Synopsis

Most people can recognise the major constellations such as Orion the celestial hunter, Hercules, Perseus, the Great Bear and others. But more constellations have been proposed from time to time, and there have even been attempts to make radical reforms, such as replacing the Zodiacal groups with the 12 Apostles. Patrick Moore looks back at the old star maps and tells the stories of some of the groups which have long since passed into history.