List of constellations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From the dawn of recorded history, people observed the sky and grouped stars into patterns or constellations[citation needed] . Each culture had its own constellations, usually based on mythology. Most of these are very hard to identify when you look at them without the lines, but some are very obvious.
The ancient Greeks originated many constellations that are still in use today, many of which were recorded by Ptolemy. However they left many gaps in the sky where there was a lack of bright stars; also, they could not observe stars that were in the far southern hemisphere of the sky. European explorers mapped the stars of the southern skies, and various astronomers proposed new constellations to fill the gaps. Some new constellations caught on, while others did not.
In 1922, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially adopted the modern list of 88 official constellations. After this, Eugène Delporte drew up precise boundaries for each constellation, so that every point in the sky belonged to exactly one constellation.
Properly speaking, a constellation is an area of the sky or the celestial sphere. The term is more widely used to denote a particular star pattern that is contained within that area.
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[edit] Constellation Families
| Quad | Total | Constellations |
|---|---|---|
| NQ1 | 08 | Pisces, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Triangulum, Aries, Perseus, Taurus, Orion, |
| NQ2 | 10 | Auriga, Monoceros, Gemini, Canis Minor, Lynx, Cancer, Camelopardalis, Leo Minor, Leo, Ursa Major, |
| NQ3 | 08 | Coma Berenices, Canes Venatici, Boötes, Ursa Minor, Draco, Corona Borealis, Serpens, Hercules, |
| NQ4 | 10 | Lyra, Sagitta, Aquila, Vulpecula, Cygnus, Delphinus, Equuleus, Cepheus, Lacerta, Pegasus, |
| SQ1 | 14 | Sculptor, Phoenix, Cetus, Hydrus, Fornax, Horologium, Eridanus, Reticulum, Caelum, Dorado, Mensa, Lepus, Pictor, Columba, |
| SQ2 | 11 | Canis Major, Puppis, Volans, Carina, Pyxis, Vela, Sextans, Antlia, Chamaeleon, Crater, Hydra, |
| SQ3 | 14 | Corvus, Crux, Musca, Centaurus, Virgo, Circinus, Libra, Lupus, Norma, Triangulum Australe, Apus, Scorpius, Ara, Ophiuchus, |
| SQ4 | 13 | Corona Australis, Scutum, Sagittarius, Telescopium, Pavo, Microscopium, Capricornus, Indus, Piscis Austrinus, Aquarius, Grus, Octans, Tucana, |
[edit] Modern constellations
| constellation | abbreviations[2][3] | genitive | origin | meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andromeda /ænˈdrɒmɨdə/ |
And | Andr | Andromedae /ænˈdrɒmɨdi/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Andromeda (mythological character) |
| Antlia /ˈæntliːə/ |
Ant | Antl | Antliae /ˈæntliːi/ |
1763, Lacaille | air pump |
| Apus /ˈeɪpəs/ |
Aps | Apus | Apodis /ˈæpədɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | bird of paradise |
| Aquarius /əˈkweəriəs/ |
Aqr | Aqar | Aquarii /əˈkweəriaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | water-bearer |
| Aquila /ˈækwɨlə/ |
Aql | Aqil | Aquilae /ˈækwɨli/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | eagle |
| Ara /ˈeərə/ |
Ara | Arae | Arae /ˈeəri/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | altar |
| Aries /ˈeəriz/ |
Ari | Arie | Arietis /əˈraɪɨtɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | ram |
| Auriga /ɔːˈraɪgə/ |
Aur | Auri | Aurigae /ɔːˈraɪdʒi/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | charioteer |
| Boötes /boʊˈoʊtiz/ |
Boo | Boot | Boötis /boʊˈoʊtɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | herdsman |
| Caelum /ˈsiːləm/ |
Cae | Cael | Caeli /ˈsiːlaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | sculptor's chisel |
| Camelopardalis /kəˌmɛləˈpardəlɨs/ |
Cam | Caml | Camelopardalis / kəˌmɛləˈpardəlɨs/ |
1613, Plancius[4] | giraffe |
| Cancer /ˈkænsɚ/ |
Cnc | Canc | Cancri /ˈkæŋkraɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | crab |
| Canes Venatici /ˈkeɪnizvɨˈnætɨsaɪ/ |
CVn | CVen | Canum Venaticorum /ˈkeɪnəmvɨˌnætɨˈkɒrəm/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | hunting dogs |
| Canis Major /ˈkeɪnɨsˈmeɪdʒɚ/ |
CMa | CMaj | Canis Majoris /ˈkeɪnɨsməˈdʒɒrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | greater dog |
| Canis Minor /ˈkeɪnɨsˈmaɪnɚ/ |
CMi | CMin | Canis Minoris /ˈkeɪnɨsmɨˈnɒrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | lesser dog |
| Capricornus /ˌkæprɨˈkɔrnəs/ |
Cap | Capr | Capricorni /ˌkæprɨˈkɔrnaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | goat (originally a sea-goat) |
| Carina /kəˈraɪnə/ |
Car | Cari | Carinae /kəˈraɪni/ |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | keel |
| Cassiopeia /ˌkæsiəˈpiːə/ |
Cas | Cass | Cassiopeɪae /ˌkæsiəˈpiːi/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Cassiopeia (mythological character) |
| Centaurus /sɛnˈtɔːrəs/ |
Cen | Cent | Centauri /sɛnˈtɔːraɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | centaur |
| Cepheus /ˈsiːfiəs/ |
Cep | Ceph | Cepheɪ /ˈsiːfiaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Cepheus (mythological character) |
| Cetus /ˈsiːtəs/ |
Cet | Ceti | Ceti /ˈsiːtaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) |
| Chamaeleon /kəˈmiːliən/ |
Cha | Cham | Chamaeleontis /kəˌmiːliˈɒntɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | chameleon |
| Circinus /ˈsɝsɨnəs/ |
Cir | Circ | Circini /ˈsɝsɨnaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | pair of dividers (drawing tool) |
| Columba /kɒˈlʌmbə/ |
Col | Colm | Columbae /kɒˈlʌmbi/ |
1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major | Noah's dove |
| Coma Berenices /ˈkoʊməˌbɛrəˈnaɪsiz/ |
Com | Coma | Comae Berenices /ˈkoʊmiˌbɛrəˈnaɪsiz/ |
1603, Uranometria, split from Leo | Berenice's hair |
| Corona Australis[5] /kɒˈroʊnəʔɔːˈstreɪlɨs/ |
CrA | CorA | Coronae Australis /kɒˈroʊniʔɔːˈstreɪlɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | southern crown |
| Corona Borealis /kɒˈroʊnəˌbɔəriˈeɪlɨs/ |
CrB | CorB | Coronae Borealis /kɒˈroʊniˌbɔəriˈeɪlɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | northern crown |
| Corvus /ˈkɔrvəs/ |
Crv | Corv | Corvi /ˈkɔrvaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | crow |
| Crater /ˈkreɪtɚ/ |
Crt | Crat | Crateris /krəˈtiːrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | cup |
| Crux /ˈkrʌks/ |
Cru | Cruc | Crucis /ˈkruːsɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus | southern cross |
| Cygnus /ˈsɪgnəs/ |
Cyg | Cygn | Cygni /ˈsɪgnaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | swan |
| Delphinus /dɛlˈfaɪnəs/ |
Del | Dlph | Delphini /dɛlˈfaɪnaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | dolphin (mammal) |
| Dorado /dɒˈreɪdoʊ/ |
Dor | Dora | Doradus /dɒˈreɪdəs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | gold fish |
| Draco /ˈdreɪkoʊ/ |
Dra | Drac | Draconis /drəˈkoʊnɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | dragon |
| Equuleus /ɨˈkwuːliəs/ |
Equ | Equl | Equulei /ɨˈkwuːliaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | little horse (foal) |
| Eridanus /ɨˈrɪdənəs/ |
Eri | Erid | Eridani /ɨˈrɪdənaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | river Eridanus (mythology) |
| Fornax /ˈfɔrnæks/ |
For | Forn | Fornacis /fɔrˈneɪsɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | chemical furnace |
| Gemini /ˈdʒɛmɨnaɪ/ |
Gem | Gemi | Geminorum /ˌdʒɛmɨˈnɒrəm/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | twins |
| Grus /ˈgrʌs/ |
Gru | Grus | Gruis /ˈgruːɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | crane (bird) |
| Hercules /ˈhɝkjʊliz/ |
Her | Herc | Herculis /ˈhɝkjʊlɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Hercules (mythological character) |
| Horologium /ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiəm/ |
Hor | Horo | Horologii /ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | pendulum clock |
| Hydra /ˈhaɪdrə/ |
Hya | Hyda | Hydrae /ˈhaɪdri/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Hydra (mythological creature) |
| Hydrus /ˈhaɪdrəs/ |
Hyi | Hydi | Hydri /ˈhaɪdraɪ/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | lesser water snake |
| Indus /ˈɪndəs/ |
Ind | Indi | Indi /ˈɪndaɪ/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | Indian (native American) |
| Lacerta /ləˈsɝtə/ |
Lac | Lacr | Lacertae /ləˈsɝti/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lizard |
| Leo /ˈliːoʊ/ |
Leo | Leon | Leonis /liːˈoʊnɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | lion |
| Leo Minor /ˈliːoʊˈmaɪnɚ/ |
LMi | LMin | Leonis Minoris /liːˈoʊnɨsmɨˈnɒrɨs/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lesser lion |
| Lepus /ˈliːpəs/ |
Lep | Leps | Leporis /ˈlɛpərɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | hare |
| Libra /ˈlaɪbrə/ |
Lib | Libr | Librae /ˈlaɪbri/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | balance |
| Lupus /ˈljuːpəs/ |
Lup | Lupi | Lupi /ˈljuːpaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | wolf |
| Lynx /ˈlɪŋks/ |
Lyn | Lync | Lyncis /ˈlɪnsɨs/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lynx |
| Lyra /ˈlaɪrə/ |
Lyr | Lyra | Lyrae /ˈlaɪri/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | lyre |
| Mensa /ˈmɛnsə/ |
Men | Mens | Mensae /ˈmɛnsi/ |
1763, Lacaille | Table Mountain (South Africa) |
| Microscopium /ˌmaɪkrəˈskoʊpiəm/ |
Mic | Micr | Microscopii /ˌmaɪkrəˈskoʊpiaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | microscope |
| Monoceros /məˈnɒsərɒs/ |
Mon | Mono | Monocerotis /məˌnɒsəˈroʊtɨs/ |
1613, Plancius | unicorn |
| Musca /ˈmʌskə/ |
Mus | Musc | Muscae /ˈmʌsi/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | fly |
| Norma /nɔrˈmə/ |
Nor | Norm | Normae /nɔrˈmi/ |
1763, Lacaille | carpenter's rule and square |
| Octans /ˈɒktænz/ |
Oct | Octn | Octantis /ɒkˈtæntɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | mariner's octant |
| Ophiuchus /ˌoʊfiːˈuːkəs/ |
Oph | Ophi | Ophiuchi /ˌoʊfiːˈuːkaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | serpent-holder |
| Orion /ɒˈraɪən/ |
Ori | Orio | Orionis /ˌɔəriˈoʊnɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Orion (mythological character) |
| Pavo /ˈpeɪvoʊ/ |
Pav | Pavo | Pavonis /pəˈvoʊnɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | peacock |
| Pegasus /ˈpɛgəsəs/ |
Peg | Pegs | Pegasi /ˈpɛgəsaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Pegasus (mythological winged horse) |
| Perseus /ˈpɝsius, ˈpɝsiəs/ |
Per | Pers | Persei /ˈpɝsiaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Perseus (mythological character) |
| Phoenix /ˈfiːnɨks/ |
Phe | Phoe | Phoenicis /fɨˈnaɪsɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | phoenix |
| Pictor /ˈpɪktɚ/ |
Pic | Pict | Pictoris /pɪkˈtɔərɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | painter's easel |
| Pisces /ˈpaɪsiz/ |
Psc | Pisc | Piscium /ˈpɪʃiəm/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | fishes |
| Piscis Austrinus /ˈpaɪsɨsʔɔːˈstraɪnəs/ |
PsA | PscA | Piscis Austrini /ˈpaɪsɨsʔːɔːˈstraɪnaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | southern fish |
| Puppis /ˈpʌpɨs/ |
Pup | Pupp | Puppis /ˈpʌpɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | poop deck |
| Pyxis /ˈpɪksɨs/ |
Pyx | Pyxi | Pyxidis /ˈpɪksədɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | ship's compass |
| Reticulum /rɨˈtɪkjʊləm/ |
Ret | Reti | Reticuli /rɨˈtɪkjʊlaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | eyepiece graticule |
| Sagitta /səˈdʒɪtə/ |
Sge | Sgte | Sagittae /səˈdʒɪti/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | arrow |
| Sagittarius /ˌsædʒɨˈtɛəriəs/ |
Sgr | Sgtr | Sagittarii /ˌsædʒəˈtɛəriaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | archer |
| Scorpius /ˈskɔrpiəs/ |
Sco | Scor | Scorpii /ˈskɔrpiaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | scorpion |
| Sculptor /ˈskʌlptɚ/ |
Scl | Scul | Sculptoris /skəlpˈtɒrɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | sculptor's workshop |
| Scutum /ˈskjutəm/ |
Sct | Scut | Scuti /ˈskjutaɪ/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | shield (of Sobieski) |
| Serpens[6] /ˈsɝpɛnz/ |
Ser | Serp | Serpentis /sɚˈpɛntɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | snake |
| Sextans /ˈsɛkstænz/ |
Sex | Sext | Sextantis /sɛkˈstæntɨs/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | astronomical sextant |
| Taurus /ˈtɔːrəs/ |
Tau | Taur | Tauri /ˈtɔːraɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | bull |
| Telescopium /ˌtɛlɨˈskoʊpiəm/ |
Tel | Tele | Telescopii /ˌtɛlɨˈskoʊpiaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | telescope |
| Triangulum /traɪˈæŋgjʊləm/ |
Tri | Tria | Trianguli /traɪˈæŋgjʊlaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | triangle |
| Triangulum Australe /traɪˈæŋgjʊləmʔɔːˈstreɪli/ |
TrA | TrAu | Trianguli Australis /traɪˈæŋgjʊlaɪʔɔːˈstreɪlɨs/ |
1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | southern triangle |
| Tucana /tjʊˈkeɪnə/ |
Tuc | Tucn | Tucanae /tjʊˈkeɪni/ |
1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | toucan |
| Ursa Major /ˌɝsəˈmeɪdʒɚ/ |
UMa | UMaj | Ursae Majoris /ˌɝsiməˈdʒɒrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Great Bear |
| Ursa Minor /ˌɝsəˈmaɪnɚ/ |
UMi | UMin | Ursae Minoris /ˌɝsimɨˈnɒrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Lesser Bear |
| Vela /ˈviːlə/ |
Vel | Velr | Velorum /vɨˈlɔərəm/ |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | sails |
| Virgo /ˈvɝgoʊ/ |
Vir | Virg | Virginis /ˈvɝdʒənɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | virgin |
| Volans /ˈvoʊlænz/ |
Vol | Voln | Volantis /vɒˈlæntɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | flying fish |
| Vulpecula /vəlˈpɛkjʊlə/ |
Vul | Vulp | Vulpeculae /vəlˈpɛkjʊli/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | fox |
- Notes
- ^ 'Quad' designates the quadrant of the sky where N for North is associated to a positive Declination, and S for South for a negative one. Quadrants refer to 6 hours arcs, so that NQ1 refers to North quadrant constellations having midpoints between 00h R.A. and 06h R.A.
- ^ IAU Website: CONSTELLATIONS
- ^ NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use - table V, Constellations
- ^ 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" (genitive: Coronae Austrinae)
- ^ Serpens may be divided into Serpens Cauda and Serpens Caput
[edit] 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.
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[edit] 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.
