A Note on Ascelinus' Table of Astrolabe Stars

The treatise on the construction of the astrolabe of Ascelinus of Augsburg, edited by C. Burnett in Annals of Science, 55 (1998), 343 ff., contains, in two of the six known manuscripts, a table of 27 stars. This star table belongs to 'type III ' in the tables edited by P. Kunitzsch in 1966. Here it is shown that now, after several decades of more research and edition of texts, a more detailed classification of the star table of 'type III' can be given. Four subgroups can now be distinguished. Specifically for Ascelinus' star table, the characteristic change in the names of three stars is demonstrated. Further, the additional designation of two stars as caput and cauda serpentis respectively in Ascelinus' version of the table is explained.