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).[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[2] and published in 1930.[3]

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.[4] 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][3] When astronomers say that an object lies in a particular constellation, they mean that it is positioned within these specified boundaries.

History

Main articles: History of the constellations and 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.[5]

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).[6]

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.[7] 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[8] NASA[9] Name Vis. mag.
Andromeda
/ænˈdrɒmɪdə/[10]		 And Andr Andromedae ancient (Ptolemy) Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess) Alpheratz 2.06
Antlia
/ˈæntliə/[10]		 Ant Antl Antliae 1756, Lacaille air pump α Antliae 4.25
Apus
/ˈeɪpəs/[11]		 Aps Apus Apodis
/ˈæpoʊdɪs/[11]		 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird α Apodis 3.83
Aquarius
/əˈkwɛəriəs/[10]		 Aqr Aqar Aquarii ancient (Ptolemy) water-bearer Sadalsuud 2.87
Aquila
/ˈækwɪlə/[10]		 Aql Aqil Aquilae ancient (Ptolemy) eagle Altair 0.76
Ara
/ˈɛərə/[11]		 Ara Arae Arae
/ˈɛəriː/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) altar β Arae 2.84
Aries
/ˈɛər(i)iːz/[10][11]		 Ari Arie Arietis
/əˈraɪ.ɪtɪs/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) ram Hamal 2.00
Auriga
/ɔːˈraɪɡə/[10][11]		 Aur Auri Aurigae
/ɔːˈraɪdʒiː/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) charioteer Capella 0.08
Boötes
/boʊˈoʊtiːz/[10]		 Boo Boot Boötis ancient (Ptolemy) herdsman Arcturus -0.05
Caelum
/ˈsiːləm/[11]		 Cae Cael Caeli
/ˈsiːlaɪ/[11]		 1756, Lacaille chisel or engraving tool α Caeli 4.46
Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛloʊˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[11]		 Cam Caml Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛloʊˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[11]		 1613, Plancius[b] giraffe β Camelo­pardalis 4.02
Cancer
/ˈkænsər/[10]		 Cnc Canc Cancri ancient (Ptolemy) crab β Cancri 3.52
Canes Venatici
/ˈkeɪniːz vɪˈnætɪsaɪ/[11]		 CVn CVen Canum Venaticorum 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius hunting dogs Cor Caroli 2.81
Canis Major
/ˈkeɪnɪs ˈmeɪdʒər/[11]		 CMa CMaj Canis Majoris ancient (Ptolemy) greater dog Sirius -1.46
Canis Minor
/ˈkeɪnɪs ˈmaɪnər/[11]		 CMi CMin Canis Minoris ancient (Ptolemy) lesser dog Procyon 0.34
Capricornus
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnəs/[11]		 Cap Capr Capricorni
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnaɪ/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) sea goat Deneb Algedi 2.83
Carina
/kəˈraɪnə/[10]		 Car Cari Carinae ancient (Ptolemy); 1756, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis keel Canopus -0.74
Cassiopeia
/ˌkæsioʊˈpiːə/[10][11]		 Cas Cass Cassiopeiae
/ˌkæsioʊˈpiːiː/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) Cassiopeia (mythological character) Schedar 2.24
Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔːrəs/[10]		 Cen Cent Centauri ancient (Ptolemy) centaur Alpha Centauri -0.27
Cepheus
/ˈsiːfiəs/[11]		 Cep Ceph Cephei
/ˈsiːfiaɪ/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) Cepheus (mythological character) Alderamin 2.46
Cetus
/ˈsiːtəs/[11]		 Cet Ceti Ceti
/ˈsiːtaɪ/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) Diphda 2.02
Chamaeleon
/kəˈmiːliən/[10]		 Cha Cham Chamaeleontis 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] chameleon α Chamae­leontis 4.06
Circinus
/ˈsɜːrsɪnəs/[10]		 Cir Circ Circini 1756, Lacaille compasses α Circini 3.19
Columba
/koʊˈlʌmbə/[10]		 Col Colm Columbae 1592, Plancius,[b] split from Canis Major dove Phact 2.65
Coma Berenices
/ˈkoʊmə bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/[11]		 Com Coma Comae Berenices
/ˈkoʊmiː bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy); 1536, Caspar Vopel,[12] split from Leo Berenice's hair β Comae Berenices 4.26
Corona Australis
/koʊˈroʊnə ɔːˈstrælɪs, -ˈstreɪ-/[10][11]		 CrA CorA Coronae Australis ancient (Ptolemy) southern crown α Coronae Australis 4.10
Corona Borealis
/koʊˈroʊnə ˌbɔːriˈælɪs, -ˈeɪlɪs/[10][11]		 CrB CorB Coronae Borealis ancient (Ptolemy) northern crown Alphecca 2.24
Corvus
/ˈkɔːrvəs/[10]		 Crv Corv Corvi ancient (Ptolemy) crow Gienah 2.59
Crater
/ˈkreɪtər/[10]		 Crt Crat Crateris ancient (Ptolemy) cup δ Crateris 3.56
Crux
/ˈkrʌks/[10]		 Cru Cruc Crucis 1589, Plancius, split from Centaurus southern cross Acrux 0.76
Cygnus
/ˈsɪɡnəs/[10]		 Cyg Cygn Cygni ancient (Ptolemy) swan or Northern Cross Deneb 1.25
Delphinus
/dɛlˈfaɪnəs/[10]		 Del Dlph Delphini ancient (Ptolemy) dolphin β Delphini 3.62
Dorado
/dəˈrɑːdoʊ/[13]		 Dor Dora Doradus 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] dolphinfish α Doradus 3.28
Draco
/ˈdreɪkoʊ/[11]		 Dra Drac Draconis
/drəˈkoʊnɪs/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) dragon Eltanin 2.23
Equuleus
/ɪˈkwuːliəs/[11]		 Equ Equl Equulei
/ɪˈkwuːliaɪ/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) pony α Equulei 3.92
Eridanus
/ɪˈrɪdənəs/[11]		 Eri Erid Eridani
/ɪˈrɪdənaɪ/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) river Eridanus (mythology) Achernar 0.46
Fornax
/ˈfɔːrnæks/		 For Forn Fornacis 1756, Lacaille chemical furnace α Fornacis 3.85
Gemini
/ˈdʒɛmɪnaɪ/[10]		 Gem Gemi Geminorum ancient (Ptolemy) twins Pollux 1.14
Grus
/ˈɡrʌs/[11]		 Gru Grus Gruis
/ˈɡruːɪs/[11]		 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] crane Alnair 1.74
Hercules
/ˈhɜːrkjʊliːz/[11]		 Her Herc Herculis ancient (Ptolemy) Hercules (mythological character) Korne­phoros 2.81
Horologium
/ˌhɒrəˈlɒdʒiəm, -ˈloʊ-/[10][11]		 Hor Horo Horologii 1756, Lacaille pendulum clock α Horologii 3.85
Hydra
/ˈhaɪdrə/[10]		 Hya Hyda Hydrae ancient (Ptolemy) Hydra (mythological creature) Alphard 2.00
Hydrus
/ˈhaɪdrəs/[10]		 Hyi Hydi Hydri 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] lesser water snake β Hydri 2.80
Indus
/ˈɪndəs/[10]		 Ind Indi Indi 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] Indian (of unspecified type) α Indi 3.11
Lacerta
/ləˈsɜːrtə/[10]		 Lac Lacr Lacertae 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lizard α Lacertae 3.76
Leo
/ˈliːoʊ/[10]		 Leo Leon Leonis ancient (Ptolemy) lion Regulus 1.35
Leo Minor
/ˈliːoʊ ˈmaɪnər/[10]		 LMi LMin Leonis Minoris 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lesser lion 46 Leonis Minoris 3.83
Lepus
/ˈliːpəs/[11]		 Lep Leps Leporis
/ˈlɛpərɪs/[10][11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) hare Arneb 2.59
Libra
/ˈlaɪbrə, ˈliː-/[10]		 Lib Libr Librae ancient (Ptolemy) balance Zuben­eschemali 2.61
Lupus
/ˈljuːpəs/[10]		 Lup Lupi Lupi ancient (Ptolemy) wolf α Lupi 2.30
Lynx
/ˈlɪŋks/[10]		 Lyn Lync Lyncis 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lynx α Lyncis 3.14
Lyra
/ˈlaɪrə/[10]		 Lyr Lyra Lyrae ancient (Ptolemy) lyre / harp Vega 0.02
Mensa
/ˈmɛnsə/[10]		 Men Mens Mensae 1756, Lacaille, as Mons Mensæ Table Mountain (South Africa) α Mensae 5.09
Microscopium
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈskɒpiəm/		 Mic Micr Microscopii 1756, Lacaille microscope γ Microscopii 4.68
Monoceros
/məˈnɒsɪrəs/[10][11]		 Mon Mono Monocerotis 1613, Plancius[b] unicorn β Monocerotis 3.74
Musca
/ˈmʌskə/[11]		 Mus Musc Muscae
/ˈmʌsiː/[10][11]		 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] fly α Muscae 2.69
Norma
/ˈnɔːrmə/[10]		 Nor Norm Normae
/ˈnɔːrmiː/[10]		 1756, Lacaille carpenter's level γ2 Normae 4.02
Octans
/ˈɒktænz/[11]		 Oct Octn Octantis
/ɒkˈtæntɪs/[11]		 1756, Lacaille octant (instrument) ν Octantis 3.73
Ophiuchus
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/[10]		 Oph Ophi Ophiuchi ancient (Ptolemy) serpent-bearer Rasalhague 2.07
Orion
/oʊˈraɪən/[10]		 Ori Orio Orionis
/oʊˈraɪənɪs, ˌɒriˈoʊnɪs/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) Orion (mythological character) Rigel 0.13
Pavo
/ˈpeɪvoʊ/[10][11]		 Pav Pavo Pavonis
/pəˈvoʊnɪs/[11]		 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] peacock Peacock 1.94
Pegasus
/ˈpɛɡəsəs/[10]		 Peg Pegs Pegasi ancient (Ptolemy) Pegasus (mythological winged horse) Enif 2.40
Perseus
/ˈpɜːrsiəs/[11]		 Per Pers Persei
/ˈpɜːrsiaɪ/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) Perseus (mythological character) Mirfak 1.82
Phoenix
/ˈfiːnɪks/[10]		 Phe Phoe Phoenicis
/fɪˈnaɪsɪs/		 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] phoenix Ankaa 2.38
Pictor
/ˈpɪktər/[11]		 Pic Pict Pictoris
/pɪkˈtɔːrɪs/[11]		 1756, Lacaille, as Equuleus Pictoris easel α Pictoris 3.27
Pisces
/ˈpaɪsiːz, ˈpɪ-/[10][11]		 Psc Pisc Piscium
/ˈpɪʃiəm/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy) fishes Alpherg 3.61
Piscis Austrinus
/ˈpaɪsɪs ɔːˈstraɪnəs/		 PsA PscA Piscis Austrini ancient (Ptolemy) southern fish Fomalhaut 1.16
Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/[11]		 Pup Pupp Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/[11]		 ancient (Ptolemy); 1756, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis poop deck Naos 2.25
Pyxis
/ˈpɪksɪs/[10]		 Pyx Pyxi Pyxidis 1756, Lacaille mariner's compass α Pyxidis 3.67
Reticulum
/rɪˈtɪkjʊləm/[10]		 Ret Reti Reticuli 1756, Lacaille eyepiece graticule α Reticuli 3.32
Sagitta
/səˈdʒɪtə/[10]		 Sge Sgte Sagittae ancient (Ptolemy) arrow γ Sagittae 3.47
Sagittarius
/sædʒɪˈtɛəriəs/[10]		 Sgr Sgtr Sagittarii ancient (Ptolemy) archer Kaus Australis 1.85
Scorpius
/ˈskɔːrpiəs/[10]		 Sco Scor Scorpii ancient (Ptolemy) scorpion Antares 0.91
Sculptor
/ˈskʌlptər/[10]		 Scl Scul Sculptoris 1756, Lacaille sculptor α Sculptoris 4.30
Scutum
/ˈskjuːtəm/[10]		 Sct Scut Scuti 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius shield (of Sobieski) α Scuti 3.83
Serpens[14]
/ˈsɜːrpɛnz/		 Ser Serp Serpentis ancient (Ptolemy) snake Unukalhai 2.62
Sextans
/ˈsɛkstənz/[11]		 Sex Sext Sextantis
/sɛksˈtæntɪs/[11]		 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius sextant α Sextantis 4.49
Taurus
/ˈtɔːrəs/[10]		 Tau Taur Tauri ancient (Ptolemy) bull Aldebaran 0.86
Telescopium
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiəm/		 Tel Tele Telescopii 1756, Lacaille telescope α Telescopii 3.51
Triangulum
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm/		 Tri Tria Trianguli ancient (Ptolemy) triangle β Trianguli 3.00
Triangulum Australe
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræliː, -ˈstreɪ-/		 TrA TrAu Trianguli Australis 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] southern triangle Atria 1.91
Tucana
/tjuːˈkeɪnə/		 Tuc Tucn Tucanae 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman[a] toucan α Tucanae 2.86
Ursa Major
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmeɪdʒər/[10]		 UMa UMaj Ursae Majoris ancient (Ptolemy) great bear Alioth 1.77
Ursa Minor
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmaɪnər/[10]		 UMi UMin Ursae Minoris ancient (Ptolemy) lesser bear Polaris 1.98
Vela
/ˈviːlə/[10]		 Vel Velr Velorum
/vɪˈloʊrəm/		 ancient (Ptolemy); 1756, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis sails γ Velorum 1.83
Virgo
/ˈvɜːrɡoʊ/[10]		 Vir Virg Virginis ancient (Ptolemy) virgin or maiden Spica 0.97
Volans
/ˈvoʊlænz/[11]		 Vol Voln Volantis
/voʊˈlæntɪs/[11]		 1598, Plancius, Keyser, de Houtman,[a] as Piscis Volans flying fish γ2 Volantis 3.75
Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/[10]		 Vul Vulp Vulpeculae 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius, as Vulpecula cum Ansere fox α Vulpeculae 4.40

Asterisms

Main article: Asterism (astronomy)

Various other unofficial patterns exist alongside the constellations. These are known as "asterisms". Some are part of one larger constellation while others consists of stars in two adjoining constellations. Examples include the Big Dipper/Plough in Ursa Major; the Teapot in Sagittarius; the Square of Pegasus in Pegasus and Andromeda; and the False Cross in Carina and Vela.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l With the exception of Triangulum Australe (which was mentioned but not precisely charted earlier), these southern constellations first appeared on a globe engraved by Jodocus Hondius and published by Petrus Plancius in 1598. The constellations were based on observations by Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman, who were commissioned by Plancius to chart the southern sky on a voyage to what is now Indonesia. It is no longer clear who formed the observations into the constellations shown on the globe, and modern authors generally give credit to some combination of Kaiser, de Houtmann, and Plancius. The constellations are also widely but incorrectly attributed to Johann Bayer, since they first became widely known from his star atlas Uranometria, published in 1603.
  2. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  2. ^ Paul Stroobant, "(3) Commission des notations, des unités et de l'économie des publications", in: F.J.M. Stratton (ed.), Transactions of the International Astronomical Union: Vol. III. Third General Assembly held at Leiden, July 5 to July 13, 1928 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1929), pp. 17, 223 & 299.
  3. ^ a b Eugène Delporte; International Astronomical Union (1930). Délimitation scientifique des constellations (PDF). At the University press.
  4. ^ Paul Stroobant, "Meetings of Standing Committees: (3) Notations", in: A. Fowler (ed.), Transactions of the International Astronomical Union: Vol. I. First General Assembly held at Rome, May 2nd to May 10th, 1922 (London: Imperial College Bookstall, 1922), pp. 158 & 207.
  5. ^ "Argo Navis". Ian Ridpath’s Star Tales. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  6. ^ Russell, Henry Norris (1922). "The New International Symbols for the Constellations". Popular Astronomy. 30: 469. Bibcode:1922PA.....30..469R.
  7. ^ "Constellations". Ian Ridpath. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  8. ^ "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  9. ^ NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use – table V, Constellations
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf OED, 2nd edition
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg Random House Dictionary
  12. ^ "Comae Berenices". Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Definition of dorado". Collins English Dictionary. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  14. ^ 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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