Uranographia constellations. This close-up of an area near the South Celestial Pole (upper right) shows the Magellanic Clouds (Nubecula Major and Nubecula Minor), along with several constellations. The Magellanic Clouds are satellite galaxies orbiting our Milky Way galaxy. The constellations are groupings of stars in the night sky, here represented by a mixture of contemporary and mythological figures. At upper left is Toucan (Toucana), at centre is Hydrus (male water snake), at centre right is Mons Mensae (Mensa), and at bottom is Reticulus (Reticulum). Uranographia was published in 1801 by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode (1747-1826).