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

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.[1][2]

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).[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.

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[5]NASA[6]
Andromeda
/ænˈdrɒmɪdə/[7]
AndAndrAndromedae
/ænˈdrɒmɪd/
ancient (Ptolemy)Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess)Alpheratz
Antlia
/ˈæntliə/[7]
AntAntlAntliae
/ˈæntli/
1763, Lacailleair pumpα Antliae
Apus
/ˈpəs/[8]
ApsApusApodis
/ˈæpdɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de HoutmanBird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Birdα Apodis
Aquarius
/əˈkwɛəriəs/[7]
AqrAqarAquarii
/əˈkwɛəri/
ancient (Ptolemy)water-bearerβ Aquarii
Aquila
/ˈækwɪlə/[7]
AqlAqilAquilae
/ˈækwɪl/
ancient (Ptolemy)eagleAltair
Ara
/ˈɛərə/[8]
AraAraeArae
/ˈɛər/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)altarβ Arae
Aries
/ˈɛər(i)z/[7][8]
AriArieArietis
/əˈr.ɪtɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)ramHamal
Auriga
/ɔːˈrɡə/[7][8]
AurAuriAurigae
/ɔːˈr/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)charioteerCapella
Boötes
/bˈtz/[7]
BooBootBoötis
/bˈtɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)herdsmanArcturus
Caelum
/ˈsləm/[8]
CaeCaelCaeli
/ˈsl/[8]
1763, Lacaillechisel or engraving toolα Caeli
Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[8]
CamCamlCamelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[8]
1613, Plancius[note 1]giraffeβ Camelopardalis
Cancer
/ˈkænsər/[7]
CncCancCancri
/ˈkæŋkr/
ancient (Ptolemy)crabβ Cancri
Canes Venatici
/ˈknz vɪˈnætɪs/[8]
CVnCVenCanum Venaticorum
/ˈknəm vɪnætɪˈkɒrəm/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliushunting dogsCor Caroli
Canis Major
/ˈknɪs ˈmər/[8]
CMaCMajCanis Majoris
/ˈknɪs məˈɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)greater dogSirius
Canis Minor
/ˈknɪs ˈmnər/[8]
CMiCMinCanis Minoris
/ˈknɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)lesser dogProcyon
Capricornus
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnəs/[8]
CapCaprCapricorni
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrn/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)sea goatδ Capricorni
Carina
/kəˈrnə/[7]
CarCariCarinae
/kəˈrn/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo NaviskeelCanopus
Cassiopeia
/ˌkæsiˈpə/[7][8]
CasCassCassiopeiae
/ˌkæsiˈp/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)Cassiopeia (mythological character)α Cassiopeiae
Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔːrəs/[7]
CenCentCentauri
/sɛnˈtɔːr/
ancient (Ptolemy)centaurα Centauri
Cepheus
/ˈsfiəs/[8]
CepCephCephei
/ˈsfi/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)Cepheus (mythological character)α Cephei
Cetus
/ˈstəs/[8]
CetCetiCeti
/ˈst/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)sea monster (later interpreted as a whale)β Ceti
Chamaeleon
/kəˈmliən/[7]
ChaChamChamaeleontis
/kəˌmliˈɒntɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanchameleonα Chamaeleontis
Circinus
/ˈsɜːrsɪnəs/[7]
CirCircCircini
/ˈsɜːrsɪn/
1763, Lacaillecompassesα Circini
Columba
/kˈlʌmbə/[7]
ColColmColumbae
/kˈlʌmb/
1592, Plancius, split from Canis Majordoveα Columbae
Coma Berenices
/ˈkmə bɛrəˈnsz/[8]
ComComaComae Berenices
/ˈkm bɛrəˈnsz/[8]
1536, Caspar Vopel,[9] split from LeoBerenice's hairβ Comae Berenices
Corona Australis
/kˈrnə ɔːˈstrælɪs, -ˈstr-/[7][8]
CrACorACoronae Australis
/kˈrn ɔːˈstrælɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)southern crownα Coronae Australis
Corona Borealis
/kˈrnə ˌbɔːriˈælɪs, -ˈlɪs/[7][8]
CrBCorBCoronae Borealis
/kˈrn bɔːriˈælɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)northern crownα Coronae Borealis
Corvus
/ˈkɔːrvəs/[7]
CrvCorvCorvi
/ˈkɔːrv/
ancient (Ptolemy)crowγ Corvi
Crater
/ˈkrtər/[7]
CrtCratCrateris
/krəˈtɪərɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)cupδ Crateris
Crux
/ˈkrʌks/[7]
CruCrucCrucis
/ˈkrsɪs/
1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurussouthern crossAcrux
Cygnus
/ˈsɪɡnəs/[7]
CygCygnCygni
/ˈsɪɡn/
ancient (Ptolemy)swan or Northern CrossDeneb
Delphinus
/dɛlˈfnəs/[7]
DelDlphDelphini
/dɛlˈfn/
ancient (Ptolemy)dolphinβ Delphini
Dorado
/dəˈrɑːd/[10]
DorDoraDoradus
/dəˈrdəs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmandolphinfishα Doradus
Draco
/ˈdrk/[8]
DraDracDraconis
/drəˈknɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)dragonγ Draconis
Equuleus
/ɪˈkwliəs/[8]
EquEqulEquulei
/ɪˈkwli/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)ponyα Equulei
Eridanus
/ɪˈrɪdənəs/[8]
EriEridEridani
/ɪˈrɪdən/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)river Eridanus (mythology)Achernar
Fornax
/ˈfɔːrnæks/
ForFornFornacis
/fɔːrˈnsɪs/
1763, Lacaillechemical furnaceα Fornacis
Gemini
/ˈɛmɪn/[7]
GemGemiGeminorum
/ˌɛmɪˈnɒrəm/
ancient (Ptolemy)twinsPollux
Grus
/ˈɡrʌs/[8]
GruGrusGruis
/ˈɡrɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmancraneα Gruis
Hercules
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlz/[8]
HerHercHerculis
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)Hercules (mythological character)β Herculis
Horologium
/ˌhɒrəˈlɒiəm, -ˈl-/[7][8]
HorHoroHorologii
/ˌhɒrəˈli/
1763, Lacaillependulum clockα Horologii
Hydra
/ˈhdrə/[7]
HyaHydaHydrae
/ˈhdr/
ancient (Ptolemy)Hydra (mythological creature)Alphard
Hydrus
/ˈhdrəs/[7]
HyiHydiHydri
/ˈhdr/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanlesser water snakeβ Hydri
Indus
/ˈɪndəs/[7]
IndIndiIndi
/ˈɪnd/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de HoutmanIndian (of unspecified type)α Indi
Lacerta
/ləˈsɜːrtə/[7]
LacLacrLacertae
/ləˈsɜːrt/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliuslizardα Lacertae
Leo
/ˈl/[7]
LeoLeonLeonis
/lˈnɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)lionRegulus
Leo Minor
/ˈl ˈmnər/[7]
LMiLMinLeonis Minoris
/lˈnɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliuslesser lion46 Leonis Minoris
Lepus
/ˈlpəs/[8]
LepLepsLeporis
/ˈlɛpərɪs/[7][8]
ancient (Ptolemy)hareα Leporis
Libra
/ˈlbrə, ˈl-/[7]
LibLibrLibrae
/ˈlbr/
ancient (Ptolemy)balanceβ Librae
Lupus
/ˈljpəs/[7]
LupLupiLupi
/ˈljp/
ancient (Ptolemy)wolfα Lupi
Lynx
/ˈlɪŋks/[7]
LynLyncLyncis
/ˈlɪnsɪs/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliuslynxα Lyncis
Lyra
/ˈlrə/[7]
LyrLyraLyrae
/ˈlr/
ancient (Ptolemy)lyre / harpVega
Mensa
/ˈmɛnsə/[7]
MenMensMensae
/ˈmɛns/
1763, Lacaille, as Mons MensæTable Mountain (South Africa)α Mensae
Microscopium
/ˌmkrˈskɒpiəm/
MicMicrMicroscopii
/ˌmkrˈskɒpi/
1763, Lacaillemicroscopeγ Microscopii
Monoceros
/məˈnɒsɪrəs/[7][8]
MonMonoMonocerotis
/ˌmɒnəsɪˈrtɪs/
1613, Planciusunicornβ Monocerotis
Musca
/ˈmʌskə/[8]
MusMuscMuscae
/ˈmʌs/[7][8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanflyα Muscae
Norma
/ˈnɔːrmə/[7]
NorNormNormae
/ˈnɔːrm/[7]
1763, Lacaillecarpenter's levelγ2 Normae
Octans
/ˈɒktænz/[8]
OctOctnOctantis
/ɒkˈtæntɪs/[8]
1763, Lacailleoctant (instrument)ν Octantis
Ophiuchus
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/[7]
OphOphiOphiuchi
/ˌɒfiˈjuːk/
ancient (Ptolemy)serpent-bearerα Ophiuchi
Orion
/ˈrən/[7]
OriOrioOrionis
/ˈrənɪs, ˌɒriˈnɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)Orion (mythological character)Rigel
Pavo
/ˈpv/[7][8]
PavPavoPavonis
/pəˈvnɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanpeacockα Pavonis
Pegasus
/ˈpɛɡəsəs/[7]
PegPegsPegasi
/ˈpɛɡəs/
ancient (Ptolemy)Pegasus (mythological winged horse)ε Pegasi
Perseus
/ˈpɜːrsiəs/[8]
PerPersPersei
/ˈpɜːrsi/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)Perseus (mythological character)α Persei
Phoenix
/ˈfnɪks/[7]
PhePhoePhoenicis
/fɪˈnsɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanphoenixα Phoenicis
Pictor
/ˈpɪktər/[8]
PicPictPictoris
/pɪkˈtɔːrɪs/[8]
1763, Lacaille, as Equuleus Pictoriseaselα Pictoris
Pisces
/ˈpsz, ˈpɪ-/[7][8]
PscPiscPiscium
/ˈpɪʃiəm/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy)fishesη Piscium
Piscis Austrinus
/ˈpsɪs ɔːˈstrnəs/
PsAPscAPiscis Austrini
/ˈpsɪs ɔːˈstrn/
ancient (Ptolemy)southern fishFomalhaut
Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/[8]
PupPuppPuppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/[8]
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navispoop deckζ Puppis
Pyxis
/ˈpɪksɪs/[7]
PyxPyxiPyxidis
/ˈpɪksɪdɪs/
1763, Lacaillemariner's compassα Pyxidis
Reticulum
/rɪˈtɪkjʊləm/[7]
RetRetiReticuli
/rɪˈtɪkjʊl/
1763, Lacailleeyepiece graticuleα Reticuli
Sagitta
/səˈɪtə/[7]
SgeSgteSagittae
/səˈɪt/
ancient (Ptolemy)arrowγ Sagittae
Sagittarius
/sæɪˈtɛəriəs/[7]
SgrSgtrSagittarii
/ˌsæəˈtɛəri/
ancient (Ptolemy)archerε Sagittarii
Scorpius
/ˈskɔːrpiəs/[7]
ScoScorScorpii
/ˈskɔːrpi/
ancient (Ptolemy)scorpionAntares
Sculptor
/ˈskʌlptər/[7]
SclSculSculptoris
/skəlpˈtɒrɪs/
1763, Lacaillesculptorα Sculptoris
Scutum
/ˈskjuːtəm/[7]
SctScutScuti
/ˈskjuːt/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliusshield (of Sobieski)α Scuti
Serpens[11]
/ˈsɜːrpɛnz/
SerSerpSerpentis
/sərˈpɛntɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)snakeα Serpentis
Sextans
/ˈsɛkstənz/[8]
SexSextSextantis
/sɛksˈtæntɪs/[8]
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliussextantα Sextantis
Taurus
/ˈtɔːrəs/[7]
TauTaurTauri
/ˈtɔːr/
ancient (Ptolemy)bullAldebaran
Telescopium
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiəm/
TelTeleTelescopii
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpi/
1763, Lacailletelescopeα Telescopii
Triangulum
/trˈæŋɡjʊləm/
TriTriaTrianguli
/trˈæŋɡjʊl/
ancient (Ptolemy)triangleβ Trianguli
Triangulum Australe
/trˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræl, -ˈstr-/
TrATrAuTrianguli Australis
/trˈæŋɡjʊl ɔːˈstrælɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmansouthern triangleα Trianguli Australis
Tucana
/tjˈknə/
TucTucnTucanae
/tjˈkn/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmantoucanα Tucanae
Ursa Major
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmər/[7]
UMaUMajUrsae Majoris
/ˌɜːrs məˈɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)great bearε Ursae Majoris
Ursa Minor
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmnər/[7]
UMiUMinUrsae Minoris
/ˌɜːrs mɪˈnɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)lesser bearPolaris
Vela
/ˈvlə/[7]
VelVelrVelorum
/vɪˈlɔːrəm/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navissailsγ Velorum
Virgo
/ˈvɜːrɡ/[7]
VirVirgVirginis
/ˈvɜːrɪnɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy)virgin or maidenSpica
Volans
/ˈvlænz/[8]
VolVolnVolantis
/vˈlæntɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman, as Piscis Volansflying fishβ Volantis
Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/[7]
VulVulpVulpeculae
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊl/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius, as Vulpecula cum Anserefoxα 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

Notes

  1. 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.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 Eugène Delporte; International Astronomical Union (1930). Délimitation scientifique des constellations. At the University press.
  3. Russell, Henry Norris (1922). "The New International Symbols for the Constellations". Popular Astronomy. 30: 469. Bibcode:1922PA.....30..469R.
  4. "Constellations". Ian Ridpath. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  5. "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  6. NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use – table V, Constellations
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 OED, 2nd edition
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 Random House Dictionary
  9. "Comae Berenices". Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  10. "Definition of dorado". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  11. Serpens may be divided into Serpens Cauda (serpent's tail) and Serpens Caput (serpent's head), but these disjoint areas are considered part of the same constellation by the IAU.
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