List of constellations

Each culture divides the stars of the night sky into its own set of 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.
==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 	abbreviationsNASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use - table V, Constellations	abbreviationsNASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use - table V, Constellations	genitive 	origin 	meaning 	brightest star
AndromedaOED, 2nd edition 	And 	Andr 	Andromedae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	Andromeda (mythological character) 	Alpheratz
Antlia 	Ant 	Antl 	Antliae 	1763, Lacaille 	air pump 	α Antliae
Apus Random House Dictionary 	Aps 	Apus 	Apodis 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	Bird-of-paradise 	α Apodis
Aquarius 	Aqr 	Aqar 	Aquarii 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	water-bearer 	Sadalsud
Aquila 	Aql 	Aqil 	Aquilae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	eagle 	Altair
Ara 	Ara 	Arae 	Arae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	altar 	β Arae
Aries 	Ari 	Arie 	Arietis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	ram 	Hamal
Auriga 	Aur 	Auri 	Aurigae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	charioteer 	Capella
Boötes 	Boo 	Boot 	Boötis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	herdsman 	Arcturus
Caelum 	Cae 	Cael 	Caeli 	1763, Lacaille 	chisel 	α Caeli
Camelopardalis 	Cam 	Caml 	Camelopardalis 	1613, PlanciusThe constellations Camelopardalis, Columba, and Monoceros, formed by Petrus Plancius in 1592 and in 1613, are often erroneously attributed to Jacob Bartsch and Augustin Royer	giraffe 	β Camelopardalis
Cancer 	Cnc 	Canc 	Cancri 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	crab 	Tarf
Canes Venatici 	CVn 	CVen 	Canum Venaticorum 	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius 	hunting dogs 	Cor Caroli
Canis Major 	CMa 	CMaj 	Canis Majoris 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	greater dog 	Sirius
Canis Minor 	CMi 	CMin 	Canis Minoris 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	lesser dog 	Procyon
Capricornus 	Cap 	Capr 	Capricorni 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	sea goat 	Deneb Algiedi
Carina 	Car 	Cari 	Carinae 	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis 	keel 	Canopus
Cassiopeia 	Cas 	Cass 	Cassiopeiae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	Cassiopeia (mythological character) 	Shedir
Centaurus 	Cen 	Cent 	Centauri 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	centaur 	Rigil Kentaurus
Cepheus 	Cep 	Ceph 	Cephei 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	Cepheus (mythological character) 	Alderamin
Cetus 	Cet 	Ceti 	Ceti 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	sea monster (later interpreted as a whale)	Deneb Kaitos
Chamaeleon 	Cha 	Cham 	Chamaeleontis 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	chameleon 	α Chamaeleontis
Circinus 	Cir 	Circ 	Circini 	1763, Lacaille 	compass (drawing tool) 	α Circini
Columba 	Col 	Colm 	Columbae 	1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major 	dove 	Phact
Coma Berenices 	Com 	Coma 	Comae Berenices 	1603, Uranometria, split from Leo 	Berenice's hair 	β Comae Berenices
Corona AustralisCorona Australis is sometimes called "Corona Austrina" (genitive: Coronae Austrinae)	CrA 	CorA 	Coronae Australis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	southern crown 	Alphekka Meridiana
Corona Borealis 	CrB 	CorB 	Coronae Borealis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	northern crown 	Alphecca
Corvus 	Crv 	Corv 	Corvi 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	crow 	Gienah
Crater 	Crt 	Crat 	Crateris 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	cup 	Labrum
Crux 	Cru 	Cruc 	Crucis 	1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus 	southern cross 	Acrux
Cygnus 	Cyg 	Cygn 	Cygni 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	swan 	Deneb
Delphinus 	Del 	Dlph 	Delphini 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	dolphin 	Rotanev
Dorado 	Dor 	Dora 	Doradus 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	gold fish 	α Doradus
Draco 	Dra 	Drac 	Draconis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	dragon 	Etamin
Equuleus 	Equ 	Equl 	Equulei 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	pony 	Kitalpha
Eridanus 	Eri 	Erid 	Eridani 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	river Eridanus (mythology) 	Achernar
Fornax 	For 	Forn 	Fornacis 	1763, Lacaille 	chemical furnace 	Fornacis
Gemini 	Gem 	Gemi 	Geminorum 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	twins 	Pollux
Grus 	Gru 	Grus 	Gruis 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	Crane 	Alnair
Hercules 	Her 	Herc 	Herculis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	Hercules (mythological character) 	Kornephoros
Horologium 	Hor 	Horo 	Horologii 	1763, Lacaille 	pendulum clock 	α Horologii
Hydra 	Hya 	Hyda 	Hydrae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	Hydra (mythological creature) 	Alphard
Hydrus 	Hyi 	Hydi 	Hydri 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	lesser water snake 	β Hydri
Indus 	Ind 	Indi 	Indi 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	Indian (American indigenous) 	The Persian
Lacerta 	Lac 	Lacr 	Lacertae 	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius 	lizard 	α Lacertae
Leo 	Leo 	Leon 	Leonis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	lion 	Regulus
Leo Minor 	LMi 	LMin 	Leonis Minoris 	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius 	lesser lion 	Praecipua
Lepus 	Lep 	Leps 	Leporis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	hare 	Arneb
Libra 	Lib 	Libr 	Librae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	balance 	Zubeneshamali
Lupus 	Lup 	Lupi 	Lupi 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	wolf 	Men
Lynx 	Lyn 	Lync 	Lyncis 	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius 	lynx 	Elvashak
Lyra 	Lyr 	Lyra 	Lyrae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	lyre / harp 	Vega
Mensa 	Men 	Mens 	Mensae 	1763, Lacaille 	Table Mountain (South Africa) 	α Mensae
Microscopium 	Mic 	Micr 	Microscopii 	1763, Lacaille 	microscope 	γ Microscopii
Monoceros 	Mon 	Mono 	Monocerotis 	1613, Plancius 	unicorn 	β Monocerotis
Musca 	Mus 	Musc 	Muscae 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	fly 	α Muscae
Norma 	Nor 	Norm 	Normae 	1763, Lacaille 	carpenter's level 	γ2 Normae
Octans 	Oct 	Octn 	Octantis 	1763, Lacaille 	octant 	ν Oct
Ophiuchus 	Oph 	Ophi 	Ophiuchi 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	serpent-bearer 	Ras Alhague
Orion 	Ori 	Orio 	Orionis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	Orion (mythological character) 	Rigel
Pavo 	Pav 	Pavo 	Pavonis 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	peacock 	Peacock
Pegasus 	Peg 	Pegs 	Pegasi 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	Pegasus (mythological winged horse) 	Enif
Perseus 	Per 	Pers 	Persei 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	Perseus (mythological character) 	Mirfak
Phoenix 	Phe 	Phoe 	Phoenicis 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	phoenix 	Ankaa
Pictor 	Pic 	Pict 	Pictoris 	1763, Lacaille 	easel 	α Pictoris
Pisces 	Psc 	Pisc 	Piscium 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	fishes 	Alpherg
Piscis Austrinus 	PsA 	PscA 	Piscis Austrini 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	southern fish 	Fomalhaut
Puppis 	Pup 	Pupp 	Puppis 	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis 	poop deck 	Naos
Pyxis 	Pyx 	Pyxi 	Pyxidis 	1763, Lacaille 	mariner's compass 	α Pyxidis
Reticulum 	Ret 	Reti 	Reticuli 	1763, Lacaille 	eyepiece graticule 	α Reticuli
Sagitta 	Sge 	Sgte 	Sagittae 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	arrow 	γ Sagittae
Sagittarius 	Sgr 	Sgtr 	Sagittarii 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	archer 	Kaus Australis
Scorpius 	Sco 	Scor 	Scorpii 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	scorpion 	Antares
Sculptor 	Scl 	Scul 	Sculptoris 	1763, Lacaille 	sculptor 	α Sculptoris
Scutum 	Sct 	Scut 	Scuti 	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius 	shield (of Sobieski) 	α Scuti
SerpensSerpens may be divided into Serpens Cauda (serpent's tail) and Serpens Caput (serpent's head) 	Ser 	Serp 	Serpentis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	snake 	Unukalhai
Sextans 	Sex 	Sext 	Sextantis 	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius 	sextant 	α Sextantis
Taurus 	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 	UMa 	UMaj 	Ursae Majoris 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	great bear 	Alioth
Ursa Minor 	UMi 	UMin 	Ursae Minoris 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	lesser bear 	Polaris
Vela 	Vel 	Velr 	Velorum 	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis 	sails 	Regor
Virgo 	Vir 	Virg 	Virginis 	ancient (Ptolemy) 	virgin or maiden 	Spica
Volans 	Vol 	Voln 	Volantis 	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman 	flying fish 	β Volantis
Vulpecula 	Vul 	Vulp 	Vulpeculae 	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius 	fox 	Anser
==Former constellations==
Some 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==
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
* Lists of stars by constellation
* Constellation Family
* Galactic quadrant
* Zodiac
* List of constellations in different languages (German Wikipedia, interwiki links to other languages)
==References==
==External links==
* http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations1.htm
* http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/contents.htm
 
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