims that he had observed this alignment himself, and that it had not been recorded by any previous astronomer. 11 Of course, there is no evidence that Ptolemy’s alignment observation also included a position measurement. F Stars Observed Equatorially F1 It is clear that a number of stars, especially in the south, were observed with equatorial instruments, and had their coordinates transformed into ecliptical coordinates for the catalog. The following cases have good evidence for this process: β Cnc (PK457), σ Psc (PK699), φ 2 Cet (PK728/9), φ 1 Cet (PK730/1), α Hya (PK901), π Hya (PK918), and λ Hya (PK920). References Duke, Dennis (2002). The Measurement Method of the Almagest Stars. DIO 12 ‡3, 35-50. Graßhoff, Gerd (1990). The History of Ptolemy’s Star Catalogue. Springer-Verlag. Hoffleit, E.D., & Warren Jr., W.H. (1991) Yale Bright Star Catalog, 5th ed. Yale University Observatory. Available at http://adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/adc-cgi/cat.pl?/catalogs/5/5050/ . Peters, C.H.F. & Knobel, E.B. (1915). Ptolemy’s catalogue of stars. The Carnegie Institution of Washington. Pickering, Keith A. (1999). Evidence of an Ecliptical Coordinate Basis in the Commentary of Hipparchos. DIO 9.1, 26-29. Rawlins, Dennis (1982). An Investigation of the Ancient Star Catalog. PASP 94, 359. Rawlins, Dennis (1994). Hipparchos’ Observatories Located. DIO 4.1 ‡4, 33-47. Toomer, G.J. (1998). Ptolemy’s Almagest. Princeton University Press. 10 Toomer 326. 11 Toomer 325. Pickering Ancient StarCat Re-identifications 2002 Sept DIO 12 ‡5 67 DIO DIO, The International Journal of Scientific History [www.dioi.org] & its occasional humorous adjunct Journal for Hysterical Astronomy are published by: DIO, Box 19935, Baltimore, MD 21211-0935, USA. Telephone (answering machine always on): 410-889-1414. [Email: dioi@mail.com.] Research & university libraries may request permanent free subscription to DIO. 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No condition is set except this single one: DIO’s name, address, URL, and phone number are to be printed adjacent to the published material and all comments thereon (then or later), along with the additional information that said commentary may well be (and, regarding comments on DR output, will certainly be) first replied to — if reply occurs at all — in DIO’s pages, not the quoting journal’s. DIO invites communication of readers’ comments, analyses, attacks, and-or advice. (And we urge informants to snitch on lurking typos: they get rubbed out at reprinting-time.) Written contributions are especially encouraged for the columns: Unpublished Letters, Referees Refereed, and regular Correspondence. Contributor-anonymity granted on request. Deftly or daftly crafted reports, on apt candidates for recognition in our occasional satirical J. for Hysterical Astronomy will of course also be considered for publication. Free spirits will presumably be pleased (and certain archons will not be surprised) to learn that: at DIO, there is not the slightest fixed standard for writing style. c○2002 DIO Inc. ISSN #1041-5440 This printing: 2013\8\5.
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