Astronomers spot sitcom constellations

Astronomers reckon they’ve found Victor Meldrew and the  Vicar of Dibley in the night sky.

The UKTV Gold channel commissioned  a team of scientists to try to find  comedy icons in the stars for a publicity stunt, and it took them two months to find these outlines.

Led by author Dr Mark Garlick, of the University of Sussex, they spent two months mapping the shapes of TV stars against numerous star charts to find a match.

The Victor Meldrew ‘constellation’ is centred on Ursa Major, which contributes stars to his eyes, jowls and nose. Other stars from the Coma Berenices, Canes Venatici, Draco, Boötes and Ursa Minor systems also contribute to  the outline.

The Meldrew constellation is visible from the UK for much of the year but not the winter. It is highest in the sky in April or May, facing north.

The Vicar of Dibley constellation, most visible in the UK from November to April, is centred on Orion and is surrounded by Taurus, Monoceros, Lepus, Canis Major and Minor and Eridanus.

The brightest star in her face is Mintaka, which marks the end of her jaw line and is the central star of the three in Orion's Belt. The Great Nebula in Orion defines the bottom of her chin. 

Dr Mark Garlick admitted the shapes take ‘a bit of imagination’ to see.

Click to see large-scale pictures of Victor Meldrew and the Vicar of Dibley.

Published: 8 Aug 2005