IAU designated constellations
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 they cover the entire celestial sphere, with their boundaries adopted officially by the International Astronomical Union in 1928 and published in 1930.[2]
The ancient Sumerians, and later the Greeks (as recorded by Ptolemy), established most of the northern constellations in international use today. 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. 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.
Modern constellations
The 88 constellations depict 42 animals, 29 inanimate objects and 17 humans or mythological characters.
Abbreviations
Each IAU constellation has an official 3-letter abbreviation based on the genitive form of the constellation name. The majority of the abbreviations are just the first three letters of the constellation name, with the first character capitalised: Ori for Orion, Ara for Ara/Arae, Com for Coma Berenices. In some cases, the abbreviation is from the genitive form without appearing in the base name (as in Sge for Sagitta/Sagittae, to avoid confusion with Sagittarius, abbreviated Sgr). In other cases, to unambiguously identify the constellation, such as where the name and its genitive differ in the first three letters, other letters beyond the initial three are used: 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]
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[4] | NASA[5] | |||||
| Andromeda /ænˈdrɒmɪdə/[6] | And | Andr | Andromedae /ænˈdrɒmɪdiː/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess) | Alpheratz |
| Antlia /ˈæntliə/[6] | Ant | Antl | Antliae /ˈæntliiː/ | 1763, Lacaille | air pump | α Antliae |
| Apus /ˈeɪpəs/[7] | Aps | Apus | Apodis /ˈæpoʊdɪs/[7] | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird | α Apodis |
| Aquarius /əˈkwɛəriəs/[6] | Aqr | Aqar | Aquarii /əˈkwɛəriaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | water-bearer | Sadalsuud |
| Aquila /ˈækwɪlə/[6] | Aql | Aqil | Aquilae /ˈækwɪliː/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | eagle | Altair |
| Ara /ˈɛərə/[7] | Ara | Arae | Arae /ˈɛəriː/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | altar | β Arae |
| Aries /ˈɛər(i)iːz/[6][7] | Ari | Arie | Arietis /əˈraɪ.ɪtɪs/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | ram | Hamal |
| Auriga /ɔːˈraɪɡə/[6][7] | Aur | Auri | Aurigae /ɔːˈraɪdʒiː/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | charioteer | Capella |
| Boötes /boʊˈoʊtiːz/[6] | Boo | Boot | Boötis /boʊˈoʊtɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | herdsman | Arcturus |
| Caelum /ˈsiːləm/[7] | Cae | Cael | Caeli /ˈsiːlaɪ/[7] | 1763, Lacaille | chisel or graving tool | α Caeli |
| Camelopardalis /kəˌmɛloʊˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[7] | Cam | Caml | Camelopardalis /kəˌmɛloʊˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[7] | 1613, Plancius[note 1] | giraffe | β Camelopardalis |
| Cancer /ˈkænsər/[6] | Cnc | Canc | Cancri /ˈkæŋkraɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | crab | Tarf[8] |
| Canes Venatici /ˈkeɪniːz vɪˈnætɪsaɪ/[7] | CVn | CVen | Canum Venaticorum /ˈkeɪnəm vɪnætɪˈkɒrəm/ | 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | hunting dogs | Cor Caroli |
| Canis Major /ˈkeɪnɪs ˈmeɪdʒər/[7] | CMa | CMaj | Canis Majoris /ˈkeɪnɪs məˈdʒɒrɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | greater dog | Sirius |
| Canis Minor /ˈkeɪnɪs ˈmaɪnər/[7] | CMi | CMin | Canis Minoris /ˈkeɪnɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | lesser dog | Procyon |
| Capricornus /ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnəs/[7] | Cap | Capr | Capricorni /ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnaɪ/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | sea goat | Deneb Algedi |
| Carina /kəˈraɪnə/[6] | Car | Cari | Carinae /kəˈraɪniː/ | 1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | keel | Canopus |
| Cassiopeia /ˌkæsioʊˈpiːə/[6][7] | Cas | Cass | Cassiopeiae /ˌkæsioʊˈpiːiː/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | Cassiopeia (mythological character) | Schedar[8] |
| Centaurus /sɛnˈtɔːrəs/[6] | Cen | Cent | Centauri /sɛnˈtɔːraɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | centaur | Rigil Kentaurus[8] |
| Cepheus /ˈsiːfiəs, -fjuːs/[7] | Cep | Ceph | Cephei /ˈsiːfiaɪ/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | Cepheus (mythological character) | Alderamin |
| Cetus /ˈsiːtəs/[7] | Cet | Ceti | Ceti /ˈsiːtaɪ/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) | Diphda[8] |
| Chamaeleon /kəˈmiːliən/[6] | Cha | Cham | Chamaeleontis /kəˌmiːliˈɒntɪs/ | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | chameleon | α Chamaeleontis |
| Circinus /ˈsɜːrsɪnəs/[6] | Cir | Circ | Circini /ˈsɜːrsɪnaɪ/ | 1763, Lacaille | compasses | α Circini |
| Columba /koʊˈlʌmbə/[6] | Col | Colm | Columbae /koʊˈlʌmbiː/ | 1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major | dove | Phact |
| Coma Berenices /ˈkoʊmə bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/[7] | Com | Coma | Comae Berenices /ˈkoʊmiː bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/[7] | 1536, Caspar Vopel,[9] split from Leo | Berenice's hair | β Comae Berenices |
| Corona Australis /koʊˈroʊnə ɔːˈstrælɪs, -ˈstreɪ-/[6][7] | CrA | CorA | Coronae Australis /koʊˈroʊniː ɔːˈstrælɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | southern crown | Meridiana[8] |
| Corona Borealis /koʊˈroʊnə ˌbɔːriˈælɪs, -ˈeɪlɪs/[6][7] | CrB | CorB | Coronae Borealis /koʊˈroʊniː bɔːriˈælɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | northern crown | Alphecca |
| Corvus /ˈkɔːrvəs/[6] | Crv | Corv | Corvi /ˈkɔːrvaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | crow | Gienah |
| Crater /ˈkreɪtər/[6] | Crt | Crat | Crateris /krəˈtɪərɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | cup | δ Crateris |
| Crux /ˈkrʌks/[6] | Cru | Cruc | Crucis /ˈkruːsɪs/ | 1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus | southern cross | Acrux |
| Cygnus /ˈsɪɡnəs/[6] | Cyg | Cygn | Cygni /ˈsɪɡnaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | swan or Northern Cross | Deneb |
| Delphinus /dɛlˈfaɪnəs/[6] | Del | Dlph | Delphini /dɛlˈfaɪnaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | dolphin | Rotanev |
| Dorado /dəˈrɑːdoʊ/[10] | Dor | Dora | Doradus /dəˈreɪdəs/ | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | dolphinfish | α Doradus |
| Draco /ˈdreɪkoʊ/[7] | Dra | Drac | Draconis /drəˈkoʊnɪs/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | dragon | Eltanin[8] |
| Equuleus /ɪˈkwuːliəs/[7] | Equ | Equl | Equulei /ɪˈkwuːliaɪ/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | pony | Kitalpha |
| Eridanus /ɪˈrɪdənəs/[7] | Eri | Erid | Eridani /ɪˈrɪdənaɪ/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | river Eridanus (mythology) | Achernar |
| Fornax /ˈfɔːrnæks/ | For | Forn | Fornacis /fɔːrˈneɪsɪs/ | 1763, Lacaille | chemical furnace | Dalim[8] |
| Gemini /ˈdʒɛmɪnaɪ/[6] | Gem | Gemi | Geminorum /ˌdʒɛmɪˈnɒrəm/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | twins | Pollux |
| Grus /ˈɡrʌs/[7] | Gru | Grus | Gruis /ˈɡruːɪs/[7] | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | crane | Alnair |
| Hercules /ˈhɜːrkjʊliːz/[7] | Her | Herc | Herculis /ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | Hercules (mythological character) | Kornephoros |
| Horologium /ˌhɒrəˈlɒdʒiəm, -ˈloʊ-/[6][7] | Hor | Horo | Horologii /ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiaɪ/ | 1763, Lacaille | pendulum clock | α Horologii |
| Hydra /ˈhaɪdrə/[6] | Hya | Hyda | Hydrae /ˈhaɪdriː/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | Hydra (mythological creature) | Alphard |
| Hydrus /ˈhaɪdrəs/[6] | Hyi | Hydi | Hydri /ˈhaɪdraɪ/ | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | lesser water snake | β Hydri |
| Indus /ˈɪndəs/[6] | Ind | Indi | Indi /ˈɪndaɪ/ | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | Indian (of unspecified type) | α Indi |
| Lacerta /ləˈsɜːrtə/[6] | Lac | Lacr | Lacertae /ləˈsɜːrtiː/ | 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lizard | α Lacertae |
| Leo /ˈliːoʊ/[6] | Leo | Leon | Leonis /liːˈoʊnɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | lion | Regulus |
| Leo Minor /ˈliːoʊ ˈmaɪnər/[6] | LMi | LMin | Leonis Minoris /liːˈoʊnɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/ | 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lesser lion | Praecipua |
| Lepus /ˈliːpəs/[7] | Lep | Leps | Leporis /ˈlɛpərɪs/[6][7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | hare | Arneb |
| Libra /ˈlaɪbrə, ˈliː-/[6] | Lib | Libr | Librae /ˈlaɪbriː/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | balance | Zubeneschamali[8] |
| Lupus /ˈljuːpəs/[6] | Lup | Lupi | Lupi /ˈljuːpaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | wolf | α Lupi |
| Lynx /ˈlɪŋks/[6] | Lyn | Lync | Lyncis /ˈlɪnsɪs/ | 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lynx | α Lyncis |
| Lyra /ˈlaɪrə/[6] | Lyr | Lyra | Lyrae /ˈlaɪriː/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | lyre / harp | Vega |
| Mensa /ˈmɛnsə/[6] | Men | Mens | Mensae /ˈmɛnsiː/ | 1763, Lacaille | Table Mountain (South Africa) | α Mensae |
| Microscopium /ˌmaɪkroʊˈskoʊpiəm/ | Mic | Micr | Microscopii /ˌmaɪkroʊˈskoʊpiaɪ/ | 1763, Lacaille | microscope | γ Microscopii |
| Monoceros /məˈnɒsɪrəs/[6][7] | Mon | Mono | Monocerotis /ˌmɒnəsɪˈroʊtɪs/ | 1613, Plancius | unicorn | β Monocerotis |
| Musca /ˈmʌskə/[7] | Mus | Musc | Muscae /ˈmʌsiː/[6][7] | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | fly | α Muscae |
| Norma /ˈnɔːrmə/[6] | Nor | Norm | Normae /ˈnɔːrmiː/[6] | 1763, Lacaille | carpenter's level | γ2 Normae |
| Octans /ˈɒktænz/[7] | Oct | Octn | Octantis /ɒkˈtæntɪs/[7] | 1763, Lacaille | octant (instrument) | ν Octantis |
| Ophiuchus /ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/[6] | Oph | Ophi | Ophiuchi /ˌɒfiˈjuːkaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | serpent-bearer | Rasalhague |
| Orion /oʊˈraɪən/[6] | Ori | Orio | Orionis /oʊˈraɪənɪs, ˌɒriˈoʊnɪs/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | Orion (mythological character) | Rigel |
| Pavo /ˈpeɪvoʊ/[6][7] | Pav | Pavo | Pavonis /pəˈvoʊnɪs/[7] | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | peacock | Peacock |
| Pegasus /ˈpɛɡəsəs/[6] | Peg | Pegs | Pegasi /ˈpɛɡəsaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | Pegasus (mythological winged horse) | Enif |
| Perseus /ˈpɜːrsiəs, -sjuːs/[7] | Per | Pers | Persei /ˈpɜːrsiaɪ/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | Perseus (mythological character) | Mirfak |
| Phoenix /ˈfiːnɪks/[6] | Phe | Phoe | Phoenicis /fɪˈnaɪsɪs/ | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | phoenix | Ankaa |
| Pictor /ˈpɪktər/[7] | Pic | Pict | Pictoris /pɪkˈtɔːrɪs/[7] | 1763, Lacaille | easel | α Pictoris |
| Pisces /ˈpaɪsiːz, ˈpɪ-/[6][7] | Psc | Pisc | Piscium /ˈpɪʃiəm/[7] | ancient (Ptolemy) | fishes | Alpherg |
| Piscis Austrinus /ˈpaɪsɪs ɔːˈstraɪnəs/ | PsA | PscA | Piscis Austrini /ˈpaɪsɪs ɔːˈstraɪnaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | southern fish | Fomalhaut |
| Puppis /ˈpʌpɪs/[7] | Pup | Pupp | Puppis /ˈpʌpɪs/[7] | 1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | poop deck | Naos |
| Pyxis /ˈpɪksɪs/[6] | Pyx | Pyxi | Pyxidis /ˈpɪksɪdɪs/ | 1763, Lacaille | mariner's compass | α Pyxidis |
| Reticulum /rɪˈtɪkjʊləm/[6] | Ret | Reti | Reticuli /rɪˈtɪkjʊlaɪ/ | 1763, Lacaille | eyepiece graticule | α Reticuli |
| Sagitta /səˈdʒɪtə/[6] | Sge | Sgte | Sagittae /səˈdʒɪtiː/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | arrow | γ Sagittae |
| Sagittarius /sædʒɪˈtɛəriəs/[6] | Sgr | Sgtr | Sagittarii /ˌsædʒəˈtɛəriaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | archer | Kaus Australis |
| Scorpius /ˈskɔːrpiəs/[6] | Sco | Scor | Scorpii /ˈskɔːrpiaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | scorpion | Antares |
| Sculptor /ˈskʌlptər/[6] | Scl | Scul | Sculptoris /skəlpˈtɒrɪs/ | 1763, Lacaille | sculptor | α Sculptoris |
| Scutum /ˈskjuːtəm/[6] | Sct | Scut | Scuti /ˈskjuːtaɪ/ | 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | shield (of Sobieski) | α Scuti |
| Serpens[11] /ˈsɜːrpɛnz/ | Ser | Serp | Serpentis /sərˈpɛntɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | snake | Unukalhai |
| Sextans /ˈsɛkstənz/[7] | Sex | Sext | Sextantis /sɛksˈtæntɪs/[7] | 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | sextant | α Sextantis |
| Taurus /ˈtɔːrəs/[6] | Tau | Taur | Tauri /ˈtɔːraɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | bull | Aldebaran |
| Telescopium /ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiəm/ | Tel | Tele | Telescopii /ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiaɪ/ | 1763, Lacaille | telescope | α Telescopii |
| Triangulum /traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm/ | Tri | Tria | Trianguli /traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | triangle | β Trianguli |
| Triangulum Australe /traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræliː, -ˈstreɪ-/ | TrA | TrAu | Trianguli Australis /traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ ɔːˈstrælɪs/ | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | southern triangle | Atria |
| Tucana /tjuːˈkeɪnə/ | Tuc | Tucn | Tucanae /tjuːˈkeɪniː/ | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | toucan | α Tucanae |
| Ursa Major /ˌɜːrsə ˈmeɪdʒər/[6] | UMa | UMaj | Ursae Majoris /ˌɜːrsiː məˈdʒɒrɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | great bear | Alioth |
| Ursa Minor /ˌɜːrsə ˈmaɪnər/[6] | UMi | UMin | Ursae Minoris /ˌɜːrsiː mɪˈnɒrɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | lesser bear | Polaris |
| Vela /ˈviːlə/[6] | Vel | Velr | Velorum /vɪˈlɔːrəm/ | 1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | sails | γ2 Velorum |
| Virgo /ˈvɜːrɡoʊ/[6] | Vir | Virg | Virginis /ˈvɜːrdʒɪnɪs/ | ancient (Ptolemy) | virgin or maiden | Spica |
| Volans /ˈvoʊlænz/[7] | Vol | Voln | Volantis /voʊˈlæntɪs/[7] | 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | flying fish | β Volantis |
| Vulpecula /vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/[6] | Vul | Vulp | Vulpeculae /vʌlˈpɛkjʊliː/ | 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | fox | Anser |
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
- 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
- "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- Eugène Delporte; International Astronomical Union (1930). Délimitation scientifique des constellations. At the University press.
- Russell, Henry Norris (1922). "The New International Symbols for the Constellations". Popular Astronomy. 30: 469. Bibcode:1922PA.....30..469R.
- "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use – table V, Constellations
- OED, 2nd edition
- Random House Dictionary
- "Naming Stars". IAU.org. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
- http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/comaberenices.html. Retrieved 23 November 2020. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - "Definition of dorado". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- 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.
External links
- http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations1.htm – Ian Ridpath's list of constellations.
- http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/contents.htm – Ian Ridpath's Star Tales.
- http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/Cat?cat=VI/49 – CDS's archive of constellation boundaries. The text file constbnd.dat gives the 1875.0 coordinates of the vertices of the constellation regions, together with the constellations adjacent to each boundary segment.
