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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Figure, nubecula or cloudy stars near the constellation Hydra produced by Mr [John] Aubrey

Reference number: CLP/8i/24

Date: 10 March 1668

Description

Telescopic observation by John Aubrey and John Hoskins on 27 April 1668. Drawing consists of a square containing the nubecula and adjacent figurative representations of the constellations Hydra (a snake) and Crater (a vase) and symbolic representation of the constellation Cancer.

The drawing is labelled and dated but otherwise there is no accompanying text to the illustration.

Reported at a meeting of the Royal Society on 30 April 1668

Subject: Astronomy

Reference number
CLP/8i/24
Earliest possible date
10 March 1668
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Aubrey

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Citation

John Aubrey, Figure, nubecula or cloudy stars near the constellation Hydra produced by Mr [John] Aubrey, 10 March 1668, CLP/8i/24, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_8i_24/figure-nubecula-or-cloudy-stars-near-the-constellation-hydra-produced-by-mr-john-aubrey, accessed on 16 January 2026

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_8i_24/figure-nubecula-or-cloudy-stars-near-the-constellation-hydra-produced-by-mr-john-aubrey

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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