Noctua (Latin for owl) was a constellation near the tail of Hydra in the southern celestial hemisphere, but is no longer recognized. It was introduced by Alexander Jamieson in 1822. Now designated Asterism a, the owl was composed of the stars 4 Librae and 54–59 Hydrae, between 16° and 20° Scorpio.

Constellation Noctua Stars

2000	B	Star	Mag	Orb
16 ♏ 02	4 Librae		5.70	1°00′
16 ♏ 46	54 Hydrae	Al Janah	5.15	1°00′
17 ♏ 08	55 Hydrae	Vigilis Borealis	5.61	1°00′
17 ♏ 21	56 Hydrae	Cor Noctua	5.23	1°00′
17 ♏ 34	57 Hydrae	Vigilis Australis	5.76	1°00′
18 ♏ 28	58 Hydrae	Al Corni	4.42	1°00′
20 ♏ 11	59 Hydrae		5.65	1°00′

Constellation Noctua is made up of seven small stars in the tail of the Watersnake, Constellation Hydra. Al Corni is the claw, Al Janah the wing, Cor Noctua is the heart of the owl, and the two stars on either side of the heart are Vigilis Borealis (Northern Guard) and Vigilis Australis (Southern Guard). 59 Hydrae is in the tail. [1]

An obsolete constellation that superseded Solitarius, the Solitaire, or Turdus Solitarius, the Solitary Thrush, formed by Le Monnier in 1776. It occupies the end of the tail of Hydra. [2]

Constellation Noctua Astrology

Constellation Noctua the Night Owl is said to give wisdom, discrimination, penetration, patience, and depth of thought and study. [2]

In astrology, the constellation Noctua is fortunate, giving honor and ambition. Owls are vigilant predators and this comes through as a killer instinct, fixity of purpose, and steely determination. Wisdom, both spiritual and intellectual, comes through contemplation of their experiences.

Noctua is the species name of the Little Owl, Athene noctua. The genus name comes from Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. Athena’s Owl was called Glaucus, Greek for “glaring”. The Little Owl does have a stern expression.

Glaucus sat on Athena’s blind side so that she could see the whole truth. The owl can turn it’s head right round, looking behind to find the truth through hindsight. The German philosopher Georg Hegel referred to Glaucus to explain his idea that philosophical understanding can only come from hindsight: “the owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk”. Minerva is the Roman equivalent of Athena (asteroid Pallas Athena).

Constellation Noctua [Urania’s Mirror]

Margaret Thatcher (Noctua rising) once said “The wisdom of hindsight, so useful to historians and indeed to authors of memoirs, is sadly denied to practicing politicians”. The literary genius Johan Wolfgang Goethe also had Noctua rising and one of his best quotes was “Wisdom is only found in truth.”

Mary Shelley (rising) touched on spiritual wisdom and fixity of purpose with “Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose, a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.” Maggie the “Iron Lady” had a stern glare.

Others with their Ascendant in constellation Noctua include astrologers Jeff Green (with Venus) and Robert Pelletier. Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis (with South Node), Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Michael Douglas, Clint Eastwood, Sarah Ferguson, Aretha Franklin, Prince, and Johnny Weissmuller.