Template:POTD/2016-07-06
Hercules is a constellation named after Hercules, the Roman mythological hero adapted from the Greek hero Heracles. Here he is shown holding Cerberus, a former constellation now included within Hercules. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, Hercules is the fifth largest of the 88 modern constellations.
This illustration comes from Urania's Mirror, a set of 32 astronomical star chart cards first published in November 1824. The figure of Hercules appears upside down in the sky relative to neighbouring constellations, such as Corona Borealis.Lithograph: Sidney Hall; restoration: Adam Cuerden