Noctua (Latin for little owl) was a seldom mentioned constellation that was once placed between the end of the tail of Hydra, the sea-serpent and Libra. The origins of the constellation are unknown, but an image of it appears in the American astronomer Elijah Burritt's Atlas (1835), part of his Geography of the Heavens. Noctua seemed to replace the earlier constellations of Turdus Solitarius, the solitary thrush and John Flamsteed's Hermit Bird. All of these constellations are no longer recognized by astronomers. - There is a border around the image. Image size is correct. Many sizes available.
