Constellations

▪ Table

Constellations

name genitive form meaning remarks*

Constellations described by Ptolemy: the zodiac

Aries Arietis Ram

Taurus Tauri Bull Aldebaran; Pleiades, M1 (Crab Nebula)

Gemini Geminorum Twins Castor, Pollux

Cancer Cancri Crab Praesepe (star cluster)

Leo Leonis Lion Regulus

Virgo Virginis Virgin Spica; Virgo cluster of galaxies

Libra Librae Balance

Scorpius Scorpii Scorpion Antares; many star clusters

Sagittarius Sagittarii Archer Galactic centre; many star clusters

Capricornus Capricorni Sea-goat

Aquarius Aquarii Water-bearer

Pisces Piscium Fishes

Other Ptolemaic constellations

Andromeda Andromedae Andromeda (Princess) M31 (Andromeda Galaxy)

Aquila Aquilae Eagle Altair

Ara Arae Altar

Argo Navis Argus Navis Ship Argo now divided into Carina, Puppis, Pyxis, and Vela

Auriga Aurigae Charioteer Capella; M36, M37, M38 (open star clusters)

Boötes Boötis Herdsman Arcturus

Canis Major Canis Majoris Greater Dog Sirius (brightest star)

Canis Minor Canis Minoris Smaller Dog Procyon

Cassiopeia Cassiopeiae Cassiopeia (Queen) Tycho's nova, 1572 (visible in daytime)

Centaurus Centauri Centaur Alpha Centauri (nearest star to Sun), Beta

Cepheus Cephei Cepheus (King) Delta Cephei (prototype for Cepheid variables)

Cetus Ceti Whale Mira (first recognized variable star)

Corona Austrina Coronae Austrinae Southern Crown

Corona Borealis Coronae Borealis Northern Crown

Corvus Corvi Raven

Crater Crateris Cup

Cygnus Cygni Swan "Northern Cross"; Deneb

Delphinus Delphini Dolphin "Job's Coffin"

Draco Draconis Dragon Thuban (polestar in 3000 BC)

Equuleus Equulei Little Horse

Eridanus Eridani River Eridanus or river god Achernar

Hercules Herculis Hercules (Greek hero) M13 (globular star cluster)

Hydra Hydrae Water Snake

Lepus Leporis Hare

Lupus Lupi Wolf

Lyra Lyrae Lyre Vega; M57 (Ring Nebula)

Ophiuchus Ophiuchi Serpent-bearer

Orion Orionis Hunter Rigel, Betelgeuse; M42 (Orion Nebula)

Pegasus Pegasi Pegasus (winged horse) "Great Square"

Perseus Persei Perseus (Greek hero)

Piscis Austrinus Piscis Austrini Southern Fish Fomalhaut

Sagitta Sagittae Arrow

Serpens Serpentis Serpent

Triangulum Trianguli Triangle M33 (nearby spiral galaxy)

Ursa Major Ursae Majoris Great Bear seven brightest stars are Big Dipper or Plough

Ursa Minor Ursae Minoris Lesser Bear Polaris (the north polestar)

Southern constellations, added c. 1600

Apus Apodis Bird of Paradise

Chamaeleon Chamaeleontis Chameleon

Dorado Doradus Swordfish Large Magellanic Cloud

Grus Gruis Crane

Hydrus Hydri Water Snake

Indus Indi Indian

Musca Muscae Fly

Pavo Pavonis Peacock

Phoenix Phoenicis Phoenix (mythical bird)

Triangulum Australe Trianguli Australis Southern Triangle

Tucana Tucanae Toucan Small Magellanic Cloud

Volans Volantis Flying Fish

Constellations of Bartsch, 1624

Camelopardalis Camelopardalis Giraffe

Columba Columbae Dove constellation formed by Plancius, 1605

Monoceros Monocerotis Unicorn

Constellations of Hevelius, 1687

Canes Venatici Canum Venaticorum Hunting Dogs M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy)

Lacerta Lacertae Lizard

Leo Minor Leonis Minoris Lesser Lion

Lynx Lyncis Lynx

Scutum Scuti Shield

Sextans Sextantis Sextant

Vulpecula Vulpeculae Fox M27 (Dumbbell Nebula)

Ancient asterisms now separate constellations

Carina Carinae Keel [of Argo] Canopus

Coma Berenices Comae Berenices Berenice's Hair Coma (star cluster); north galactic pole

Crux Crucis [Southern] Cross Acrux, Becrux

Puppis Puppis Stern [of Argo]

Pyxis Pyxidis Compass [of Argo]

Vela Velorum Sails [of Argo]

Southern constellations of Lacaille, c. 1750

Antlia Antliae Pump

Caelum Caeli [Sculptor's] Chisel

Circinus Circini Drawing Compasses

Fornax Fornacis [Chemical] Furnace

Horologium Horologii Clock

Mensa Mensae Table [Mountain]

Microscopium Microscopii Microscope

Norma Normae Square

Octans Octantis Octant south celestial pole

Pictor Pictoris Painter's [Easel]

Reticulum Reticuli Reticle

Sculptor Sculptoris Sculptor's [Workshop] south galactic pole

Telescopium Telescopii Telescope

*First-magnitude stars are given in italics.

See as table:

* * *