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
/ænˈdrɒmɪdiː/		ancient (Ptolemy)Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess)Alpheratz
Antlia
/ˈæntliə/[7]		AntAntlAntliae
/ˈæntliiː/		1763, Lacailleair pumpα Antliae
Apus
/ˈeɪpəs/[8]		ApsApusApodis
/ˈæpoʊdɪs/[8]		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de HoutmanBird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Birdα Apodis
Aquarius
/əˈkwɛəriəs/[7]		AqrAqarAquarii
/əˈkwɛəriaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)water-bearerβ Aquarii
Aquila
/ˈækwɪlə/[7]		AqlAqilAquilae
/ˈækwɪliː/		ancient (Ptolemy)eagleAltair
Ara
/ˈɛərə/[8]		AraAraeArae
/ˈɛəriː/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)altarβ Arae
Aries
/ˈɛər(i)iːz/[7][8]		AriArieArietis
/əˈraɪ.ɪtɪs/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)ramHamal
Auriga
/ɔːˈraɪɡə/[7][8]		AurAuriAurigae
/ɔːˈraɪdʒiː/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)charioteerCapella
Boötes
/boʊˈoʊtiːz/[7]		BooBootBoötis
/boʊˈoʊtɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)herdsmanArcturus
Caelum
/ˈsiːləm/[8]		CaeCaelCaeli
/ˈsiːlaɪ/[8]		1763, Lacaillechisel or engraving toolα Caeli
Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛloʊˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[8]		CamCamlCamelopardalis
/kəˌmɛloʊˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[8]		1613, Plancius[note 1]giraffeβ Camelopardalis
Cancer
/ˈkænsər/[7]		CncCancCancri
/ˈkæŋkraɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)crabβ Cancri
Canes Venatici
/ˈkeɪniːz vɪˈnætɪsaɪ/[8]		CVnCVenCanum Venaticorum
/ˈkeɪnəm vɪnætɪˈkɒrəm/		1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliushunting dogsCor Caroli
Canis Major
/ˈkeɪnɪs ˈmeɪdʒər/[8]		CMaCMajCanis Majoris
/ˈkeɪnɪs məˈdʒɒrɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)greater dogSirius
Canis Minor
/ˈkeɪnɪs ˈmaɪnər/[8]		CMiCMinCanis Minoris
/ˈkeɪnɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)lesser dogProcyon
Capricornus
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnəs/[8]		CapCaprCapricorni
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnaɪ/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)sea goatδ Capricorni
Carina
/kəˈraɪnə/[7]		CarCariCarinae
/kəˈraɪniː/		1763, Lacaille, split from Argo NaviskeelCanopus
Cassiopeia
/ˌkæsioʊˈpiːə/[7][8]		CasCassCassiopeiae
/ˌkæsioʊˈpiːiː/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)Cassiopeia (mythological character)α Cassiopeiae
Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔːrəs/[7]		CenCentCentauri
/sɛnˈtɔːraɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)centaurα Centauri
Cepheus
/ˈsiːfiəs/[8]		CepCephCephei
/ˈsiːfiaɪ/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)Cepheus (mythological character)α Cephei
Cetus
/ˈsiːtəs/[8]		CetCetiCeti
/ˈsiːtaɪ/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)sea monster (later interpreted as a whale)β Ceti
Chamaeleon
/kəˈmiːliən/[7]		ChaChamChamaeleontis
/kəˌmiːliˈɒntɪs/		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanchameleonα Chamaeleontis
Circinus
/ˈsɜːrsɪnəs/[7]		CirCircCircini
/ˈsɜːrsɪnaɪ/		1763, Lacaillecompassesα Circini
Columba
/koʊˈlʌmbə/[7]		ColColmColumbae
/koʊˈlʌmbiː/		1592, Plancius, split from Canis Majordoveα Columbae
Coma Berenices
/ˈkoʊmə bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/[8]		ComComaComae Berenices
/ˈkoʊmiː bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/[8]		1536, Caspar Vopel,[9] split from LeoBerenice's hairβ Comae Berenices
Corona Australis
/koʊˈroʊnə ɔːˈstrælɪs, -ˈstreɪ-/[7][8]		CrACorACoronae Australis
/koʊˈroʊniː ɔːˈstrælɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)southern crownα Coronae Australis
Corona Borealis
/koʊˈroʊnə ˌbɔːriˈælɪs, -ˈeɪlɪs/[7][8]		CrBCorBCoronae Borealis
/koʊˈroʊniː bɔːriˈælɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)northern crownα Coronae Borealis
Corvus
/ˈkɔːrvəs/[7]		CrvCorvCorvi
/ˈkɔːrvaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)crowγ Corvi
Crater
/ˈkreɪtər/[7]		CrtCratCrateris
/krəˈtɪərɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)cupδ Crateris
Crux
/ˈkrʌks/[7]		CruCrucCrucis
/ˈkruːsɪs/		1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurussouthern crossAcrux
Cygnus
/ˈsɪɡnəs/[7]		CygCygnCygni
/ˈsɪɡnaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)swan or Northern CrossDeneb
Delphinus
/dɛlˈfaɪnəs/[7]		DelDlphDelphini
/dɛlˈfaɪnaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)dolphinβ Delphini
Dorado
/dəˈrɑːdoʊ/[10]		DorDoraDoradus
/dəˈreɪdəs/		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmandolphinfishα Doradus
Draco
/ˈdreɪkoʊ/[8]		DraDracDraconis
/drəˈkoʊnɪs/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)dragonγ Draconis
Equuleus
/ɪˈkwuːliəs/[8]		EquEqulEquulei
/ɪˈkwuːliaɪ/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)ponyα Equulei
Eridanus
/ɪˈrɪdənəs/[8]		EriEridEridani
/ɪˈrɪdənaɪ/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)river Eridanus (mythology)Achernar
Fornax
/ˈfɔːrnæks/		ForFornFornacis
/fɔːrˈneɪsɪs/		1763, Lacaillechemical furnaceα Fornacis
Gemini
/ˈdʒɛmɪnaɪ/[7]		GemGemiGeminorum
/ˌdʒɛmɪˈnɒrəm/		ancient (Ptolemy)twinsPollux
Grus
/ˈɡrʌs/[8]		GruGrusGruis
/ˈɡruːɪs/[8]		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmancraneα Gruis
Hercules
/ˈhɜːrkjʊliːz/[8]		HerHercHerculis
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)Hercules (mythological character)β Herculis
Horologium
/ˌhɒrəˈlɒdʒiəm, -ˈloʊ-/[7][8]		HorHoroHorologii
/ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiaɪ/		1763, Lacaillependulum clockα Horologii
Hydra
/ˈhaɪdrə/[7]		HyaHydaHydrae
/ˈhaɪdriː/		ancient (Ptolemy)Hydra (mythological creature)Alphard
Hydrus
/ˈhaɪdrəs/[7]		HyiHydiHydri
/ˈhaɪdraɪ/		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanlesser water snakeβ Hydri
Indus
/ˈɪndəs/[7]		IndIndiIndi
/ˈɪndaɪ/		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de HoutmanIndian (of unspecified type)α Indi
Lacerta
/ləˈsɜːrtə/[7]		LacLacrLacertae
/ləˈsɜːrtiː/		1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliuslizardα Lacertae
Leo
/ˈliːoʊ/[7]		LeoLeonLeonis
/liːˈoʊnɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)lionRegulus
Leo Minor
/ˈliːoʊ ˈmaɪnər/[7]		LMiLMinLeonis Minoris
/liːˈoʊnɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/		1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliuslesser lion46 Leonis Minoris
Lepus
/ˈliːpəs/[8]		LepLepsLeporis
/ˈlɛpərɪs/[7][8]		ancient (Ptolemy)hareα Leporis
Libra
/ˈlaɪbrə, ˈliː-/[7]		LibLibrLibrae
/ˈlaɪbriː/		ancient (Ptolemy)balanceβ Librae
Lupus
/ˈljuːpəs/[7]		LupLupiLupi
/ˈljuːpaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)wolfα Lupi
Lynx
/ˈlɪŋks/[7]		LynLyncLyncis
/ˈlɪnsɪs/		1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Heveliuslynxα Lyncis
Lyra
/ˈlaɪrə/[7]		LyrLyraLyrae
/ˈlaɪriː/		ancient (Ptolemy)lyre / harpVega
Mensa
/ˈmɛnsə/[7]		MenMensMensae
/ˈmɛnsiː/		1763, Lacaille, as Mons MensæTable Mountain (South Africa)α Mensae
Microscopium
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈskɒpiəm/		MicMicrMicroscopii
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈskɒpiaɪ/		1763, Lacaillemicroscopeγ Microscopii
Monoceros
/məˈnɒsɪrəs/[7][8]		MonMonoMonocerotis
/ˌmɒnəsɪˈroʊtɪs/		1613, Planciusunicornβ Monocerotis
Musca
/ˈmʌskə/[8]		MusMuscMuscae
/ˈmʌsiː/[7][8]		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanflyα Muscae
Norma
/ˈnɔːrmə/[7]		NorNormNormae
/ˈnɔːrmiː/[7]		1763, Lacaillecarpenter's levelγ2 Normae
Octans
/ˈɒktænz/[8]		OctOctnOctantis
/ɒkˈtæntɪs/[8]		1763, Lacailleoctant (instrument)ν Octantis
Ophiuchus
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/[7]		OphOphiOphiuchi
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)serpent-bearerα Ophiuchi
Orion
/oʊˈraɪən/[7]		OriOrioOrionis
/oʊˈraɪənɪs, ˌɒriˈoʊnɪs/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)Orion (mythological character)Rigel
Pavo
/ˈpeɪvoʊ/[7][8]		PavPavoPavonis
/pəˈvoʊnɪs/[8]		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanpeacockα Pavonis
Pegasus
/ˈpɛɡəsəs/[7]		PegPegsPegasi
/ˈpɛɡəsaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)Pegasus (mythological winged horse)ε Pegasi
Perseus
/ˈpɜːrsiəs/[8]		PerPersPersei
/ˈpɜːrsiaɪ/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)Perseus (mythological character)α Persei
Phoenix
/ˈfiːnɪks/[7]		PhePhoePhoenicis
/fɪˈnaɪsɪs/		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmanphoenixα Phoenicis
Pictor
/ˈpɪktər/[8]		PicPictPictoris
/pɪkˈtɔːrɪs/[8]		1763, Lacaille, as Equuleus Pictoriseaselα Pictoris
Pisces
/ˈpaɪsiːz, ˈpɪ-/[7][8]		PscPiscPiscium
/ˈpɪʃiəm/[8]		ancient (Ptolemy)fishesη Piscium
Piscis Austrinus
/ˈpaɪsɪs ɔːˈstraɪnəs/		PsAPscAPiscis Austrini
/ˈpaɪsɪs ɔːˈstraɪnaɪ/		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
/rɪˈtɪkjʊlaɪ/		1763, Lacailleeyepiece graticuleα Reticuli
Sagitta
/səˈdʒɪtə/[7]		SgeSgteSagittae
/səˈdʒɪtiː/		ancient (Ptolemy)arrowγ Sagittae
Sagittarius
/sædʒɪˈtɛəriəs/[7]		SgrSgtrSagittarii
/ˌsædʒəˈtɛəriaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)archerε Sagittarii
Scorpius
/ˈskɔːrpiəs/[7]		ScoScorScorpii
/ˈskɔːrpiaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)scorpionAntares
Sculptor
/ˈskʌlptər/[7]		SclSculSculptoris
/skəlpˈtɒrɪs/		1763, Lacaillesculptorα Sculptoris
Scutum
/ˈskjuːtəm/[7]		SctScutScuti
/ˈskjuːtaɪ/		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
/ˈtɔːraɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)bullAldebaran
Telescopium
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiəm/		TelTeleTelescopii
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiaɪ/		1763, Lacailletelescopeα Telescopii
Triangulum
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm/		TriTriaTrianguli
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ/		ancient (Ptolemy)triangleβ Trianguli
Triangulum Australe
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræliː, -ˈstreɪ-/		TrATrAuTrianguli Australis
/traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ ɔːˈstrælɪs/		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmansouthern triangleα Trianguli Australis
Tucana
/tjuːˈkeɪnə/		TucTucnTucanae
/tjuːˈkeɪniː/		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtmantoucanα Tucanae
Ursa Major
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmeɪdʒər/[7]		UMaUMajUrsae Majoris
/ˌɜːrsiː məˈdʒɒrɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)great bearε Ursae Majoris
Ursa Minor
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmaɪnər/[7]		UMiUMinUrsae Minoris
/ˌɜːrsiː mɪˈnɒrɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)lesser bearPolaris
Vela
/ˈviːlə/[7]		VelVelrVelorum
/vɪˈlɔːrəm/		1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navissailsγ Velorum
Virgo
/ˈvɜːrɡoʊ/[7]		VirVirgVirginis
/ˈvɜːrdʒɪnɪs/		ancient (Ptolemy)virgin or maidenSpica
Volans
/ˈvoʊlænz/[8]		VolVolnVolantis
/voʊˈlæntɪs/[8]		1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman, as Piscis Volansflying fishβ Volantis
Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/[7]		VulVulpVulpeculae
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊliː/		1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius, as Vulpecula cum Anserefoxα Vulepculae

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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