Early Star Charts of the Dutch East India Company

TL;DR

This paper explores the historical development of early Dutch star charts for southern navigation, highlighting key figures and the creation of the first southern constellations in the early 17th century.

Contribution

It clarifies the roles of Keyser, de Houtman, and Plancius in the creation of the first southern star charts and constellations, resolving historical controversies.

Findings

Keyser initially led the star observation campaign

De Houtman played a key role after Keyser's death

Plancius delineated the 12 southern constellations

Abstract

As the European maritime powers expanded their reach beyond north Atlantic coastal waters to distant lands as far away as the East Indies, access to a practical means of maritime navigation in the southern hemisphere became imperative. The first few voyages undertaken by the Dutch East India Company and its predecessor explicitly aimed at compiling star charts and constellations that were only visible south of the Equator, as practical navigation aids. The oldest known star atlas of southern constellations was published in 1603 by Frederick de Houtman. Controversies have plagued de Houtman's astronomical credentials from their inception, however, with contemporaries variously attributing the early southern star charts to Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser, de Houtman, or even to their tutor Petrus Plancius. The balance of available evidence suggests that Keyser initially led the astronomical observing campaign, ably assisted by de Houtman. Upon Keyser's untimely death, de Houtman embraced a leading role in compiling astronomical observations for maritime navigation purposes, whereas Plancius most probably led the delineation of the 12 new southern constellations that soon became part and parcel of the nautical consciousness.