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 | genitive | origin | meaning | brightest star | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andromeda /ænˈdrɒmɨdə/ |
And | Andr | Andromedae /ænˈdrɒmɨdiː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Andromeda (mythological character) | Alpheratz |
| Antlia /ˈæntliə/ |
Ant | Antl | Antliae /ˈæntli.iː/ |
1763, Lacaille | air pump | α Antliae |
| Apus /ˈeɪpəs/ |
Aps | Apus | Apodis /ˈæpɵdɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | Bird-of-paradise | α Apodis |
| Aquarius /əˈkwɛəriəs/ |
Aqr | Aqar | Aquarii /əˈkwɛəriaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | water-bearer | Sadalsuud |
| Aquila /ˈækwɨlə/ |
Aql | Aqil | Aquilae /ˈækwɨliː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | eagle | Altair |
| Ara /ˈɛərə/ |
Ara | Arae | Arae /ˈɛəriː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | altar | β Arae |
| Aries /ˈɛəriːz/, /ˈɛərɪ.iːz/ |
Ari | Arie | Arietis /əˈraɪ.ɨtɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | ram | Hamal |
| Auriga /ɔːˈraɪɡə/ |
Aur | Auri | Aurigae /ɔːˈraɪdʒiː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | charioteer | Capella |
| Boötes /boʊˈoʊtiːz/ |
Boo | Boot | Boötis /boʊˈoʊtɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | herdsman | Arcturus |
| Caelum /ˈsiːləm/ |
Cae | Cael | Caeli /ˈsiːlaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | chisel | α Caeli |
| Camelopardalis /kəˌmɛlɵˈpɑrdəlɨs/ |
Cam | Caml | Camelopardalis / kəˌmɛlɵˈpɑrdəlɨs/ |
1613, Plancius | giraffe | β Camelopardalis |
| Cancer /ˈkænsər/ |
Cnc | Canc | Cancri /ˈkæŋkraɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | crab | Tarf |
| Canes Venatici /ˈkeɪniːz vɨˈnætɨsaɪ/ |
CVn | CVen | Canum Venaticorum /ˈkeɪnəm vɨnætɨˈkɒrəm/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | hunting dogs | Cor Caroli |
| Canis Major /ˈkeɪnɨs ˈmeɪdʒər/ |
CMa | CMaj | Canis Majoris /ˈkeɪnɨs məˈdʒɒrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | greater dog | Sirius |
| Canis Minor /ˈkeɪnɨs ˈmaɪnər/ |
CMi | CMin | Canis Minoris /ˈkeɪnɨs mɨˈnɒrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | lesser dog | Procyon |
| Capricornus /ˌkæprɨˈkɔrnəs/ |
Cap | Capr | Capricorni /ˌkæprɨˈkɔrnaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | sea goat | Deneb Algiedi |
| Carina /kəˈraɪnə/ |
Car | Cari | Carinae /kəˈraɪniː/ |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | keel | Canopus |
| Cassiopeia /ˌkæsi.ɵˈpiːə/ |
Cas | Cass | Cassiopeiae /ˌkæsi.ɵˈpiː.iː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Cassiopeia (mythological character) | Shedir |
| Centaurus /sɛnˈtɔrəs/ |
Cen | Cent | Centauri /sɛnˈtɔraɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | centaur | Rigil Kentaurus |
| Cepheus /ˈsiːfiəs/, /ˈsiːfjuːs/ |
Cep | Ceph | Cephei /ˈsiːfiaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Cepheus (mythological character) | Alderamin |
| Cetus /ˈsiːtəs/ |
Cet | Ceti | Ceti /ˈsiːtaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) | Deneb Kaitos |
| Chamaeleon /kəˈmiːliən/ |
Cha | Cham | Chamaeleontis /kəˌmiːliˈɒntɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | chameleon | α Chamaeleontis |
| Circinus /ˈsɜrsɨnəs/ |
Cir | Circ | Circini /ˈsɜrsɨnaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | compass (drawing tool) | α Circini |
| Columba /kɵˈlʌmbə/ |
Col | Colm | Columbae /kɵˈlʌmbiː/ |
1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major | dove | Phact |
| Coma Berenices /ˈkoʊmə bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/ |
Com | Coma | Comae Berenices /ˈkoʊmiː bɛrəˈnaɪsiːz/ |
1603, Uranometria, split from Leo | Berenice's hair | β Comae Berenices |
| Corona Australis /kɵˈroʊnə ʔɔːˈstrælɨs/, /kɵˈroʊnə ʔɔːˈstreɪlɨs/ |
CrA | CorA | Coronae Australis /kɵˈroʊniː ʔɔːˈstrælɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | southern crown | Alphekka Meridiana |
| Corona Borealis /kɵˈroʊnə ˌbɔəriˈælɨs/, /kɒˈroʊnə bɔəriˈeɪlɨs/ |
CrB | CorB | Coronae Borealis /kɵˈroʊniː bɔəriˈælɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | northern crown | Alphecca |
| Corvus /ˈkɔrvəs/ |
Crv | Corv | Corvi /ˈkɔrvaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | crow | Gienah |
| Crater /ˈkreɪtər/ |
Crt | Crat | Crateris /krəˈtɪərɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | cup | Labrum |
| Crux /ˈkrʌks/ |
Cru | Cruc | Crucis /ˈkruːsɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus | southern cross | Acrux |
| Cygnus /ˈsɪɡnəs/ |
Cyg | Cygn | Cygni /ˈsɪɡnaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | swan | Deneb |
| Delphinus /dɛlˈfaɪnəs/ |
Del | Dlph | Delphini /dɛlˈfaɪnaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | dolphin | Rotanev |
| Dorado /dɵˈreɪdoʊ/ |
Dor | Dora | Doradus /dɵˈreɪdəs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | goldfish | α Doradus |
| Draco /ˈdreɪkoʊ/ |
Dra | Drac | Draconis /drəˈkoʊnɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | dragon | Etamin |
| Equuleus /ɨˈkwuːliəs/ |
Equ | Equl | Equulei /ɨˈkwuːliaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | pony | Kitalpha |
| Eridanus /ɨˈrɪdənəs/ |
Eri | Erid | Eridani /ɨˈrɪdənaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | river Eridanus (mythology) | Achernar |
| Fornax /ˈfɔrnæks/ |
For | Forn | Fornacis /fɔrˈneɪsɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | chemical furnace | Fornacis |
| Gemini /ˈdʒɛmɨnaɪ/ |
Gem | Gemi | Geminorum /ˌdʒɛmɨˈnɒrəm/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | twins | Pollux |
| Grus /ˈɡrʌs/ |
Gru | Grus | Gruis /ˈɡruː.ɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | Crane | Alnair |
| Hercules /ˈhɜrkj |
Her | Herc | Herculis /ˈhɜrkj |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Hercules (mythological character) | Kornephoros |
| Horologium /ˌhɒrəˈlɒdʒiəm/, /ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiəm/ |
Hor | Horo | Horologii /ˌhɒrəˈloʊdʒiaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | pendulum clock | α Horologii |
| Hydra /ˈhaɪdrə/ |
Hya | Hyda | Hydrae /ˈhaɪdriː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Hydra (mythological creature) | Alphard |
| Hydrus /ˈhaɪdrəs/ |
Hyi | Hydi | Hydri /ˈhaɪdraɪ/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | lesser water snake | β Hydri |
| Indus /ˈɪndəs/ |
Ind | Indi | Indi /ˈɪndaɪ/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | Indian (American indigenous) | The Persian |
| Lacerta /ləˈsɜrtə/ |
Lac | Lacr | Lacertae /ləˈsɜrtiː/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lizard | α Lacertae |
| Leo /ˈliː.oʊ/ |
Leo | Leon | Leonis /liːˈoʊnɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | lion | Regulus |
| Leo Minor /ˈliː.oʊ ˈmaɪnər/ |
LMi | LMin | Leonis Minoris /liːˈoʊnɨs mɨˈnɒrɨs/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lesser lion | Praecipua |
| Lepus /ˈliːpəs/ |
Lep | Leps | Leporis /ˈlɛpərɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | hare | Arneb |
| Libra /ˈlaɪbrə/, /ˈliːbrə/ |
Lib | Libr | Librae /ˈlaɪbriː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | balance | Zubeneshamali |
| Lupus /ˈljuːpəs/ |
Lup | Lupi | Lupi /ˈljuːpaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | wolf | Men |
| Lynx /ˈlɪŋks/ |
Lyn | Lync | Lyncis /ˈlɪnsɨs/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | lynx | Elvashak |
| Lyra /ˈlaɪrə/ |
Lyr | Lyra | Lyrae /ˈlaɪriː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | lyre / harp | Vega |
| Mensa /ˈmɛnsə/ |
Men | Mens | Mensae /ˈmɛnsiː/ |
1763, Lacaille | Table Mountain (South Africa) | α Mensae |
| Microscopium /ˌmaɪkrɵˈskoʊpiəm/ |
Mic | Micr | Microscopii /ˌmaɪkrɵˈskoʊpiaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | microscope | γ Microscopii |
| Monoceros /məˈnɒsɨrəs/ |
Mon | Mono | Monocerotis /ˌmɒnɵsɨˈroʊtɨs/ |
1613, Plancius | unicorn | β Monocerotis |
| Musca /ˈmʌskə/ |
Mus | Musc | Muscae /ˈmʌsiː/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | fly | α Muscae |
| Norma /ˈnɔrmə/ |
Nor | Norm | Normae /ˈnɔrmiː/ |
1763, Lacaille | carpenter's level | γ2 Normae |
| Octans /ˈɒktænz/ |
Oct | Octn | Octantis /ɒkˈtæntɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | octant (instrument) | ν Oct |
| Ophiuchus /ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/ |
Oph | Ophi | Ophiuchi /ˌɒfiˈjuːkaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | serpent-bearer | Ras Alhague |
| Orion /ɵˈraɪ.ən/ |
Ori | Orio | Orionis /ɵˈraɪ.ənɨs/, /ˌɒriˈoʊnɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Orion (mythological character) | Rigel |
| Pavo /ˈpeɪvoʊ/ |
Pav | Pavo | Pavonis /pəˈvoʊnɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | peacock | Peacock |
| Pegasus /ˈpɛɡəsəs/ |
Peg | Pegs | Pegasi /ˈpɛɡəsaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Pegasus (mythological winged horse) | Enif |
| Perseus /ˈpɜrsiəs, ˈpɜrsjuːs/ |
Per | Pers | Persei /ˈpɜrsi.aɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | Perseus (mythological character) | Mirfak |
| Phoenix /ˈfiːnɨks/ |
Phe | Phoe | Phoenicis /fɨˈnaɪsɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | phoenix | Ankaa |
| Pictor /ˈpɪktər/ |
Pic | Pict | Pictoris /pɪkˈtɔərɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | easel | α Pictoris |
| Pisces /ˈpaɪsiːz/, /ˈpɪsiːz/ |
Psc | Pisc | Piscium /ˈpɪʃiəm/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | fishes | Alpherg |
| Piscis Austrinus /ˈpaɪsɨs ɔːˈstraɪnəs/ |
PsA | PscA | Piscis Austrini /ˈpaɪsɨs ɔːˈstraɪnaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | southern fish | Fomalhaut |
| Puppis /ˈpʌpɨs/ |
Pup | Pupp | Puppis /ˈpʌpɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | poop deck | Naos |
| Pyxis /ˈpɪksɨs/ |
Pyx | Pyxi | Pyxidis /ˈpɪksɨdɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | mariner's compass | α Pyxidis |
| Reticulum /rɨˈtɪkjʊləm/ |
Ret | Reti | Reticuli /rɨˈtɪkjʊlaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | eyepiece graticule | α Reticuli |
| Sagitta /səˈdʒɪtə/ |
Sge | Sgte | Sagittae /səˈdʒɪtiː/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | arrow | γ Sagittae |
| Sagittarius /sædʒɨˈtɛəriəs/ |
Sgr | Sgtr | Sagittarii /ˌsædʒəˈtɛəriaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | archer | Kaus Australis |
| Scorpius /ˈskɔrpiəs/ |
Sco | Scor | Scorpii /ˈskɔrpiaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | scorpion | Antares |
| Sculptor /ˈskʌlptər/ |
Scl | Scul | Sculptoris /skəlpˈtɒrɨs/ |
1763, Lacaille | sculptor | α Sculptoris |
| Scutum /ˈskjuːtəm/ |
Sct | Scut | Scuti /ˈskjuːtaɪ/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | shield (of Sobieski) | α Scuti |
| Serpens /ˈsɜrpɛnz/ |
Ser | Serp | Serpentis /sərˈpɛntɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | snake | Unukalhai |
| Sextans /ˈsɛkstənz/ |
Sex | Sext | Sextantis /sɛksˈtæntɨs/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | sextant | α Sextantis |
| Taurus /ˈtɔrəs/ |
Tau | Taur | Tauri /ˈtɔraɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | bull | Aldebaran |
| Telescopium /ˌtɛlɨˈskɒpiəm/ |
Tel | Tele | Telescopii /ˌtɛlɨˈskɒpiaɪ/ |
1763, Lacaille | telescope | α Telescopii |
| Triangulum /traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm/ |
Tri | Tria | Trianguli /traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | triangle | β Trianguli |
| Triangulum Australe /traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræliː/, /traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstreɪliː/ |
TrA | TrAu | Trianguli Australis /traɪˈæŋɡjʊlaɪ ʔɔːˈstrælɨs/ |
1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | southern triangle | Atria |
| Tucana /tj |
Tuc | Tucn | Tucanae /tj |
1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | toucan | α Tucanae |
| Ursa Major /ˌɜrsə ˈmeɪdʒər/ |
UMa | UMaj | Ursae Majoris /ˌɜrsiː məˈdʒɒrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | great bear | Alioth |
| Ursa Minor /ˌɜrsə ˈmaɪnər/ |
UMi | UMin | Ursae Minoris /ˌɜrsiː mɨˈnɒrɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | lesser bear | Polaris |
| Vela /ˈviːlə/ |
Vel | Velr | Velorum /vɨˈlɔərəm/ |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis | sails | Regor |
| Virgo /ˈvɜrɡoʊ/ |
Vir | Virg | Virginis /ˈvɜrdʒɨnɨs/ |
ancient (Ptolemy) | virgin or maiden | Spica |
| Volans /ˈvoʊlænz/ |
Vol | Voln | Volantis /vɵˈlæntɨs/ |
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman | flying fish | β Volantis |
| Vulpecula /vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/ |
Vul | Vulp | Vulpeculae /vʌlˈpɛkjʊliː/ |
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius | fox | Anser |
Read more about this topic: List Of Constellations
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