IAU designated constellations

IAU designated constellations in equirectangular projection (epoch B1875.0)

In contemporary astronomy, 88 constellations are recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Each constellation is a region of the sky bordered by arcs of right ascension and declination, together covering the entire celestial sphere. Their boundaries were officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1928 and published in 1930.

The ancient Mesopotamians and later the Greeks established most of the northern constellations in international use today, listed by the Roman-Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy. 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. Because of their Roman and European origins, every constellation has a Latin name. 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.

History

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. In the 1750s the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille divided this into three separate constellations: Carina, Puppis, and Vela.

Modern constellations

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

Abbreviations

Each IAU constellation has an official three-letter abbreviation based on the genitive form of the constellation name. As the genitive is similar to the base name, the majority of the abbreviations are just the first three letters of the constellation name: Ori for Orion/Orionis, Ara for Ara/Arae, and Com for Coma Berenices/Comae Berenices. In some cases, the abbreviation contains letters from the genitive not appearing in the base name (as in Hyi for Hydrus/Hydri, to avoid confusion with Hydra, abbreviated Hya; and Sge for Sagitta/Sagittae, to avoid confusion with Sagittarius, abbreviated Sgr). Some abbreviations use letters beyond the initial three to unambiguously identify the constellation (for example when the name and its genitive differ in the first three letters): 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).

In addition to the three-letter abbreviations used today, the IAU also introduced four-letter abbreviations in 1932. The four-letter abbreviations were repealed in 1955 and are now obsolete, but were included in the NASA Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use (NASA SP-7) published in 1965. These are labeled "NASA" in the table below and are included here for reference only.

List

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 NASA
Andromeda
/ænˈdrɒmɪdə/
And Andr Andromedae
/ænˈdrɒmɪdiː/
ancient (Ptolemy) Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess) Alpheratz
Antlia
/ˈæntliə/
Ant Antl Antliae
/ˈæntliiː/
1763, Lacaille air pump α Antliae
Apus
/ˈeɪpəs/
Aps Apus Apodis
/ˈæpoʊdɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird α Apodis
Aquarius
/əˈkwɛəriəs/
Aqr Aqar Aquarii
/əˈkwɛəriaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) water-bearer β Aquarii
Aquila
/ˈækwɪlə/
Aql Aqil Aquilae
/ˈækwɪliː/
ancient (Ptolemy) eagle Altair
Ara
/ˈɛərə/
Ara Arae Arae
/ˈɛəriː/
ancient (Ptolemy) altar β Arae
Aries
/ˈɛər(i)iːz/
Ari Arie Arietis
/əˈraɪ.ɪtɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) ram Hamal
Auriga
/ɔːˈraɪɡə/
Aur Auri Aurigae
/ɔːˈraɪdʒiː/
ancient (Ptolemy) charioteer Capella
Boötes
/boʊˈoʊtiːz/
Boo Boot Boötis
/boʊˈoʊtɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) herdsman Arcturus
Caelum
/ˈsiːləm/
Cae Cael Caeli
/ˈsiːlaɪ/
1763, Lacaille chisel or engraving tool α Caeli
Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛloʊˈpɑːrdəlɪs/
Cam Caml Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛloʊˈpɑːrdəlɪs/
1613, Plancius giraffe β Camelopardalis
Cancer
/ˈkænsər/
Cnc Canc Cancri
/ˈkæŋkraɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) crab β Cancri
Canes Venatici
/ˈkeɪniːz vɪˈnætɪsaɪ/
CVn CVen Canum Venaticorum
/ˈkeɪnəm vɪnætɪˈkɒrəm/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius hunting dogs Cor Caroli
Canis Major
/ˈkeɪnɪs ˈmeɪdʒər/
CMa CMaj Canis Majoris
/ˈkeɪnɪs məˈdʒɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) greater dog Sirius
Canis Minor
/ˈkeɪnɪs ˈmaɪnər/
CMi CMin Canis Minoris
/ˈkeɪnɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) lesser dog Procyon
Capricornus
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnəs/
Cap Capr Capricorni
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) sea goat δ Capricorni
Carina
/kəˈraɪnə/
Car Cari Carinae
/kəˈraɪniː/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis keel Canopus
Cassiopeia
/ˌkæsioʊˈpiːə/
Cas Cass Cassiopeiae
/ˌkæsioʊˈpiːiː/
ancient (Ptolemy) Cassiopeia (mythological character) α Cassiopeiae
Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔːrəs/
Cen Cent Centauri
/sɛnˈtɔːraɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) centaur α Centauri
Cepheus
/ˈsiːfiəs/
Cep Ceph Cephei
/ˈsiːfiaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) Cepheus (mythological character) α Cephei
Cetus
/ˈsiːtəs/
Cet Ceti Ceti
/ˈsiːtaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) β Ceti
Chamaeleon
/kəˈmiːliən/
Cha Cham Chamaeleontis
/kəˌmiːliˈɒntɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman chameleon α Chamaeleontis
Circinus
/ˈsɜːrsɪnəs/
Cir Circ Circini
/ˈsɜːrsɪnaɪ/
1763, Lacaille compasses α Circini
Columba
/koʊˈlʌmbə/
Col Colm Columbae
/koʊˈlʌmbiː/
1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major dove α Columbae
Coma Berenices
/ˈkoʊmə bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/
Com Coma Comae Berenices
/ˈkoʊmiː bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/
1536, Caspar Vopel, split from Leo Berenice's hair β Comae Berenices
Corona Australis
/koʊˈroʊnə ɔːˈstrælɪs, -ˈstreɪ-/
CrA CorA Coronae Australis
/koʊˈroʊniː ɔːˈstrælɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) southern crown α Coronae Australis
Corona Borealis
/koʊˈroʊnə ˌbɔːriˈælɪs, -ˈeɪlɪs/
CrB CorB Coronae Borealis
/koʊˈroʊniː bɔːriˈælɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) northern crown α Coronae Borealis
Corvus
/ˈkɔːrvəs/
Crv Corv Corvi
/ˈkɔːrvaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) crow γ Corvi
Crater
/ˈkreɪtər/
Crt Crat Crateris
/krəˈtɪərɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) cup δ Crateris
Crux
/ˈkrʌks/
Cru Cruc Crucis
/ˈkruːsɪs/
1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus southern cross Acrux
Cygnus
/ˈsɪɡnəs/
Cyg Cygn Cygni
/ˈsɪɡnaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) swan or Northern Cross Deneb
Delphinus
/dɛlˈfaɪnəs/
Del Dlph Delphini
/dɛlˈfaɪnaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) dolphin β Delphini
Dorado
/dəˈrɑːdoʊ/
Dor Dora Doradus
/dəˈreɪdəs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman dolphinfish α Doradus
Draco
/ˈdreɪkoʊ/
Dra Drac Draconis
/drəˈkoʊnɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) dragon γ Draconis
Equuleus
/ɪˈkwuːliəs/
Equ Equl Equulei
/ɪˈkwuːliaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) pony α Equulei
Eridanus
/ɪˈrɪdənəs/
Eri Erid Eridani
/ɪˈrɪdənaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) river Eridanus (mythology) Achernar
Fornax
/ˈfɔːrnæks/
For Forn Fornacis
/fɔːrˈneɪsɪs/
1763, Lacaille chemical furnace α Fornacis
Gemini
/ˈdʒɛmɪnaɪ/
Gem Gemi Geminorum
/ˌdʒɛmɪˈnɒrəm/
ancient (Ptolemy) twins Pollux
Grus
/ˈɡrʌs/
Gru Grus Gruis
/ˈɡruːɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman crane α Gruis
Hercules
/ˈhɜːrkjʊliːz/
Her Herc Herculis
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) Hercules (mythological character) β Herculis
Horologium
/ˌhɒrəˈlɒdʒiəm, -ˈloʊ-/
Hor Horo Horologii
/ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiaɪ/
1763, Lacaille pendulum clock α Horologii
Hydra
/ˈhaɪdrə/
Hya Hyda Hydrae
/ˈhaɪdriː/
ancient (Ptolemy) Hydra (mythological creature) Alphard
Hydrus
/ˈhaɪdrəs/
Hyi Hydi Hydri
/ˈhaɪdraɪ/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman lesser water snake β Hydri
Indus
/ˈɪndəs/
Ind Indi Indi
/ˈɪndaɪ/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Indian (of unspecified type) α Indi
Lacerta
/ləˈsɜːrtə/
Lac Lacr Lacertae
/ləˈsɜːrtiː/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lizard α Lacertae
Leo
/ˈliːoʊ/
Leo Leon Leonis
/liːˈoʊnɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) lion Regulus
Leo Minor
/ˈliːoʊ ˈmaɪnər/
LMi LMin Leonis Minoris
/liːˈoʊnɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lesser lion 46 Leonis Minoris
Lepus
/ˈliːpəs/
Lep Leps Leporis
/ˈlɛpərɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) hare α Leporis
Libra
/ˈlaɪbrə, ˈliː-/
Lib Libr Librae
/ˈlaɪbriː/
ancient (Ptolemy) balance β Librae
Lupus
/ˈljuːpəs/
Lup Lupi Lupi
/ˈljuːpaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) wolf α Lupi
Lynx
/ˈlɪŋks/
Lyn Lync Lyncis
/ˈlɪnsɪs/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lynx α Lyncis
Lyra
/ˈlaɪrə/
Lyr Lyra Lyrae
/ˈlaɪriː/
ancient (Ptolemy) lyre / harp Vega
Mensa
/ˈmɛnsə/
Men Mens Mensae
/ˈmɛnsiː/
1763, Lacaille, as Mons Mensæ Table Mountain (South Africa) α Mensae
Microscopium
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈskɒpiəm/
Mic Micr Microscopii
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈskɒpiaɪ/
1763, Lacaille microscope γ Microscopii
Monoceros
/məˈnɒsɪrəs/
Mon Mono Monocerotis
/ˌmɒnəsɪˈroʊtɪs/
1613, Plancius unicorn β Monocerotis
Musca
/ˈmʌskə/
Mus Musc Muscae
/ˈmʌsiː/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman fly α Muscae
Norma
/ˈnɔːrmə/
Nor Norm Normae
/ˈnɔːrmiː/
1763, Lacaille carpenter's level γ2 Normae
Octans
/ˈɒktænz/
Oct Octn Octantis
/ɒkˈtæntɪs/
1763, Lacaille octant (instrument) ν Octantis
Ophiuchus
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/
Oph Ophi Ophiuchi
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) serpent-bearer α Ophiuchi
Orion
/oʊˈraɪən/
Ori Orio Orionis
/oʊˈraɪənɪs, ˌɒriˈoʊnɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) Orion (mythological character) Rigel
Pavo
/ˈpeɪvoʊ/
Pav Pavo Pavonis
/pəˈvoʊnɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman peacock α Pavonis
Pegasus
/ˈpɛɡəsəs/
Peg Pegs Pegasi
/ˈpɛɡəsaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) Pegasus (mythological winged horse) ε Pegasi
Perseus
/ˈpɜːrsiəs/
Per Pers Persei
/ˈpɜːrsiaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) Perseus (mythological character) α Persei
Phoenix
/ˈfiːnɪks/
Phe Phoe Phoenicis
/fɪˈnaɪsɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman phoenix α Phoenicis
Pictor
/ˈpɪktər/
Pic Pict Pictoris
/pɪkˈtɔːrɪs/
1763, Lacaille, as Equuleus Pictoris easel α Pictoris
Pisces
/ˈpaɪsiːz, ˈpɪ-/
Psc Pisc Piscium
/ˈpɪʃiəm/
ancient (Ptolemy) fishes η Piscium
Piscis Austrinus
/ˈpaɪsɪs ɔːˈstraɪnəs/
PsA PscA Piscis Austrini
/ˈpaɪsɪs ɔːˈstraɪnaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) southern fish Fomalhaut
Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/
Pup Pupp Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis poop deck ζ Puppis
Pyxis
/ˈpɪksɪs/
Pyx Pyxi Pyxidis
/ˈpɪksɪdɪs/
1763, Lacaille mariner's compass α Pyxidis
Reticulum
/rɪˈtɪkjʊləm/
Ret Reti Reticuli
/rɪˈtɪkjʊlaɪ/
1763, Lacaille eyepiece graticule α Reticuli
Sagitta
/səˈdʒɪtə/
Sge Sgte Sagittae
/səˈdʒɪtiː/
ancient (Ptolemy) arrow γ Sagittae
Sagittarius
/sædʒɪˈtɛəriəs/
Sgr Sgtr Sagittarii
/ˌsædʒəˈtɛəriaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) archer ε Sagittarii
Scorpius
/ˈskɔːrpiəs/
Sco Scor Scorpii
/ˈskɔːrpiaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) scorpion Antares
Sculptor
/ˈskʌlptər/
Scl Scul Sculptoris
/skəlpˈtɒrɪs/
1763, Lacaille sculptor α Sculptoris
Scutum
/ˈskjuːtəm/
Sct Scut Scuti
/ˈskjuːtaɪ/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius shield (of Sobieski) α Scuti
Serpens
/ˈsɜːrpɛnz/
Ser Serp Serpentis
/sərˈpɛntɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) snake α Serpentis
Sextans
/ˈsɛkstənz/
Sex Sext Sextantis
/sɛksˈtæntɪs/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius sextant α Sextantis
Taurus
/ˈtɔːrəs/
Tau Taur Tauri
/ˈtɔːraɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) bull Aldebaran
Telescopium
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiəm/
Tel Tele Telescopii
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiaɪ/
1763, Lacaille telescope α Telescopii
Triangulum
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm/
Tri Tria Trianguli
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ/
ancient (Ptolemy) triangle β Trianguli
Triangulum Australe
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræliː, -ˈstreɪ-/
TrA TrAu Trianguli Australis
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ ɔːˈstrælɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman southern triangle α Trianguli Australis
Tucana
/tjuːˈkeɪnə/
Tuc Tucn Tucanae
/tjuːˈkeɪniː/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman toucan α Tucanae
Ursa Major
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmeɪdʒər/
UMa UMaj Ursae Majoris
/ˌɜːrsiː məˈdʒɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) great bear ε Ursae Majoris
Ursa Minor
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmaɪnər/
UMi UMin Ursae Minoris
/ˌɜːrsiː mɪˈnɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) lesser bear Polaris
Vela
/ˈviːlə/
Vel Velr Velorum
/vɪˈlɔːrəm/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis sails γ Velorum
Virgo
/ˈvɜːrɡoʊ/
Vir Virg Virginis
/ˈvɜːrdʒɪnɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) virgin or maiden Spica
Volans
/ˈvoʊlænz/
Vol Voln Volantis
/voʊˈlæntɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman, as Piscis Volans flying fish β Volantis
Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/
Vul Vulp Vulpeculae
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊliː/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius, as Vulpecula cum Ansere fox α Vulpeculae

Asterisms

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.

See also


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