Star Lore Of All Ages/The Minor Constellations/Lynx

by William Tyler Olcott

Lynx
The Lynx

The Lynx first made its appearance as a constellation in 1690 on the star map of Hevelius. Originally it was said to contain nineteen stars, which number Burritt has increased to forty-four.

The inventor accounted for the title on the ground that "it was so inconspicuous a star group that only a lynx-eyed person could discern it."

The Lynx has been known as "the Tiger," and is noted for the number and beauty of its double stars, of which fifty are mentioned in Webb's Celestial Objects. The constellation comes to the meridian in February.