Let S be a rotation through angle 2*Pi/p , and let A0
be any point not
on the axis of S . Then the points
Ai = A0^(S^i), i = ...,-2,-1,0,1,2,...
are the vertices of a regular polygon {p} , whose sides are the segments
A0A1, A1A2, A2A3,... But the polygon can be closed
without p being integral; it is merely necessary that the period of
S be finite, i.e., that p be rational.
When the rational number p is expressed as a fraction
in its lowest terms,
we denote its numerator and denominator by np and dp .
Thus p =np/dp where np and dp are coprime.
The regular polygon
{p} is traced out by a moving point which continuously describes equal
chords of a fixed circle and returns to its original position after
describing np chords and making dp revolutions about the center.
The following exhibites some instances of {p} 's:
The general regular polygon {p} can be derived from the convex polygon
{np} by either one of two reciprocal processes:
stellating and faceting.
In order to stellate a polyhedron, we have to extend its faces symmetrically
until they again form a polyhedron. To investigate all possibilities,
we consider the set of lines in which the plane of a particular face
would be cut by all the other faces (sufficiently extended), and try to select
regular polygons bounded by set of these lines.
For a given star-polyhedron or compound, the core is the largest
convex solid that can be drawn inside it. And the compound or
star-polyhedron may be constructed by stellating its core (which has
the same face planes).
Maple currently supports stellation of the five Platonic solids,
and the two quasi-regular solids: the cuboctahedron and
the icosidodecahedron . To stellate a given polyhedron, use
the Maple command
stellate(gon,core,n); where gon is the name of the stellated
polyhedron to be created, core the core polyhedron,
and n a non-negative integer.
For the tetrahedron {3,3} and the cube {4,3} , the only
lines are the sides of the face itself. Hence, there is only one
possible value of n , namely 0.
![]() The Core: Tetrahedron VRML |
![]() The Core: Hexahedron VRML |
For the octahedron {3,4} , the eight facial planes enclose
not only the original octahedron, bug also other portions of
space exterior to this octahedron. For a particular face ABC ,
the faces opposite to those which immediately surround
ABC meet the plane in a larger triangle MNP . The eight large
triangles so derived form all the faces form the stella octangula.
Hence, possible values of n are 0, 1.
![]() The Core: Octahedron VRML |
![]() The First Stellated Octahedron VRML |
Let us now stellate the dodecahedron {5,3} , and denote one
face as 11111 . By stellating this pentagon we obtain the
pentagram 22222 , which is a face of {5/2,5} .
The large pentagon that has
the same vertices 22222 is a face of {5,5/2} . By stellating
this pentagon we obtain the large pentagram 33333 , which is
a face of {5/2,3} . The process now terminates, since the ten lines
account for all the other faces of {5,3} , the twelfth face being
parallel to 11111 . Hence, possible values of n are 0,1,2,3.
![]() Pattern: #0 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #1 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #2 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #3 |
![]() VRML |
For the case of the icosahedron {3,5} , its stellations are so numerous
and complicated that some care is needed in stateting precisely
what varieties shall be considered properly significant and distinct.
In The Fifty-Nine Icosahedra , Coxeter, Du Val, Flather,and Petrie developed a complete enumeration of stellated icosahedra by considering the possible faces (first method), and by considering solid cells, and were able to prove that there exists 59 icosahedra based on the following set of five restricted rules suggested by J.C.P. Miller:
Of the 59 icosahedra, thirty two with full icosahedral symmetry and twenty-seven enantimorphous forms with twisted apprearance.
The following shows a subset of the fifty-nine stellated icosahedra.
Each stellation pattern and its stellated polyhedron are shown.
For a complete list, see the 59 icosahedra.
![]() Pattern: #2 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #9 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #13 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #18 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #20 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #26 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #34 |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #46 |
![]() VRML |
For a complete set of the fifty-nine icosahedra, see the fifty-nine icosahedra (VRML)
It can be proved that only three of the stellated dodecahedra {5/2,5} ,
{5/5/2}, {5/2,3} and one stellated icosahedron {3,5/2}
are regular polyhedra.
They are called Kepler-Poinsot polyhedra. The two with star faces - the two
stellated dodecahedra - were found by Kepler (1571-1630); the others with
regular faces and star vertices - the great icosahedron and the great
dodecahedron - by Poinsot (1777-1859). These four polyhedra, together with
the five Platonic solids, known to the ancient world form the set
of nine regular polyhedra.
The other stellated polyhedra are compound polyhedra.
The same process can be applied to the Archimedean solids; each facial
plane must be extended indefinitely to generate cells exterior to the original
solid. Using these cells as building blocks, one can form many new
solids. A complete enumeration of all the possible stellation is a mathematical
question that has yet to be investigated.
The following shows the stellation process being applied to
the two Archimedean solids: the cuboctahedron and the
icosidodecahedron. The set of polyhedra shown below are five stellated
cuboctahedra and five stellated icosidodecahedra. For the set of
nineteen stellate icosidodecahedra as described in
Polyhedron Models by Magnus J. Wenninger, see
stellated icosidodecahedra
![]() Pattern: #0 a |
![]() Pattern: #0 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #1 a |
![]() Pattern: #1 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #2 a |
![]() Pattern: #2 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #3 a |
![]() Pattern: #3 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #4 a |
![]() Pattern: #4 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #4 a |
![]() Pattern: #4 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #6 a |
![]() Pattern: #6 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #9 a |
![]() Pattern: #9 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #10 a |
![]() Pattern: #10 b |
![]() VRML |
![]() Pattern: #15 a |
![]() Pattern: #15 b |
![]() VRML |
Author: Ha Le (hle@cecm.sfu.ca) Create: April 6, 1996. Last Modified: Nov 17, 1998.