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 covering the entire celestial sphere. Their boundaries were officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1928 and published in 1930.[2]
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.
See main article: Former constellations. 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.
The 88 constellations depict 42 animals, 29 inanimate objects, and 17 humans or mythological characters.
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).[3]
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.[4] These are labeled "NASA" in the table below and are included here for reference only.
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[5] | NASA[6] | Name | Vis. mag. | |||||
| Andromeda [7] | And | Andr | Andromedae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess) | Alpheratz | 2.06 |
| Antlia | Ant | Antl | Antliae | α Antliae | 4.25 | |||
| Apus [8] | Aps | Apus | Apodis | Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird | α Apodis | 3.83 | ||
| Aquarius | Aqr | Aqar | Aquarii | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | water-bearer | Sadalsuud | 2.87 |
| Aquila | Aql | Aqil | Aquilae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Altair | 0.76 | |
| Ara | Ara | Arae | Arae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | β Arae | 2.84 | |
| Aries | Ari | Arie | Arietis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Hamal | 2.00 | |
| Auriga | Aur | Auri | Aurigae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | charioteer | Capella | 0.08 |
| Boötes | Boo | Boot | Boötis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Arcturus | -0.05 | |
| Caelum | Cae | Cael | Caeli | chisel or engraving tool | α Caeli | 4.46 | ||
| Camelopardalis | Cam | Caml | Camelopardalis | giraffe | β Camelopardalis | 4.02 | ||
| Cancer | Cnc | Canc | Cancri | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | crab | β Cancri | 3.52 |
| Canes Venatici | CVn | CVen | Canum Venaticorum | Cor Caroli | 2.81 | |||
| Canis Major | CMa | CMaj | Canis Majoris | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | greater dog | Sirius | -1.46 |
| Canis Minor | CMi | CMin | Canis Minoris | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | lesser dog | Procyon | 0.34 |
| Capricornus | Cap | Capr | Capricorni | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | sea goat | Deneb Algedi | 2.83 |
| Carina | Car | Cari | Carinae | Canopus | -0.74 | |||
| Cassiopeia | Cas | Cass | Cassiopeiae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Cassiopeia (mythological character) | Schedar | 2.24 |
| Centaurus | Cen | Cent | Centauri | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Alpha Centauri | -0.27 | |
| Cepheus | Cep | Ceph | Cephei | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Cepheus (mythological character) | Alderamin | 2.46 |
| Cetus | Cet | Ceti | Ceti | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) | Diphda | 2.02 |
| Chamaeleon | Cha | Cham | Chamaeleontis | α Chamaeleontis | 4.06 | |||
| Circinus | Cir | Circ | Circini | α Circini | 3.19 | |||
| Columba | Col | Colm | Columbae | Phact | 2.65 | |||
| Coma Berenices | Com | Coma | Comae Berenices | 1536, Caspar Vopel,[9] split from Leo | Berenice's hair | β Comae Berenices | 4.26 | |
| Corona Australis | CrA | CorA | Coronae Australis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | α Coronae Australis | 4.10 | |
| Corona Borealis | CrB | CorB | Coronae Borealis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | northern crown | Alphecca | 2.24 |
| Corvus | Crv | Corv | Corvi | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Gienah | 2.59 | |
| Crater | Crt | Crat | Crateris | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | δ Crateris | 3.56 | |
| Crux | Cru | Cruc | Crucis | 1589, Plancius, split from Centaurus | Acrux | 0.76 | ||
| Cygnus | Cyg | Cygn | Cygni | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | swan or Northern Cross | Deneb | 1.25 |
| Delphinus | Del | Dlph | Delphini | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | dolphin | β Delphini | 3.62 |
| Dorado [10] | Dor | Dora | Doradus | α Doradus | 3.28 | |||
| Draco | Dra | Drac | Draconis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Eltanin | 2.23 | |
| Equuleus | Equ | Equl | Equulei | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | α Equulei | 3.92 | |
| Eridanus | Eri | Erid | Eridani | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | river Eridanus (mythology) | Achernar | 0.46 |
| Fornax | For | Forn | Fornacis | chemical furnace | α Fornacis | 3.85 | ||
| Gemini | Gem | Gemi | Geminorum | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | twins | Pollux | 1.14 |
| Grus | Gru | Grus | Gruis | Alnair | 1.74 | |||
| Hercules | Her | Herc | Herculis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Hercules (mythological character) | Kornephoros | 2.81 |
| Horologium | Hor | Horo | Horologii | α Horologii | 3.85 | |||
| Hydra | Hya | Hyda | Hydrae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Hydra (mythological creature) | Alphard | 2.00 |
| Hydrus | Hyi | Hydi | Hydri | β Hydri | 2.80 | |||
| Indus | Ind | Indi | Indi | Indian (of unspecified type) | α Indi | 3.11 | ||
| Lacerta | Lac | Lacr | Lacertae | lizard | α Lacertae | 3.76 | ||
| Leo | Leo | Leon | Leonis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | lion | Regulus | 1.35 |
| Leo Minor | LMi | LMin | Leonis Minoris | lesser lion | 46 Leonis Minoris | 3.83 | ||
| Lepus | Lep | Leps | Leporis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Arneb | 2.59 | |
| Libra | Lib | Libr | Librae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Zubeneschemali | 2.61 | |
| Lupus | Lup | Lupi | Lupi | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | α Lupi | 2.30 | |
| Lynx | Lyn | Lync | Lyncis | α Lyncis | 3.14 | |||
| Lyra | Lyr | Lyra | Lyrae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Vega | 0.02 | |
| Mensa | Men | Mens | Mensae | 1763, Lacaille, as Mons Mensæ | Table Mountain (South Africa) | α Mensae | 5.09 | |
| Microscopium | Mic | Micr | Microscopiae | γ Microscopii | 4.68 | |||
| Monoceros | Mon | Mono | Monocerotis | β Monocerotis | 3.74 | |||
| Musca | Mus | Musc | Muscae | α Muscae | 2.69 | |||
| Norma | Nor | Norm | Normae | γ2 Normae | 4.02 | |||
| Octans | Oct | Octn | Octantis | ν Octantis | 3.73 | |||
| Ophiuchus | Oph | Ophi | Ophiuchi | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | serpent-bearer | Rasalhague | 2.07 |
| Orion | Ori | Orio | Orionis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Orion (mythological character) | Rigel | 0.13 |
| Pavo | Pav | Pavo | Pavonis | Peacock | 1.94 | |||
| Pegasus | Peg | Pegs | Pegasi | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Pegasus (mythological winged horse) | Enif | 2.40 |
| Perseus | Per | Pers | Persei | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Perseus (mythological character) | Mirfak | 1.82 |
| Phoenix | Phe | Phoe | Phoenicis | Ankaa | 2.38 | |||
| Pictor | Pic | Pict | Pictoris | 1763, Lacaille, as Equuleus Pictoris | α Pictoris | 3.27 | ||
| Pisces | Psc | Pisc | Piscium | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | fishes | α Piscium | 3.61 |
| Piscis Austrinus | PsA | PscA | Piscis Austrini | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | southern fish | Fomalhaut | 1.16 |
| Puppis | Pup | Pupp | Puppis | Naos | 2.25 | |||
| Pyxis | Pyx | Pyxi | Pyxidis | α Pyxidis | 3.67 | |||
| Reticulum | Ret | Reti | Reticuli | α Reticuli | 3.32 | |||
| Sagitta | Sge | Sgte | Sagittae | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | γ Sagittae | 3.47 | |
| Sagittarius | Sgr | Sgtr | Sagittarii | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Kaus Australis | 1.85 | |
| Scorpius | Sco | Scor | Scorpii | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Antares | 0.91 | |
| Sculptor | Scl | Scul | Sculptoris | sculptor | α Sculptoris | 4.30 | ||
| Scutum | Sct | Scut | Scuti | shield (of Sobieski) | α Scuti | 3.83 | ||
| Serpens[11] | Ser | Serp | Serpentis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | snake | Unukalhai | 2.62 |
| Sextans | Sex | Sext | Sextantis | α Sextantis | 4.49 | |||
| Taurus | Tau | Taur | Tauri | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | Aldebaran | 0.86 | |
| Telescopium | Tel | Tele | Telescopii | α Telescopii | 3.51 | |||
| Triangulum | Tri | Tria | Trianguli | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | β Trianguli | 3.00 | |
| Triangulum Australe | TrA | TrAu | Trianguli Australis | southern triangle | Atria | 1.91 | ||
| Tucana | Tuc | Tucn | Tucanae | α Tucanae | 2.86 | |||
| Ursa Major | UMa | UMaj | Ursae Majoris | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | great bear | Alioth | 1.77 |
| Ursa Minor | UMi | UMin | Ursae Minoris | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | lesser bear | Polaris | 1.98 |
| Vela | Vel | Velr | Velae | γ Velorum | 1.83 | |||
| Virgo | Vir | Virg | Virginis | data-sort-value="0" | ancient (Ptolemy) | virgin or maiden | Spica | 0.97 |
| Volans | Vol | Voln | Volantis | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman, as Piscis Volans | β Volantis | 3.75 | ||
| Vulpecula | Vul | Vulp | Vulpeculae | 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius, as Vulpecula cum Ansere | fox | α Vulpeculae | 4.40 | |
See main article: Asterism (astronomy).
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.