Star Lore Of All Ages/The Minor Constellations/Vulpecula cum Ansere
The Fox with the Goose
This is one of several constellations invented by Hevelius in 1690, and appearing for the first time in his star chart published in that year.
It is situated between the Arrow and the Swan, where the Milky Way divides into two branches.
Hevelius is said to have selected this figure because of its appropriateness to its position, as the fox was a cunning and voracious animal, and was placed near the Eagle and Vulture which are of the same rapacious and greedy nature.
The figure is now generally known as "Vulpecula," and contains a noteworthy object in the "Double-headed Shot" or "Dumb-Bell nebula." The group also marks the radiant point of the "Vulpeculids," a meteor shower appearing from June 13th to July 7th.
According to Argelander the asterism contains thirty-seven stars.