PIX4591930: Constellations of the Unicorn and the Little Dog - Constellations of Monoceros and Canis Minor - Constellation of the Unicorn, at its right Orion, at the top left the Little Dog with the star Procyon, at the bottom of Sirius. The stars Sirius, Procyon and Betelgeuse form the asterism of the winter triangle. Monoceros constellation, at right: Orion, top left Canis Minor with Procyon, bottom Sirius in Canis Major. Monoceros (the Unicorn) represents mythical creature set among the stars. This one has the forelegs and (horned) head of a horse, the hindquarters of a stag and the tail of a lion. Such creatures are sometimes seen in Assyrian (~ 2500 - 600 BCE) carvings, and have been interpreted as originating in traveller's tales of the Indian or African rhinoceros. The modern constellation sits astride both the Milky Way and the celestial equator. It is also enclosed on three sides by the bright stars of the Winter Triangle (Sirius, Procyon and Betelgeuse). Of course this refers to the northern hemisphere winter; these stars are equally visible in the southern summer and make Monoceros easy to find. However, the stars within the constellation itself are rather faint, though they can be joined tp produce a figure resembling a unicorn. The famous Rosette nebula is just visible in the only closed triangle of the constellation figure. Canis Minor (the Lesser Dog) is sometimes regarded as the smaller of the two dogs of Orion the hunter. It is minor indeed, just 185 degrees square, and 71st in size of the 88 modern constellations. The most obvious and interesting object Canis Minor is its main star, the pale yellow Procyon. Its name is from the Greek, meaning 'before the dog', since it rises before the Sirius, the Dog Star / Bridgeman Images

FLO4591943: Plans and elevations of a garden conservatory and greenhouse, 18th century. Copperplate engraving from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1820. / Bridgeman Images

FLO4591951: Plans and sections of a deviling machine, used for tearing rags in cotton manufacture, 18th century. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by James Burton from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1811. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4591957: Constellation de la Licorne - Constellation of Monoceros - Atlas celeste by John Flamsteed published in 1776 by J. Fortin Troieme edition, reviewed, corrected and augmented by Messrs. Delalande and Megain. Recolorise by us Celestial Atlas of John Flamsteed published in 1776. Recolored / Bridgeman Images

FLO4591962: Anatomy of the human eye showing eyeball, cornea, lens, optic nerve, etc.CopperPlate engraving by Milton from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1820. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592020: Constellation of Lievre - Constellation of Lepus - Uranographia by Johann Bode (1801) recolorises by us Uranographia of Johann Bode (1801). Recolored / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592041: Constellations of Lievre, Orion, Burin and part of Eridan - Eridanus, Orion, Lepus, and Caelum constellations - In the center left, the constellation of Lievre, above, Orion, from the center top to the bottom, the constellation of Eridan, down to the left, the Burin. At the top of the picture, the bright star is Aldebaran / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592047: Constellations of the Hare and the Big Dog - Lepus and Canis Major constellations - Visible also near the horizon, the Dove and the Burin / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592089: Night end - Starry sky and observer - Constellations of the Great Bear, Lion and Cancer 26 September 2006, Monts d'Arree (Finistere - France). In overprint, the mythological forms of these constellations, extracted from the Uranographia of Hevelius. Big Dipper, Leo, Cancer constellations. Mythological Constellations forms from “” Uranographia”” star atlas by Hevelius (1690) have been added. September 26 2006, Monts d'Arree (Finistere - France) / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592104: Constellation Leo - Leo constellation - The constellation of the Lion above the Chapel of Mount Saint - Michel of Braspart, Brittany. April 2008, Mont Saint - Michel de Braspart, Brittany, France) / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592119: Leo Constellation / Bridgeman Images

FLO4592156: Electrical experiments, including an flammable air pistol, Alessandro Volta (1845-1927)'s flammable air lamp, and electrophorus or capacitive generator. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by John Farey Jr. from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1814. / Bridgeman Images

FLO4592182: Electrical machines by Dr. Martinus Van Marum (1750-1837), Father John Baptist Beccaria (1710-1781), Edward Nairne (1726-1806), and a common machine. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by John Farey Jr. from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1811. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592192: Constellation of the Lion - Leo constellation - Celestial Atlas by John Flamsteed published in 1776 by J. Fortin Third edition, reviewed, corrected and augmented by Messrs. Delalande and Megain. Recolorise by us Celestial Atlas of John Flamsteed published in 1776. Recolored / Bridgeman Images

FLO4592211: Robert Salmon (1763-1821)'s weighing machine or Poidometer, 18th century. Illustration and copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1803. / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590365: Chinese stage cart, Qing Dynasty. Common horse-drawn carriage or wagon used by all classes. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste Bertin and Jean Baptiste Joseph Breton's China, Its Costumes, Arts, Manufactures, etc., Howlett and Brimmer, London, 1824. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590393: Part of the constellation Swan - Part of constellation of Cygnus - Above, the brightest star in the constellation Swan, Deneb. On top of the image is Deneb, the brighest star of the constellation Cygnu / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590414: Constellation du Cygne - Cygnus constellation - Celeste Atlas by John Flamsteed published in 1776 by J. Fortin Troieme edition, reviewed, corrected and augmented by Messrs. Delalande and Megain. Recolorise by us Celestial Atlas of John Flamsteed published in 1776. Recolored / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590420: Constellation du Cygne - Cygnus constellation - Celeste Atlas by John Flamsteed published in 1776 by J. Fortin Troieme edition, reviewed, corrected and augmented by Messrs. Delalande and Megain. Recolorise by us Celestial Atlas of John Flamsteed published in 1776. Recolored / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590477: Constellation of Dolphin and Star Altair - Constellation of Delphinus and Sagitta - Center left, the Dolphin; on the right, the bright star is Altair of the Eagle; above, the small constellation of Fleche / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590485: Chinese mountebank riding a boat on land accompanied by a musician playing a recorder, Qing Dynasty. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste Bertin and Jean Baptiste Joseph Breton's China, Its Costumes, Arts, Manufactures, etc., Howlett and Brimmer, London, 1824. / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590545: Chinese swan pan or abacus, and pottery shop, Qing Dynasty. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste Bertin and Jean Baptiste Joseph Breton's China, Its Costumes, Arts, Manufactures, etc., Howlett and Brimmer, London, 1824. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590553: Constellation of Sobieski's ECU - Constellation of Scutum - Scutum (The Shield) was originally Scutum Sobiescianum, Sobieski's Shield, and was introduced in 1690 by the astronomer/cartographer Johannes Hevelius, one - time mayor of Gdansk (Danzig), in honour of Polish warrior - King John Sobieski. King John distiguished himself in defending his land against the Turks in 1683, turning them back at the gates of Vienna. For this he was hailed by the Pope and others as the savior of Vienna and Western European Civilization. Scutum was created in honor of this victory, and alpha Scuti named Ioannina (Greek for John) in his honor. Scutum is small, 84th in size out of the 88 modern constellation. It contains no bright stars, and seems to have been carved out of adjoining Aquila and Serpens simply embrace a fine piece of the Milky Way. However, the open clusters M11 and M26 can be found here / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590561: Chinese junk, Qing Dynasty. Flat-bottomed, three-masted ship with compartmentalized hold. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste Bertin and Jean Baptiste Joseph Breton's China, Its Costumes, Arts, Manufactures, etc., Howlett and Brimmer, London, 1824. / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590602: Criminal being punished with the Bastinado, or whipping acoss the thighs with a whip or bamboo cane. Qing Dynasty. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste Bertin and Jean Baptiste Joseph Breton's China, Its Costumes, Arts, Manufactures, etc., Howlett and Brimmer, London, 1824. / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590649: Porcelain factory in China, Qing Dynasty. Workers painting dishes by hand while another brings more plates. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste Bertin and Jean Baptiste Joseph Breton's China, Its Costumes, Arts, Manufactures, etc., Howlett and Brimmer, London, 1824. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590674: Constellations of Gemels and Little Dog - Constellations of Gemini and Canis Minor - Constellation of Gemels with bright stars Castor and Pollux. Below is the small constellation of the Little Dog, with the bright star Procyon. Canis Minor (the Lesser Dog) is sometimes regarded as the smaller of the two dogs of Orion the hunter. It is minor indeed, just 185 degrees square, and 71st in size of the 88 modern constellations. The most obvious and interesting object Canis Minor is its main star, the pale yellow Procyon. Its name is from the Greek, meaning 'before the dog', since it rises before the Sirius, the Dog Star. Gemini (the Twins) is a much more interesting collection of stars, easily visualised as two figures holding hands, their heads represented by the stars Castor and Pollux. The constellation is an ancient zodiacal construction, with a rich mythology vanishing in the mists of time. It is from the direction of Gemini (near Castor) that annual Geminid meteor showers radiate, around December 14 / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590681: Block machinery or lathe at Portsmouth naval docks, early 19th century. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by John Farey from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1820. / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590732: Sections through furnaces for the reduction of antimony. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1802. / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590751: Alembic still with cucurbit flask and stil-head, alcohol still, and subliming aludel or Hermetic vase. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1802. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590756: Constellations of the Giraffe and the Coach - Constellations of Camelopardalis and Auriga - Below, the constellation of the Coach with the brilliant star Capella, in the center, the Giraffe, at the top, towards the middle of the image, the brightest star is the Polar Star. Camelopardalis (the Giraffe, sometimes given as Camelopardis) is aptly named, both for the stick figure outlined above, which hints the outline of a giraffe's legs and sloping back, and for huge extent of constellation as it wanders over the North Celestial Pole, covering over 70 degrees. This meandering construction is probably the work of the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in about 1613 and for its size (757 square degrees) it contains remarkably few bright stars / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590759: Anatomy of human internal organs from the back showing stomach, liver, intestines, gallbladder, etc. Copperplate engraving by Milton from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1820. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590770: Constellation Gemini - Gemini constellation - The constellation Gemels with its main stars. Constellation of Gemini with its main stars / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590771: Woulfe's apparatus for washing gases or saturating liquids. Peter Woulfe (1727-1803) was an Irish chemist, mineralogist and alchemist. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1803 / Bridgeman Images

FLO4590774: Cross-sections and plans of blast furnaces, early 19th century. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1804. / Bridgeman Images

PIX4590801: Constellation of the Great Dog - Constellation of Canis Major - Sirius, the bright star on this image is the brightest star in the sky. To the right is Sirius, the brightest star in the sky located in the constellation Canis Major / Bridgeman Images