Caelum


Caelum is perhaps the most pathetic excuse for a constellation that exists. Like many southern hemisphere constellations, it was introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the mid eighteenth century, designed to fill in the southern hemisphere. The word is ambiguous, in Latin caelum means both "the heavens" and "birin," which is an instrument used for engraving on copper and fine metals. It is this instrument that Lacaille had in mind when he named the constellation.
The modern translation of "Caelum" is usually given as "chisel," which is not quite accurate. If "chisel" were meant, then the constellation should be called "Scalprum."

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