The plates in this second edition are improved in their readability. In the first edition, each chart was accompanied with an explanatory table that was printed recto/verso, which compromised the integrity of the illustrations. For this reason, the tables were removed from all subsequent editions and printed as a separate star catalogue titled 'Explicatio characterum aeneis Uranometrias' (1624).

This atlas includes 51 celestial plates. The first 48 plates depict Ptolemaic constellations, followed by the first accurate representation of the southern sky depicting twelve new constellations first observed by Dutch navigators Pieter Keyser (1540–1596) and Friedrich de Houtman (1571–1627) during a voyage to the East Indies in 1595. The two final charts are planispheres, illustrating the northern and southern celestial hemispheres. The southern hemisphere portions reference Jodocus Hondius’s circa 1598 celestial globe.

The system of classification that Bayer developed to chart star magnitudes was said to be influenced by the works of Italian astronomer Alessandro Piccolomini (1508-1579), German theorist, painter and printmaker 

 (1471-1528), and the al-Sūfi manuscripts (i.e. 'The Book of Fixed Stars', c.1000).

Large folio, fifty-two folios, including fifty-one full-page engraved celestial plates. Roman and Greek letter. 

 and Hercules on pedestals; to the sides are the gods Apollo (the sun), Cybele, and Diana (the moon) at head; a Capricorn and a view of Augsburg at foot, with printer’s device and monogram AMF, for 'Alexander Mair fecit'. Contemporary manuscript note concerning Bayer’s ‘Explicatio characterum’ (1624) and ex libris 'Sam. Eglingeri D. Anno MDCLXVII' to verso of fly, calligraphic signature 'C. ab Hettlingen' to verso of last.

’s 'Uranometria' is a stunning star atlas, considered to be the most complete astronomical catalogue at the time of its publication in 1603. The work includes fifty-one engraved celestial plates that depict over 2,000 stars. The atlas was revolutionary for its use of Bayer’s newly adapted methodology of labelling bright stars with Greek letters, each of which define one of six ‘classes’ of magnitude. Sometimes called ‘Bayer letters’, this system is still used by astronomers today – Betelgeuse is also known as Alpha (α) Orionis (Alpha of Orion).

’s 'Uranometria' is considered to be the most complete catalogue of pre-telescopic astronomy. The atlas was highly popular in its day and ran into almost a dozen editions, and was reprinted eight times between 1648 and 1689.

The atlas is a conglomerate of a number of sources, and also includes Bayer's own observations. The main source of data was the soon-to-be (and posthumously) published star catalogue of 

, to which Bayer added around 1,000 stars from Ptolemy’s ‘Almagest’. He also quoted Aratus’s 'Phaenomena' (Greek, 3rd century BCE). 

Ursa Major 

Ursa Minor

Frontispiece

Draco

Cepheus 

Boötes

Corona

Hercules

Lyra

Cygnus

Cassiopeia

Perseus

Auriga

Ophiuchus

Serpens

Sagitta

Aquila

Delphinus

Equus Minor

Pegasus

Lupus

Andromeda

Triangulum

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricornus

Aquarius

Pisces

Cetus

Orion

Eridanus

Lepus

Canis Major

Canis Minor

Argo

Centaurus

Crater

Corvus

Hydra

Corona Meridionalis

Piscis Austrinus

Star Chart of the Southern Hemisphere

Northern Planisphere

Southern Planisphere

An excellent copy, the plates in clean, clear impression, of the second edition of Bayer’s stunning and most influential star atlas, comprising fifty-one engraved celestial plates. First printed in 1603, this is considered the most complete catalogue of pre-telescopic astronomy. Due to its completeness and artistic quality, Bayer’s atlas became highly popular and it was reprinted eight times between 1648 and 1689. A remarkable feature of the second edition (here) is the improved readability of the plates. In the first, tables of the stars were printed on the back of each chart, but the lettering showed through the page spoiling the beauty of the illustrations. For this reason, the tables were removed from all subsequent editions and printed as a separate star catalogue titled ‘Explicatio characterum aeneis Uranometrias’ (1624).

In contemporary vellum, covers triple blind ruled. 

Uranometria

Bayer's 'Uranometria'

Containing Charts of all the Constellations, Drawn by a New Method and Engraved on Copperplates

Omnium Asterismorum Continens Schemata, Nova Methodo Delineata Aeris Lamini Expressa