- List of constellations
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Each culture has its own constellations, usually based on mythology. This article covers the 88 constellations used in modern astronomy, which properly speaking are not patterns of stars, as in the common use of the word, but areas of the sky (the celestial sphere).
The ancient Babylonians, and later the Greeks (as recorded by Ptolemy), established most of the northern constellations in international use today. When European explorers mapped the stars of the southern skies, European and American astronomers proposed new constellations for that region, as well as ones to fill gaps between the traditional constellations. Not all of these proposals caught on, but in 1922, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted the modern list of 88 constellations. After this, Eugène Delporte drew up precise boundaries for each constellation, so that every point in the sky belonged to exactly one constellation.
Contents
Modern constellations
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[1][2] genitive origin meaning brightest star Andromeda
/ænˈdrɒmɨdə/[3]And Andr Andromedae
/ænˈdrɒmɨdiː/ancient (Ptolemy) Andromeda (mythological character) Alpheratz Antlia
/ˈæntliə/[3]Ant Antl Antliae
/ˈæntli.iː/1763, Lacaille air pump α Antliae Apus
/ˈeɪpəs/[4]Aps Apus Apodis
/ˈæpɵdɨs/[4]1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Bird-of-paradise α Apodis Aquarius
/əˈkwɛəriəs/[3]Aqr Aqar Aquarii
/əˈkwɛəriaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) water-bearer Sadalsud Aquila
/ˈækwɨlə/[3]Aql Aqil Aquilae
/ˈækwɨliː/ancient (Ptolemy) eagle Altair Ara
/ˈɛərə/[4]Ara Arae Arae
/ˈɛəriː/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) altar β Arae Aries
/ˈɛəriːz/, /ˈɛərɪ.iːz/[3][4]Ari Arie Arietis
/əˈraɪ.ɨtɨs/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) ram Hamal Auriga
/ɔːˈraɪɡə/[3][4]Aur Auri Aurigae
/ɔːˈraɪdʒiː/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) charioteer Capella Boötes
/boʊˈoʊtiːz/[3]Boo Boot Boötis
/boʊˈoʊtɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) herdsman Arcturus Caelum
/ˈsiːləm/[4]Cae Cael Caeli
/ˈsiːlaɪ/[4]1763, Lacaille chisel α Caeli Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlɵˈpɑrdəlɨs/[4]Cam Caml Camelopardalis
/ kəˌmɛlɵˈpɑrdəlɨs/[4]1613, Plancius[5] giraffe β Camelopardalis Cancer
/ˈkænsər/[3]Cnc Canc Cancri
/ˈkæŋkraɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) crab Tarf Canes Venatici
/ˈkeɪniːz vɨˈnætɨsaɪ/[4]CVn CVen Canum Venaticorum
/ˈkeɪnəm vɨnætɨˈkɒrəm/1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius hunting dogs Cor Caroli Canis Major
/ˈkeɪnɨs ˈmeɪdʒər/[4]CMa CMaj Canis Majoris
/ˈkeɪnɨs məˈdʒɒrɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) greater dog Sirius Canis Minor
/ˈkeɪnɨs ˈmaɪnər/[4]CMi CMin Canis Minoris
/ˈkeɪnɨs mɨˈnɒrɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) lesser dog Procyon Capricornus
/ˌkæprɨˈkɔrnəs/[4]Cap Capr Capricorni
/ˌkæprɨˈkɔrnaɪ/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) sea goat Deneb Algiedi Carina
/kəˈraɪnə/[3]Car Cari Carinae
/kəˈraɪniː/1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis keel Canopus Cassiopeia
/ˌkæsi.ɵˈpiːə/[3][4]Cas Cass Cassiopeiae
/ˌkæsi.ɵˈpiː.iː/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) Cassiopeia (mythological character) Shedir Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔrəs/[3]Cen Cent Centauri
/sɛnˈtɔraɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) centaur Rigil Kentaurus Cepheus
/ˈsiːfiəs/, /ˈsiːfjuːs/[4]Cep Ceph Cephei
/ˈsiːfiaɪ/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) Cepheus (mythological character) Alderamin Cetus
/ˈsiːtəs/[4]Cet Ceti Ceti
/ˈsiːtaɪ/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) Deneb Kaitos Chamaeleon
/kəˈmiːliən/[3]Cha Cham Chamaeleontis
/kəˌmiːliˈɒntɨs/1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman chameleon α Chamaeleontis Circinus
/ˈsɜrsɨnəs/[3]Cir Circ Circini
/ˈsɜrsɨnaɪ/1763, Lacaille compass (drawing tool) α Circini Columba
/kɵˈlʌmbə/[3]Col Colm Columbae
/kɵˈlʌmbiː/1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major dove Phact Coma Berenices
/ˈkoʊmə bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/[4]Com Coma Comae Berenices
/ˈkoʊmiː bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/[4]1603, Uranometria, split from Leo Berenice's hair β Comae Berenices Corona Australis[6]
/kɵˈroʊnə ʔɔːˈstrælɨs/, /kɵˈroʊnə ʔɔːˈstreɪlɨs/[3][4]CrA CorA Coronae Australis
/kɵˈroʊniː ʔɔːˈstrælɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) southern crown Alphekka Meridiana Corona Borealis
/kɵˈroʊnə ˌbɔəriˈælɨs/, /kɒˈroʊnə bɔəriˈeɪlɨs/[3][4]CrB CorB Coronae Borealis
/kɵˈroʊniː bɔəriˈælɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) northern crown Alphecca Corvus
/ˈkɔrvəs/[3]Crv Corv Corvi
/ˈkɔrvaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) crow Gienah Crater
/ˈkreɪtər/[3]Crt Crat Crateris
/krəˈtɪərɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) cup Labrum Crux
/ˈkrʌks/[3]Cru Cruc Crucis
/ˈkruːsɨs/1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus southern cross Acrux Cygnus
/ˈsɪɡnəs/[3]Cyg Cygn Cygni
/ˈsɪɡnaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) swan Deneb Delphinus
/dɛlˈfaɪnəs/[3]Del Dlph Delphini
/dɛlˈfaɪnaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) dolphin Rotanev Dorado
/dɵˈreɪdoʊ/[citation needed]Dor Dora Doradus
/dɵˈreɪdəs/1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman gold fish α Doradus Draco
/ˈdreɪkoʊ/[4]Dra Drac Draconis
/drəˈkoʊnɨs/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) dragon Etamin Equuleus
/ɨˈkwuːliəs/[4]Equ Equl Equulei
/ɨˈkwuːliaɪ/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) pony Kitalpha Eridanus
/ɨˈrɪdənəs/[4]Eri Erid Eridani
/ɨˈrɪdənaɪ/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) river Eridanus (mythology) Achernar Fornax
/ˈfɔrnæks/For Forn Fornacis
/fɔrˈneɪsɨs/1763, Lacaille brazier Fornacis Gemini
/ˈdʒɛmɨnaɪ/[3]Gem Gemi Geminorum
/ˌdʒɛmɨˈnɒrəm/ancient (Ptolemy) twins Pollux Grus
/ˈɡrʌs/[4]Gru Grus Gruis
/ˈɡruː.ɨs/[4]1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Crane Alnair Hercules
/ˈhɜrkjʊliːz/[4]Her Herc Herculis
/ˈhɜrkjʊlɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) Hercules (mythological character) Kornephoros Horologium
/ˌhɒrəˈlɒdʒiəm/, /ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiəm/[3][4]Hor Horo Horologii
/ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiaɪ/1763, Lacaille pendulum clock α Horologii Hydra
/ˈhaɪdrə/[3]Hya Hyda Hydrae
/ˈhaɪdriː/ancient (Ptolemy) Hydra (mythological creature) Alphard Hydrus
/ˈhaɪdrəs/[3]Hyi Hydi Hydri
/ˈhaɪdraɪ/1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman lesser water snake β Hydri Indus
/ˈɪndəs/[3]Ind Indi Indi
/ˈɪndaɪ/1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Indian (American indigenous) The Persian Lacerta
/ləˈsɜrtə/[3]Lac Lacr Lacertae
/ləˈsɜrtiː/1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lizard α Lacertae Leo
/ˈliː.oʊ/[3]Leo Leon Leonis
/liːˈoʊnɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) lion Regulus Leo Minor
/ˈliː.oʊ ˈmaɪnər/[3]LMi LMin Leonis Minoris
/liːˈoʊnɨs mɨˈnɒrɨs/1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lesser lion Praecipua Lepus
/ˈliːpəs/[4]Lep Leps Leporis
/ˈlɛpərɨs/[3][4]ancient (Ptolemy) hare Arneb Libra
/ˈlaɪbrə/, /ˈliːbrə/[3]Lib Libr Librae
/ˈlaɪbriː/ancient (Ptolemy) balance Zubeneshamali Lupus
/ˈljuːpəs/[3]Lup Lupi Lupi
/ˈljuːpaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) wolf Men Lynx
/ˈlɪŋks/[3]Lyn Lync Lyncis
/ˈlɪnsɨs/1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lynx Elvashak Lyra
/ˈlaɪrə/[3]Lyr Lyra Lyrae
/ˈlaɪriː/ancient (Ptolemy) lyre / harp Vega Mensa
/ˈmɛnsə/[3]Men Mens Mensae
/ˈmɛnsiː/1763, Lacaille Table Mountain (South Africa) α Mensae Microscopium
/ˌmaɪkrɵˈskoʊpiəm/Mic Micr Microscopii
/ˌmaɪkrɵˈskoʊpiaɪ/1763, Lacaille microscope γ Microscopii Monoceros
/məˈnɒsɨrəs/[3][4]Mon Mono Monocerotis
/ˌmɒnɵsɨˈroʊtɨs/1613, Plancius unicorn β Monocerotis Musca
/ˈmʌskə/[4]Mus Musc Muscae
/ˈmʌsiː/[3][4]1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman fly α Muscae Norma
/ˈnɔrmə/[3]Nor Norm Normae
/ˈnɔrmiː/[3]1763, Lacaille carpenter's level Octans
/ˈɒktænz/[4]Oct Octn Octantis
/ɒkˈtæntɨs/[4]1763, Lacaille octant ν Oct Ophiuchus
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/[3]Oph Ophi Ophiuchi
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) serpent-bearer Ras Alhague Orion
/ɵˈraɪ.ən/[3]Ori Orio Orionis
/ɵˈraɪ.ənɨs/, /ˌɒriˈoʊnɨs/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) Orion (mythological character) Rigel Pavo
/ˈpeɪvoʊ/[3][4]Pav Pavo Pavonis
/pəˈvoʊnɨs/[4]1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman peacock Peacock Pegasus
/ˈpɛɡəsəs/[3]Peg Pegs Pegasi
/ˈpɛɡəsaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) Pegasus (mythological winged horse) Enif Perseus
/ˈpɜrsiəs, ˈpɜrsjuːs/[4]Per Pers Persei
/ˈpɜrsi.aɪ/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) Perseus (mythological character) Mirfak Phoenix
/ˈfiːnɨks/[3]Phe Phoe Phoenicis
/fɨˈnaɪsɨs/1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman phoenix Ankaa Pictor
/ˈpɪktər/[4]Pic Pict Pictoris
/pɪkˈtɔərɨs/[4]1763, Lacaille easel α Pictoris Pisces
/ˈpaɪsiːz/, /ˈpɪsiːz/[3][4]Psc Pisc Piscium
/ˈpɪʃiəm/[4]ancient (Ptolemy) fishes Alpherg Piscis Austrinus
/ˈpaɪsɨs ɔːˈstraɪnəs/PsA PscA Piscis Austrini
/ˈpaɪsɨs ɔːˈstraɪnaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) southern fish Fomalhaut Puppis
/ˈpʌpɨs/[4]Pup Pupp Puppis
/ˈpʌpɨs/[4]1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis poop deck Naos Pyxis
/ˈpɪksɨs/[3]Pyx Pyxi Pyxidis
/ˈpɪksɨdɨs/1763, Lacaille mariner's compass α Pyxidis Reticulum
/rɨˈtɪkjʊləm/[3]Ret Reti Reticuli
/rɨˈtɪkjʊlaɪ/1763, Lacaille eyepiece graticule α Reticuli Sagitta
/səˈdʒɪtə/[3]Sge Sgte Sagittae
/səˈdʒɪtiː/ancient (Ptolemy) arrow γ Sagittae Sagittarius
/sædʒɨˈtɛəriəs/[3]Sgr Sgtr Sagittarii
/ˌsædʒəˈtɛəriaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) archer Kaus Australis Scorpius
/ˈskɔrpiəs/[3]Sco Scor Scorpii
/ˈskɔrpiaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) scorpion Antares Sculptor
/ˈskʌlptər/[3]Scl Scul Sculptoris
/skəlpˈtɒrɨs/1763, Lacaille sculptor α Sculptoris Scutum
/ˈskjuːtəm/[3]Sct Scut Scuti
/ˈskjuːtaɪ/1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius shield (of Sobieski) α Scuti Serpens[7]
/ˈsɜrpɛnz/Ser Serp Serpentis
/sərˈpɛntɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) snake Unukalhai Sextans
/ˈsɛkstənz/[4]Sex Sext Sextantis
/sɛksˈtæntɨs/[4]1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius sextant α Sextantis Taurus
/ˈtɔrəs/[3]Tau Taur Tauri
/ˈtɔraɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) bull Aldebaran Telescopium
/ˌtɛlɨˈskɒpiəm/Tel Tele Telescopii
/ˌtɛlɨˈskɒpiaɪ/1763, Lacaille telescope α Telescopii Triangulum
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm/Tri Tria Trianguli
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ/ancient (Ptolemy) triangle β Trianguli Triangulum Australe
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræliː/, /traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstreɪliː/TrA TrAu Trianguli Australis
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ ʔɔːˈstrælɨs/1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman southern triangle Atria Tucana
/tjʊˈkeɪnə/Tuc Tucn Tucanae
/tjʊˈkeɪniː/1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman toucan α Tucanae Ursa Major
/ˌɜrsə ˈmeɪdʒər/[3]UMa UMaj Ursae Majoris
/ˌɜrsiː məˈdʒɒrɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) great bear Alioth Ursa Minor
/ˌɜrsə ˈmaɪnər/[3]UMi UMin Ursae Minoris
/ˌɜrsiː mɨˈnɒrɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) lesser bear Polaris Vela
/ˈviːlə/[3]Vel Velr Velorum
/vɨˈlɔərəm/1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis sails Regor Virgo
/ˈvɜrɡoʊ/[3]Vir Virg Virginis
/ˈvɜrdʒɨnɨs/ancient (Ptolemy) virgin or maiden Spica Volans
/ˈvoʊlænz/[4]Vol Voln Volantis
/vɵˈlæntɨs/[4]1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman flying fish β Volantis Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/[3]Vul Vulp Vulpeculae
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊliː/1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius fox Anser Former constellations
Main article: former constellationsSome constellations are no longer recognized by the International Astronomical Union, but may appear in older star charts and other references. Most notable is Argo Navis, which was one of Ptolemy's original 48 constellations.
Asterisms
Main article: Asterism (astronomy)Various other unofficial patterns have existed alongside the constellations. These are known as "asterisms." Examples include the Big Dipper and the Northern Cross. Some ancient asterisms, for example Coma Berenices, Serpens, and portions of Argo Navis, are now officially constellations.
See also
- List of constellations by area
- List of stars by constellation
- Constellation Family
- Quadrant (astronomy)
- List of constellations in different languages (German Wikipedia)
References
- ^ IAU Website: CONSTELLATIONS
- ^ NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use - table V, Constellations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf OED, 2nd edition
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg Random House Dictionary
- ^ The constellations Camelopardalis, Columba, and Monoceros, formed by Petrus Plancius in 1592 and in 1613, are often erroneously attributed to Jacob Bartsch and Augustin Royer
- ^ Corona Australis is sometimes called "Corona Austrina" /ɔːˈstriːnə/ (genitive: Coronae Austrinae)
- ^ Serpens may be divided into Serpens Cauda (serpent's tail) and Serpens Caput (serpent's head)
External links
- http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations1.htm
- http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/contents.htm
- http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/Maps/Const/const_family.html
Andromeda · Antlia · Apus · Aquarius · Aquila · Ara · Aries · Auriga · Boötes · Caelum · Camelopardalis · Cancer · Canes Venatici · Canis Major · Canis Minor · Capricornus · Carina · Cassiopeia · Centaurus · Cepheus · Cetus · Chamaeleon · Circinus · Columba · Coma Berenices · Corona Australis · Corona Borealis · Corvus · Crater · Crux · Cygnus · Delphinus · Dorado · Draco · Equuleus · Eridanus · Fornax · Gemini · Grus · Hercules · Horologium · Hydra · Hydrus · Indus · Lacerta · Leo · Leo Minor · Lepus · Libra · Lupus · Lynx · Lyra · Mensa · Microscopium · Monoceros · Musca · Norma · Octans · Ophiuchus · Orion · Pavo · Pegasus · Perseus · Phoenix · Pictor · Pisces · Piscis Austrinus · Puppis · Pyxis · Reticulum · Sagitta · Sagittarius · Scorpius · Sculptor · Scutum · Serpens · Sextans · Taurus · Telescopium · Triangulum · Triangulum Australe · Tucana · Ursa Major · Ursa Minor · Vela · Virgo · Volans · VulpeculaAnser · Antinous · Argo Navis · Asterion · Cancer Minor · Cerberus · Chara · Custos Messium · Felis · Frederici Honores/Gloria Frederici · Gallus · Globus Aerostaticus · Jordanus · Lochium Funis · Machina Electrica · Malus · Mons Maenalus · Musca Borealis · Noctua · Officina Typographica · Polophylax · Psalterium Georgianum/Harpa Georgii · Quadrans Muralis · Ramus Pomifer · Robur Carolinum · Sceptrum Brandenburgicum · Sceptrum et Manus Iustitiae · Solarium · Rangifer/Tarandus · Taurus Poniatovii · Telescopium Herschelii · Testudo · Tigris · Triangulum Minus · Turdus Solitarius · Vespa · Vultur cadens · Vultur volansobsolete constellation namesCategories:- Constellations
- Lists of constellations
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