A modern constellation formed in 1687 by the astronomer Johannes Hevelius from stars found between the constellations of Cygnus and Andromeda. It is a small constellation, with no bright stars. Previous to being named Lacerta, these stars formed the obsolete constellation of Scepter and the Hand of Justice, created by Augustin Royer in 1679. The German astronomer Johann Ehlert Bode attempted to rename the constellation Honores Frederici, in order to honor the Prussian king Frederick the Great.