A Conversation for Constellations including constellation images
#56 The compass
shagbark Started conversation Jun 16, 2008
interesting how different sources label this constellation.
I have seen it the draughtsmans compass, the geometers compass and the cartographers compass.
#56 The compass
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted Jun 16, 2008
In Gnomon's Overview, A32252348 he labelled it "the Draughtman's Compass" with a footnote "also known as "a pair of compasses"
This is what I knew the piece of equipment when I was at school.
I had a problem with Phoenix, every reference I found labelled it "Phoenix the Phoenix"
so I labelled my constellation: "Phoenix the Mythological Firebird" and no-one disagreed with that.
So I'd say, you call Circinus what *you* want, it's your constellation, after all 
you can always put a footnote in, or in the history text, that it has been known by different names for the equipment, or something. In my 2007 star atlas it describes Circinus as "the Drawing Compass".
#56 The compass
Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor Posted Jun 16, 2008
I am happy to change the description on this page to the one you settle on, Shagbark
People are going to find your Entry searching for "Circinus" so it doesn't really matter which one you choose.
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#56 The compass
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