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Each culture has its own constellations, usually based on mythology. This article covers the 88 constellations used in modern astronomy, which properly speaking are not patterns of stars, as in the common use of the word, but areas of the sky (the celestial sphere).

The ancient Babylonians, and later the Greeks (as recorded by Ptolemy), established most of the northern constellations in international use today. When European explorers mapped the stars of the southern skies, European and American astronomers proposed new constellations for that region, as well as ones to fill gaps between the traditional constellations. Not all of these proposals caught on, but in 1922, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted the modern list of 88 constellations. After this, Eugène Delporte drew up precise boundaries for each constellation, so that every point in the sky belonged to exactly one constellation.

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The 88 modern constellations

Andromeda · Antlia · Apus · Aquarius · Aquila · Ara · Aries · Auriga · Boötes · Caelum · Camelopardalis · Cancer · Canes Venatici · Canis Major · Canis Minor · Capricornus · Carina · Cassiopeia · Centaurus · Cepheus · Cetus · Chamaeleon · Circinus · Columba · Coma Berenices · Corona Australis · Corona Borealis · Corvus · Crater · Crux · Cygnus · Delphinus · Dorado · Draco · Equuleus · Eridanus · Fornax · Gemini · Grus · Hercules · Horologium · Hydra · Hydrus · Indus · Lacerta · Leo · Leo Minor · Lepus · Libra · Lupus · Lynx · Lyra · Mensa · Microscopium · Monoceros · Musca · Norma · Octans · Ophiuchus · Orion · Pavo · Pegasus · Perseus · Phoenix · Pictor · Pisces · Piscis Austrinus · Puppis · Pyxis · Reticulum · Sagitta · Sagittarius · Scorpius · Sculptor · Scutum · Serpens · Sextans · Taurus · Telescopium · Triangulum · Triangulum Australe · Tucana · Ursa Major · Ursa Minor · Vela · Virgo · Volans · Vulpecula

1 Constellation Families
2 Modern constellations
3 Former constellations
4 Asterisms
5 See also
6 External links

Constellation Families

Constellations Grouped by Family
Family	Total	Constellations
Ursa Major	10	Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Canes Venatici, Boötes, Coma Berenices, Corona Borealis, Camelopardalis, Lynx, Leo Minor,
Zodiac	12	Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer
Perseus	09	Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Andromeda, Perseus, Pegasus, Cetus, Auriga, Lacerta, Triangulum,
Hercules	19	Hercules, Sagitta, Aquila, Lyra, Cygnus, Vulpecula, Hydra, Sextans, Crater, Corvus, Ophiuchus, Serpens, Scutum, Centaurus, Lupus, Corona Australis, Ara, Triangulum Australe, Crux,
Orion	05	Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Monoceros, Lepus,
Heavenly Waters	09	Delphinus, Equuleus, Eridanus, Piscis Austrinus, Carina, Puppis, Vela, Pyxis, Columba,
Johann Bayer	11	Hydrus, Dorado, Volans, Apus, Pavo, Grus, Phoenix, Tucana, Indus, Chamaeleon, Musca,
LaCaille	13	Norma, Circinus, Telescopium, Microscopium, Sculptor, Fornax, Caelum, Horologium, Octans, Mensa, Reticulum, Pictor, Antlia,

link: http://www.seds.org/Maps/Const/const_family.html

Constellations Grouped by Location (Quadrants^[1] of Midpoints)
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,

link: http://calgary.rasc.ca/constellation.htm

Modern constellations

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^[2]^[3]		genitive	origin	meaning
Andromeda /æn„dr-m-d“/^[4]	And	Andr	Andromedae /æn„dr-m-di“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	Andromeda (mythological character)
Antlia /„æntli“/^[4]	Ant	Antl	Antliae /„æntli-.i“/	1763, Lacaille	air pump
Apus /„e-p“s/^[5]	Aps	Apus	Apodis /„æp-d“s/^[5]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	bird of paradise
Aquarius /„-kw--ri“s/^[4]	Aqr	Aqar	Aquarii /„-kw--ria“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	water-bearer
Aquila /„ækw-l“/^[4]	Aql	Aqil	Aquilae /„ækw-li“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	eagle
Ara /r-/^[5]	Ara	Arae	Arae /ri-/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	altar
Aries /ri-z/, /r„.i“z/^[4]^[5]	Ari	Arie	Arietis /„-ra--t“s/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	ram
Auriga /ra„g“/^[4]^[5]	Aur	Auri	Aurigae /ra„d-i“/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	charioteer
Boötes /bo„-o-ti“z/^[4]	Boo	Boot	Boötis /bo„-o-t“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	herdsman
Caelum /„si-l“m/^[5]	Cae	Cael	Caeli /„si-la“/^[5]	1763, Lacaille	sculptor's chisel
Camelopardalis /k„-m-l--p-rd-l“s/^[5]	Cam	Caml	Camelopardalis / k„-m-l--p-rd-l“s/^[5]	1613, Plancius^[6]	giraffe
Cancer /„kæns“/^[4]	Cnc	Canc	Cancri /„kæ-kra“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	crab
Canes Venatici /„ke-ni“z v„-næt-sa“/^[5]	CVn	CVen	Canum Venaticorum /„ke-n“m v„-næt--k-r“m/	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	hunting dogs
Canis Major /„ke-n“s „me-d-“/^[5]	CMa	CMaj	Canis Majoris /„ke-n“s m„-d--r“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	greater dog
Canis Minor /„ke-n“s „ma-n“/^[5]	CMi	CMin	Canis Minoris /„ke-n“s m„-n-r“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	lesser dog
Capricornus /„kæpr--k-rn“s/^[5]	Cap	Capr	Capricorni /„kæpr--k-rna“/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	goat (originally a sea-goat)
Carina /k„-ra-n“/^[4]	Car	Cari	Carinae /k„-ra-ni“/	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	keel
Cassiopeia /„kæsi--pi-“/^[4]^[5]	Cas	Cass	Cassiope-ae /„kæsi--pi-.i“/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	Cassiopeia (mythological character)
Centaurus /s„n-t--r“s/^[4]	Cen	Cent	Centauri /s„n-t--ra“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	centaur
Cepheus /„si-fi“s/, /„si-fju“s/^[5]	Cep	Ceph	Cephe- /„si-fia“/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	Cepheus (mythological character)
Cetus /„si-t“s/^[5]	Cet	Ceti	Ceti /„si-ta“/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	sea monster (later interpreted as a whale)
Chamaeleon /k„-mi-li“n/^[4]	Cha	Cham	Chamaeleontis /k„-mi-li--nt“s/	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	chameleon
Circinus /„s--s-n“s/^[4]	Cir	Circ	Circini /„s--s-na“/	1763, Lacaille	pair of dividers (drawing tool)
Columba /k„-l-mb“/^[4]	Col	Colm	Columbae /k„-l-mbi“/	1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major	Noah's dove
Coma Berenices /„ko-m“ „b-r--na-si“z/^[5]	Com	Coma	Comae Berenices /„ko-mi“ „b-r--na-si“z/^[5]	1603, Uranometria, split from Leo	Berenice's hair
Corona Australis^[7] /k„-ro-n“ „-stræl“s/, /k„-ro-n“ „-stre-l“s/^[4]^[5]	CrA	CorA	Coronae Australis /k„-ro-ni“ „stræl“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	southern crown
Corona Borealis /k„-ro-n“ „b--ri-æl“s/, /k„-ro-n“ „b--ri-e-l“s/^[4]^[5]	CrB	CorB	Coronae Borealis /k„-ro-ni“ „b--ri-æl“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	northern crown
Corvus /„k-rv“s/^[4]	Crv	Corv	Corvi /„k-rva“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	crow
Crater /„kre-t“/^[4]	Crt	Crat	Crateris /kr„-ti-r“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	cup
Crux /„kr“ks/^[4]	Cru	Cruc	Crucis /„kru-s“s/	1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus	southern cross
Cygnus /„s-gn“s/^[4]	Cyg	Cygn	Cygni /„s-gna“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	swan
Delphinus /d„l-fa-n“s/^[4]	Del	Dlph	Delphini /d„l-fa-na“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	dolphin (mammal)
Dorado /d„-re-do“/^{[citation needed]}	Dor	Dora	Doradus /d„-re-d“s/	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	gold fish
Draco /„dre-ko“/^[5]	Dra	Drac	Draconis /dr„-ko-n“s/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	dragon
Equuleus /„-kwu-li“s/^[5]	Equ	Equl	Equulei /„-kwu-lia“/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	little horse (foal)
Eridanus /„-r-d-n“s/^[5]	Eri	Erid	Eridani /„-r-d-na“/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	river Eridanus (mythology)
Fornax /„f“rnæks/	For	Forn	Fornacis /f„r-ne-s“s/	1763, Lacaille	chemical furnace
Gemini /„d--m-na“/^[4]	Gem	Gemi	Geminorum /„d--m--n-r“m/	ancient (Ptolemy)	twins
Grus /„gr“s/^[5]	Gru	Grus	Gruis /„gru-“s/^[5]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	crane (bird)
Hercules /„h--kj-li“z/^[5]	Her	Herc	Herculis /„h--kj-l“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	Hercules (mythological character)
Horologium /„h-r--l-d-i“m/, /„h-r--lo-d-i“m/^[4]^[5]	Hor	Horo	Horologii /„h-r--lo-d-ia“/	1763, Lacaille	pendulum clock
Hydra /„ha-dr“/^[4]	Hya	Hyda	Hydrae /„ha-dri“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	Hydra (mythological creature)
Hydrus /„ha-dr“s/^[4]	Hyi	Hydi	Hydri /„ha-dra“/	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	lesser water snake
Indus /„-nd“s/^[4]	Ind	Indi	Indi /„-nda“/	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	Indian (native American)
Lacerta /l„-s--t“/^[4]	Lac	Lacr	Lacertae /l„-s--ti“/	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lizard
Leo /„li-o“/^[4]	Leo	Leon	Leonis /li„-o-n“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	lion
Leo Minor /„li-o“ „ma-n“/^[4]	LMi	LMin	Leonis Minoris /li„-o-n“s m„-n-r“s/	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lesser lion
Lepus /„li-p“s/^[5]	Lep	Leps	Leporis /„l-p-r“s/^[4]^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	hare
Libra /„la-br“/, /„li-br“/^[4]	Lib	Libr	Librae /„la-bri“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	balance
Lupus /„lju-p“s/^[4]	Lup	Lupi	Lupi /„lju-pa“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	wolf
Lynx /„l-“ks/^[4]	Lyn	Lync	Lyncis /„l-ns“s/	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lynx
Lyra /„la-r“/^[4]	Lyr	Lyra	Lyrae /„la-ri“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	lyre
Mensa /„m-ns“/^[4]	Men	Mens	Mensae /„m-nsi“/	1763, Lacaille	Table Mountain (South Africa)
Microscopium /„ma-kr--sk-pi“m/	Mic	Micr	Microscopii /„ma-kr--sko-pia“/	1763, Lacaille	microscope
Monoceros /m„-n-s-r“s/^[4]^[5]	Mon	Mono	Monocerotis /m„-n-s--ro-t“s/^[5]	1613, Plancius	unicorn
Musca /„m-sk“/^[5]	Mus	Musc	Muscae /„m-si“/^[4]^[5]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	fly
Norma /„n-rm“/^[4]	Nor	Norm	Normae /„n-rmi“/^[4]	1763, Lacaille	carpenter's rule and square
Octans /--ktænz/^[5]	Oct	Octn	Octantis /„k-tænt“s/^[5]	1763, Lacaille	mariner's octant
Ophiuchus /„-fi-ju-k“s/^[4]	Oph	Ophi	Ophiuchi /„-fi-ju-ka“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	serpent-holder
Orion /„-ra-.“n/^[4]	Ori	Orio	Orionis /„-ra-.-n“s/, /„-ri-o-n“s/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	Orion (mythological character)
Pavo /„pe-vo“/^[4]^[5]	Pav	Pavo	Pavonis /p„-vo-n“s/^[5]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	peacock
Pegasus /„p-g-s“s/^[4]	Peg	Pegs	Pegasi /„p-g-sa“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	Pegasus (mythological winged horse)
Perseus /„p--sju“s, „p--si“s/^[5]	Per	Pers	Persei /„p--si.a“/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	Perseus (mythological character)
Phoenix /„fi-n“ks/^[4]	Phe	Phoe	Phoenicis /f„-na-s“s/	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	phoenix
Pictor /„p-kt“/^[5]	Pic	Pict	Pictoris /p„k-t--r“s/^[5]	1763, Lacaille	painter's easel
Pisces /„pa-si“z/, /„p-si“z/^[4]^[5]	Psc	Pisc	Piscium /„p--i“m/^[5]	ancient (Ptolemy)	fishes
Piscis Austrinus /„pa-s“s „stra-n“s/	PsA	PscA	Piscis Austrini /„pa-s“s „stra-na“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	southern fish
Puppis /„p-p“s/^[5]	Pup	Pupp	Puppis /„p-p“s/^[5]	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	poop deck
Pyxis /„p-ks“s/^[4]	Pyx	Pyxi	Pyxidis /„p-ks-d“s/	1763, Lacaille	ship's compass
Reticulum /r„-t-kj-l“m/^[4]	Ret	Reti	Reticuli /r„-t-kj-la“/	1763, Lacaille	eyepiece graticule
Sagitta /s„-d--t“/^[4]	Sge	Sgte	Sagittae /s„-d--ti“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	arrow
Sagittarius /sædt„-ri“s/^[4]	Sgr	Sgtr	Sagittarii /„sædt--ria“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	archer
Scorpius /„sk-rpi“s/^[4]	Sco	Scor	Scorpii /„sk-rpia“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	scorpion
Sculptor /„sk-lpt“/^[4]	Scl	Scul	Sculptoris /sk„lp-t-r“s/	1763, Lacaille	sculptor's workshop
Scutum /„skju-t“m/^[4]	Sct	Scut	Scuti /„skju-ta“/	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	shield (of Sobieski)
Serpens^[8] /„s--p“nz/	Ser	Serp	Serpentis /s„-p-nt“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	snake
Sextans /„s-kst“nz/^[5]	Sex	Sext	Sextantis /s„ks-tænt“s/^[5]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	astronomical sextant
Taurus /„t--r“s/^[4]	Tau	Taur	Tauri /„t--ra“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	bull
Telescopium /„t-l--sk-pi“m/	Tel	Tele	Telescopii /„t-l--sk-pia“/	1763, Lacaille	telescope
Triangulum /tra„-æ-gj-l“m/	Tri	Tria	Trianguli /tra„-æ-gj-la“/	ancient (Ptolemy)	triangle
Triangulum Australe /tra„-æ-gj-l“m „stræli“/, /tra„-æ-gj-l“m „stre-li“/	TrA	TrAu	Trianguli Australis /tra„-æ-gj-la“ „stræl“s/	1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	southern triangle
Tucana /tj„-ke-n“/	Tuc	Tucn	Tucanae /tj„-ke-ni“/	1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	toucan
Ursa Major /s- „me-d-“/^[4]	UMa	UMaj	Ursae Majoris /si- m„-d--r“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	Great Bear
Ursa Minor /s- „ma-n“/^[4]	UMi	UMin	Ursae Minoris /si- m„-n-r“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	Lesser Bear
Vela /„vi-l“/^[4]	Vel	Velr	Velorum /v„-l--r“m/	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	sails
Virgo /„v--go“/^[4]	Vir	Virg	Virginis /„v--d--n“s/	ancient (Ptolemy)	virgin
Volans /„vo“lænz/^[5]	Vol	Voln	Volantis /v„-lænt“s/^[5]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	flying fish
Vulpecula /v„l-p-kj-l“/^[4]	Vul	Vulp	Vulpeculae /v„l-p-kj-li“/	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
^ ^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
^ ^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 ^bh Random House Dictionary
^ The constellations Camelopardalis,

Contents

Constellation Families

Modern constellations