In contemporary astronomy, 88 constellations are recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).^[1] Each constellation is a region of the sky, bordered by arcs of right ascension and declination. Together they cover the entire celestial sphere, with their boundaries adopted officially by the International Astronomical Union in 1928 and published in 1930.^[2]

The ancient Sumerians, and later the Greeks (as recorded by Ptolemy), established most of the northern constellations in international use today. The constellations along the ecliptic are called the zodiac. When explorers mapped the stars of the southern skies, European astronomers proposed new constellations for that region, as well as ones to fill gaps between the traditional constellations. In 1922, the International Astronomical Union adopted three-letter abbreviations for 89 constellations, the modern list of 88 plus Argo. After this, Eugène Joseph Delporte drew up boundaries for each of the 88 constellations so that every point in the sky belonged to one constellation.^[1][2]

History[edit]

Some constellations are no longer recognized by the IAU, but may appear in older star charts and other references. Most notable is Argo Navis, which was one of Ptolemy’s original 48 constellations.

Modern constellations[edit]

The 88 constellations depict 42 animals, 29 inanimate objects and 17 humans or mythological characters.

Abbreviations[edit]

Each IAU constellation has an official 3-letter abbreviation based on the genitive form of the constellation name. The majority of the abbreviations are just the first three letters of the constellation name, with the first character capitalised: Ori for Orion, Ara for Ara/Arae, Com for Coma Berenices. In some cases, the abbreviation is from the genitive form without appearing in the base name (as in Sge for Sagitta/Sagittae, to avoid confusion with Sagittarius, abbreviated Sgr). In other cases, to unambiguously identify the constellation, such as where the name and its genitive differ in the first three letters, other letters beyond the initial three are used: Aps for Apus/Apodis, CrA for Corona Australis, CrB for Corona Borealis, Crv for Corvus. (Crater is abbreviated Crt to prevent confusion with CrA.) When letters are taken from the second word of a two-word name, the first letter from the second word is capitalised: CMa for Canis Major, CMi for Canis Minor. Two cases are ambiguous: Leo for the constellation Leo could be mistaken for Leo Minor (abbreviated LMi), and Tri for Triangulum could be mistaken for Triangulum Australe (abbreviated TrA).^[3]

List[edit]

For help with the literary English pronunciations, see the pronunciation key. There is considerable diversity in how Latinate names are pronounced in English. For traditions closer to the original, see Latin spelling and pronunciation.

Constellation	Abbreviations	Genitive	Origin	Meaning	Brightest star
IAU^[4]	NASA^[5]
Andromeda ^[6]	And	Andr	Andromedae	ancient (Ptolemy)	Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess)	Alpheratz
Antlia ^[6]	Ant	Antl	Antliae	1763, Lacaille	air pump	α Antliae
Apus ^[7]	Aps	Apus	Apodis ^[7]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird	α Apodis
Aquarius ^[6]	Aqr	Aqar	Aquarii	ancient (Ptolemy)	water-bearer	Sadalsuud
Aquila ^[6]	Aql	Aqil	Aquilae	ancient (Ptolemy)	eagle	Altair
Ara ^[7]	Ara	Arae	Arae ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	altar	β Arae
Aries ^[6]^[7]	Ari	Arie	Arietis ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	ram	Hamal
Auriga ^[6]^[7]	Aur	Auri	Aurigae ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	charioteer	Capella
Boötes ^[6]	Boo	Boot	Boötis	ancient (Ptolemy)	herdsman	Arcturus
Caelum ^[7]	Cae	Cael	Caeli ^[7]	1763, Lacaille	chisel or graving tool	α Caeli
Camelopardalis ^[7]	Cam	Caml	Camelopardalis ^[7]	1613, Plancius^{[note 1]}	giraffe	β Camelopardalis
Cancer ^[6]	Cnc	Canc	Cancri	ancient (Ptolemy)	crab	Tarf^[8]
Canes Venatici ^[7]	CVn	CVen	Canum Venaticorum	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	hunting dogs	Cor Caroli
Canis Major ^[7]	CMa	CMaj	Canis Majoris	ancient (Ptolemy)	greater dog	Sirius
Canis Minor ^[7]	CMi	CMin	Canis Minoris	ancient (Ptolemy)	lesser dog	Procyon
Capricornus ^[7]	Cap	Capr	Capricorni ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	sea goat	Deneb Algedi
Carina ^[6]	Car	Cari	Carinae	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	keel	Canopus
Cassiopeia ^[6]^[7]	Cas	Cass	Cassiopeiae ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	Cassiopeia (mythological character)	Schedar^[8]
Centaurus ^[6]	Cen	Cent	Centauri	ancient (Ptolemy)	centaur	Rigil Kentaurus^[8]
Cepheus ^[7]	Cep	Ceph	Cephei ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	Cepheus (mythological character)	Alderamin
Cetus ^[7]	Cet	Ceti	Ceti ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	sea monster (later interpreted as a whale)	Diphda^[8]
Chamaeleon ^[6]	Cha	Cham	Chamaeleontis	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	chameleon	α Chamaeleontis
Circinus ^[6]	Cir	Circ	Circini	1763, Lacaille	compasses	α Circini
Columba ^[6]	Col	Colm	Columbae	1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major	dove	Phact
Coma Berenices ^[7]	Com	Coma	Comae Berenices ^[7]	1603, Uranometria, split from Leo	Berenice‘s hair	β Comae Berenices
Corona Australis^{[note 2]} ^[6]^[7]	CrA	CorA	Coronae Australis	ancient (Ptolemy)	southern crown	Meridiana^[8]
Corona Borealis ^[6]^[7]	CrB	CorB	Coronae Borealis	ancient (Ptolemy)	northern crown	Alphecca
Corvus ^[6]	Crv	Corv	Corvi	ancient (Ptolemy)	crow	Gienah
Crater ^[6]	Crt	Crat	Crateris	ancient (Ptolemy)	cup	δ Crateris
Crux ^[6]	Cru	Cruc	Crucis	1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus	southern cross	Acrux
Cygnus ^[6]	Cyg	Cygn	Cygni	ancient (Ptolemy)	swan or Northern Cross	Deneb
Delphinus ^[6]	Del	Dlph	Delphini	ancient (Ptolemy)	dolphin	Rotanev
Dorado ^[9]	Dor	Dora	Doradus	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	dolphinfish	α Doradus
Draco ^[7]	Dra	Drac	Draconis ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	dragon	Eltanin^[8]
Equuleus ^[7]	Equ	Equl	Equulei ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	pony	Kitalpha
Eridanus ^[7]	Eri	Erid	Eridani ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	river Eridanus (mythology)	Achernar
Fornax	For	Forn	Fornacis	1763, Lacaille	chemical furnace	Dalim^[8]
Gemini ^[6]	Gem	Gemi	Geminorum	ancient (Ptolemy)	twins	Pollux
Grus ^[7]	Gru	Grus	Gruis ^[7]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	crane	Alnair
Hercules ^[7]	Her	Herc	Herculis	ancient (Ptolemy)	Hercules (mythological character)	Kornephoros
Horologium ^[6]^[7]	Hor	Horo	Horologii	1763, Lacaille	pendulum clock	α Horologii
Hydra ^[6]	Hya	Hyda	Hydrae	ancient (Ptolemy)	Hydra (mythological creature)	Alphard
Hydrus ^[6]	Hyi	Hydi	Hydri	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	lesser water snake	β Hydri
Indus ^[6]	Ind	Indi	Indi	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	Indian (of unspecified type)	α Indi
Lacerta ^[6]	Lac	Lacr	Lacertae	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lizard	α Lacertae
Leo ^[6]	Leo	Leon	Leonis	ancient (Ptolemy)	lion	Regulus
Leo Minor ^[6]	LMi	LMin	Leonis Minoris	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lesser lion	Praecipua
Lepus ^[7]	Lep	Leps	Leporis ^[6]^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	hare	Arneb
Libra ^[6]	Lib	Libr	Librae	ancient (Ptolemy)	balance	Zubeneschamali^[8]
Lupus ^[6]	Lup	Lupi	Lupi	ancient (Ptolemy)	wolf	α Lupi
Lynx ^[6]	Lyn	Lync	Lyncis	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lynx	α Lyncis
Lyra ^[6]	Lyr	Lyra	Lyrae	ancient (Ptolemy)	lyre / harp	Vega
Mensa ^[6]	Men	Mens	Mensae	1763, Lacaille	Table Mountain (South Africa)	α Mensae
Microscopium	Mic	Micr	Microscopii	1763, Lacaille	microscope	γ Microscopii
Monoceros ^[6]^[7]	Mon	Mono	Monocerotis	1613, Plancius	unicorn	β Monocerotis
Musca ^[7]	Mus	Musc	Muscae ^[6]^[7]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	fly	α Muscae
Norma ^[6]	Nor	Norm	Normae ^[6]	1763, Lacaille	carpenter’s level	γ₂ Normae
Octans ^[7]	Oct	Octn	Octantis ^[7]	1763, Lacaille	octant (instrument)	ν Octantis
Ophiuchus ^[6]	Oph	Ophi	Ophiuchi	ancient (Ptolemy)	serpent-bearer	Rasalhague
Orion ^[6]	Ori	Orio	Orionis ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	Orion (mythological character)	Rigel
Pavo ^[6]^[7]	Pav	Pavo	Pavonis ^[7]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	peacock	Peacock
Pegasus ^[6]	Peg	Pegs	Pegasi	ancient (Ptolemy)	Pegasus (mythological winged horse)	Enif
Perseus ^[7]	Per	Pers	Persei ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	Perseus (mythological character)	Mirfak
Phoenix ^[6]	Phe	Phoe	Phoenicis	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	phoenix	Ankaa
Pictor ^[7]	Pic	Pict	Pictoris ^[7]	1763, Lacaille	easel	α Pictoris
Pisces ^[6]^[7]	Psc	Pisc	Piscium ^[7]	ancient (Ptolemy)	fishes	Alpherg
Piscis Austrinus	PsA	PscA	Piscis Austrini	ancient (Ptolemy)	southern fish	Fomalhaut
Puppis ^[7]	Pup	Pupp	Puppis ^[7]	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	poop deck	Naos
Pyxis ^[6]	Pyx	Pyxi	Pyxidis	1763, Lacaille	mariner’s compass	α Pyxidis
Reticulum ^[6]	Ret	Reti	Reticuli	1763, Lacaille	eyepiece graticule	α Reticuli
Sagitta ^[6]	Sge	Sgte	Sagittae	ancient (Ptolemy)	arrow	γ Sagittae
Sagittarius ^[6]	Sgr	Sgtr	Sagittarii	ancient (Ptolemy)	archer	Kaus Australis
Scorpius ^[6]	Sco	Scor	Scorpii	ancient (Ptolemy)	scorpion	Antares
Sculptor ^[6]	Scl	Scul	Sculptoris	1763, Lacaille	sculptor	α Sculptoris
Scutum ^[6]	Sct	Scut	Scuti	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	shield (of Sobieski)	α Scuti
Serpens^[10]	Ser	Serp	Serpentis	ancient (Ptolemy)	snake	Unukalhai
Sextans ^[7]	Sex	Sext	Sextantis ^[7]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	sextant	α Sextantis
Taurus ^[6]	Tau	Taur	Tauri	ancient (Ptolemy)	bull	Aldebaran
Telescopium	Tel	Tele	Telescopii	1763, Lacaille	telescope	α Telescopii
Triangulum	Tri	Tria	Trianguli	ancient (Ptolemy)	triangle	β Trianguli
Triangulum Australe	TrA	TrAu	Trianguli Australis	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	southern triangle	Atria
Tucana	Tuc	Tucn	Tucanae	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	toucan	α Tucanae
Ursa Major ^[6]	UMa	UMaj	Ursae Majoris	ancient (Ptolemy)	great bear	Alioth
Ursa Minor ^[6]	UMi	UMin	Ursae Minoris	ancient (Ptolemy)	lesser bear	Polaris
Vela ^[6]	Vel	Velr	Velorum	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	sails	γ² Velorum
Virgo ^[6]	Vir	Virg	Virginis	ancient (Ptolemy)	virgin or maiden	Spica
Volans ^[7]	Vol	Voln	Volantis ^[7]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	flying fish	β Volantis
Vulpecula ^[6]	Vul	Vulp	Vulpeculae	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	fox	Anser

Asterisms[edit]

Various other unofficial patterns exist alongside the constellations. These are known as “asterisms”. Examples include the Big Dipper/Plough and the Northern Cross. Some ancient asterisms, for example Coma Berenices, Serpens, and portions of Argo Navis, are now officially constellations.

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations1.htm – Ian Ridpath‘s list of constellations.
http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/contents.htm – Ian Ridpath‘s Star Tales.
http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/Cat?cat=VI/49 – CDS‘s archive of constellation boundaries. The text file constbnd.dat gives the 1875.0 coordinates of the vertices of the constellation regions, together with the constellations adjacent to each boundary segment.

(in modern ‘astronomy’, a constellation is a specific area of the ‘celestial sphere’ as defined by the ‘international astronomical union’ (IAU))

(these areas mostly had their origins in western-traditional ‘asterisms’ from which the constellations take their names)

(there are 88 officially recognized ‘constellations’, covering the entire sky)

(thus, any given point in a ‘celestial coordinate system’ can unambiguously be assigned to a ‘constellation’)

*it is usual in ‘astronomy’ to give the constellation in which a given object is found along with its coordinates in order to convey a rough idea in which part of the sky it is located*

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IAU designated constellations – Wikipedia