IAU designated constellations

File:Constellations, equirectangular plot.svg

IAU designated constellations in equirectangular projection (epoch B1875.0)

In contemporary astronomy, 88 constellations are recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).<ref name="international astronomical union">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="international astronomical union-1930">Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name="international astronomical union" /><ref name="international astronomical union-1930" /> When astronomers say that an object lies in a particular constellation, they mean that it is positioned within these specified boundaries.

History

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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
	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> !! NASA<ref>NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use – table V, Constellations</ref>				Name	Vis. mag.
Andromeda Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed">OED, 2nd edition</ref>	And	Andr	Andromedae	ancient (Ptolemy)	Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess)	Alpheratz	2.06
Antlia Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Ant	Antl	Antliae	1763, Lacaille	air pump	α Antliae	4.25
Apus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary">Random House Dictionary</ref>	Aps	Apus	Apodis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird	α Apodis	3.83
Aquarius Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Aqr	Aqar	Aquarii	ancient (Ptolemy)	water-bearer	Sadalsuud	2.87
Aquila Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Aql	Aqil	Aquilae	ancient (Ptolemy)	eagle	Altair	0.76
Ara Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Ara	Arae	Arae Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	altar	β Arae	2.84
Aries Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	Ari	Arie	Arietis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	ram	Hamal	2.00
Auriga Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	Aur	Auri	Aurigae Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	charioteer	Capella	0.08
Boötes Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Boo	Boot	Boötis	ancient (Ptolemy)	herdsman	Arcturus	-0.05
Caelum Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Cae	Cael	Caeli Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1763, Lacaille	chisel or engraving tool	α Caeli	4.46
Camelopardalis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Cam	Caml	Camelopardalis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1613, PlanciusTemplate:NoteTag	giraffe	β Camelopardalis	4.02
Cancer Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Cnc	Canc	Cancri	ancient (Ptolemy)	crab	β Cancri	3.52
Canes Venatici Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	CVn	CVen	Canum Venaticorum	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	hunting dogs	Cor Caroli	2.81
Canis Major Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	CMa	CMaj	Canis Majoris	ancient (Ptolemy)	greater dog	Sirius	-1.46
Canis Minor Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	CMi	CMin	Canis Minoris	ancient (Ptolemy)	lesser dog	Procyon	0.34
Capricornus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Cap	Capr	Capricorni Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	sea goat	Deneb Algedi	2.83
Carina Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Car	Cari	Carinae	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	keel	Canopus	-0.74
Cassiopeia Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	Cas	Cass	Cassiopeiae Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	Cassiopeia (mythological character)	Schedar	2.24
Centaurus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Cen	Cent	Centauri	ancient (Ptolemy)	centaur	Alpha Centauri	-0.27
Cepheus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Cep	Ceph	Cephei Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	Cepheus (mythological character)	Alderamin	2.46
Cetus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Cet	Ceti	Ceti Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	sea monster (later interpreted as a whale)	Diphda	2.02
Chamaeleon Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Cha	Cham	Chamaeleontis	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	chameleon	α Chamaeleontis	4.06
Circinus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Cir	Circ	Circini	1763, Lacaille	compasses	α Circini	3.19
Columba Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Col	Colm	Columbae	1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major	dove	Phact	2.65
Coma Berenices Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Com	Coma	Comae Berenices Template:Nowrap	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> split from Leo || Berenice's hair || β Comae Berenices	4.26
Corona Australis Template:Nowrap	CrA	CorA	Coronae Australis	ancient (Ptolemy)	southern crown	α Coronae Australis	4.10
Corona Borealis Template:Nowrap	CrB	CorB	Coronae Borealis	ancient (Ptolemy)	northern crown	Alphecca	2.24
Corvus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Crv	Corv	Corvi	ancient (Ptolemy)	crow	Gienah	2.59
Crater Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Crt	Crat	Crateris	ancient (Ptolemy)	cup	δ Crateris	3.56
Crux Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Cru	Cruc	Crucis	1589, Plancius, split from Centaurus	southern cross	Acrux	0.76
Cygnus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Cyg	Cygn	Cygni	ancient (Ptolemy)	swan or Northern Cross	Deneb	1.25
Delphinus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Del	Dlph	Delphini	ancient (Ptolemy)	dolphin	β Delphini	3.62
Dorado Template:IPAc-en<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Dor || Dora || Doradus || 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman || dolphinfish || α Doradus	3.28
Draco Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Dra	Drac	Draconis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	dragon	Eltanin	2.23
Equuleus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Equ	Equl	Equulei Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	pony	α Equulei	3.92
Eridanus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Eri	Erid	Eridani Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	river Eridanus (mythology)	Achernar	0.46
Fornax Template:IPAc-en	For	Forn	Fornacis	1763, Lacaille	chemical furnace	α Fornacis	3.85
Gemini Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Gem	Gemi	Geminorum	ancient (Ptolemy)	twins	Pollux	1.14
Grus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Gru	Grus	Gruis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	crane	Alnair	1.74
Hercules Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Her	Herc	Herculis	ancient (Ptolemy)	Hercules (mythological character)	Kornephoros	2.81
Horologium Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	Hor	Horo	Horologii	1763, Lacaille	pendulum clock	α Horologii	3.85
Hydra Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Hya	Hyda	Hydrae	ancient (Ptolemy)	Hydra (mythological creature)	Alphard	2.00
Hydrus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Hyi	Hydi	Hydri	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	lesser water snake	β Hydri	2.80
Indus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Ind	Indi	Indi	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	Indian (of unspecified type)	α Indi	3.11
Lacerta Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Lac	Lacr	Lacertae	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lizard	α Lacertae	3.76
Leo Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Leo	Leon	Leonis	ancient (Ptolemy)	lion	Regulus	1.35
Leo Minor Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	LMi	LMin	Leonis Minoris	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lesser lion	46 Leonis Minoris	3.83
Lepus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Lep	Leps	Leporis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	hare	Arneb	2.59
Libra Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Lib	Libr	Librae	ancient (Ptolemy)	balance	Zubeneschemali	2.61
Lupus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Lup	Lupi	Lupi	ancient (Ptolemy)	wolf	α Lupi	2.30
Lynx Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Lyn	Lync	Lyncis	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	lynx	α Lyncis	3.14
Lyra Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Lyr	Lyra	Lyrae	ancient (Ptolemy)	lyre / harp	Vega	0.02
Mensa Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Men	Mens	Mensae	1763, Lacaille, as Mons Mensæ	Table Mountain (South Africa)	α Mensae	5.09
Microscopium Template:IPAc-en	Mic	Micr	Microscopii	1763, Lacaille	microscope	γ Microscopii	4.68
Monoceros Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	Mon	Mono	Monocerotis	1613, Plancius	unicorn	β Monocerotis	3.74
Musca Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Mus	Musc	Muscae Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	fly	α Muscae	2.69
Norma Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Nor	Norm	Normae Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	1763, Lacaille	carpenter's level	γ2 Normae	4.02
Octans Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Oct	Octn	Octantis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1763, Lacaille	octant (instrument)	ν Octantis	3.73
Ophiuchus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Oph	Ophi	Ophiuchi	ancient (Ptolemy)	serpent-bearer	Rasalhague	2.07
Orion Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Ori	Orio	Orionis Template:Nowrap	ancient (Ptolemy)	Orion (mythological character)	Rigel	0.13
Pavo Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	Pav	Pavo	Pavonis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	peacock	Peacock	1.94
Pegasus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Peg	Pegs	Pegasi	ancient (Ptolemy)	Pegasus (mythological winged horse)	Enif	2.40
Perseus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Per	Pers	Persei Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	Perseus (mythological character)	Mirfak	1.82
Phoenix Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Phe	Phoe	Phoenicis Template:IPAc-en	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	phoenix	Ankaa	2.38
Pictor Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Pic	Pict	Pictoris Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1763, Lacaille, as Equuleus Pictoris	easel	α Pictoris	3.27
Pisces Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" /><ref name="random house dictionary" />	Psc	Pisc	Piscium Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	ancient (Ptolemy)	fishes	Alpherg	3.61
Piscis Austrinus Template:IPAc-en	PsA	PscA	Piscis Austrini	ancient (Ptolemy)	southern fish	Fomalhaut	1.16
Puppis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Pup	Pupp	Puppis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	poop deck	Naos	2.25
Pyxis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Pyx	Pyxi	Pyxidis	1763, Lacaille	mariner's compass	α Pyxidis	3.67
Reticulum Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Ret	Reti	Reticuli	1763, Lacaille	eyepiece graticule	α Reticuli	3.32
Sagitta Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Sge	Sgte	Sagittae	ancient (Ptolemy)	arrow	γ Sagittae	3.47
Sagittarius Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Sgr	Sgtr	Sagittarii	ancient (Ptolemy)	archer	Kaus Australis	1.85
Scorpius Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Sco	Scor	Scorpii	ancient (Ptolemy)	scorpion	Antares	0.91
Sculptor Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Scl	Scul	Sculptoris	1763, Lacaille	sculptor	α Sculptoris	4.30
Scutum Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Sct	Scut	Scuti	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	shield (of Sobieski)	α Scuti	3.83
Serpens<ref>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.</ref> Template:IPAc-en	Ser	Serp	Serpentis	ancient (Ptolemy)	snake	Unukalhai	2.62
Sextans Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Sex	Sext	Sextantis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius	sextant	α Sextantis	4.49
Taurus Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Tau	Taur	Tauri	ancient (Ptolemy)	bull	Aldebaran	0.86
Telescopium Template:IPAc-en	Tel	Tele	Telescopii	1763, Lacaille	telescope	α Telescopii	3.51
Triangulum Template:IPAc-en	Tri	Tria	Trianguli	ancient (Ptolemy)	triangle	β Trianguli	3.00
Triangulum Australe Template:IPAc-en	TrA	TrAu	Trianguli Australis	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	southern triangle	Atria	1.91
Tucana Template:IPAc-en	Tuc	Tucn	Tucanae	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman	toucan	α Tucanae	2.86
Ursa Major Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	UMa	UMaj	Ursae Majoris	ancient (Ptolemy)	great bear	Alioth	1.77
Ursa Minor Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	UMi	UMin	Ursae Minoris	ancient (Ptolemy)	lesser bear	Polaris	1.98
Vela Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Vel	Velr	Velorum Template:IPAc-en	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis	sails	γ Velorum	1.83
Virgo Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Vir	Virg	Virginis	ancient (Ptolemy)	virgin or maiden	Spica	0.97
Volans Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	Vol	Voln	Volantis Template:IPAc-en<ref name="random house dictionary" />	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman, as Piscis Volans	flying fish	γ2 Volantis	3.75
Vulpecula Template:IPAc-en<ref name="oed" />	Vul	Vulp	Vulpeculae	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius, as Vulpecula cum Ansere	fox	α Vulpeculae	4.40

Asterisms

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} 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

• Lists of astronomical objects
• List of constellations by area
• Biblical names of stars
• Lists of stars by constellation
• Constellation family
• Galactic quadrant

External links

• The Constellations 1 – Ian Ridpath's list of constellations.
• Ian Ridpath's Star Tales: Constellation Mythology and History – Ian Ridpath's Star Tales.
• VizieR – 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.

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