Since any three points make up the corners of a triangle it is unsurprising, if somewhat unimaginative, to find a triangle among the constellations. Triangulum was known to the Greeks as Deltoton, for its shape resembled a capital delta. Aratus described it as an isosceles triangle, having two equal sides and a shorter third side. Eratosthenes said that it represented the Nile river delta. According to Hyginus, some people also saw it as the island of Sicily, which was originally known as Trinacria on account of its three promontories. In mythology, Trinacria was the home of Ceres, goddess of agriculture. Triangulum contains M33, a galaxy in our Local Group, visible with binoculars.

Triangulum from the Atlas Coelestis of John Flamsteed (1729). South of it lies a smaller triangle, once known as Triangulum Minus but now obsolete.

A lesser triangle
A smaller triangle, Triangulum Minus, was introduced in 1687 by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius from three stars next to Triangulum. Triangulum Minus was shown on some maps, such as the one reproduced here, but has since fallen into disuse.

Chinese associations
In Chinese astronomy, Beta, Delta and Gamma Trianguli formed part of Tianda jiangjun, the celestial general and his subordinates, most of which lay in Andromeda. Alpha Trianguli was Junnanmen, the south gate to the headquarters of Tianda jiangjun (some sources identify the star in question as Phi Andromedae, but this seems to be an error).

© Ian Ridpath. All rights reserved