IAU designated constellations

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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

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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 Hyi for Hydrus/Hydri, to avoid confusion with Hydra, abbreviated Hya; and 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
/ænˈdrɒmdə/[6]
And Andr Andromedae
/ænˈdrɒmd/
ancient (Ptolemy) Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess) Alpheratz
Antlia
/ˈæntliə/[6]
Ant Antl Antliae
/ˈæntli/
1763, Lacaille air pump α Antliae
Apus
/ˈpəs/[7]
Aps Apus Apodis
/ˈæpds/[7]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird α Apodis
Aquarius
/əˈkwɛəriəs/[6]
Aqr Aqar Aquarii
/əˈkwɛəri/
ancient (Ptolemy) water-bearer Sadalsuud
Aquila
/ˈækwlə/[6]
Aql Aqil Aquilae
/ˈækwl/
ancient (Ptolemy) eagle Altair
Ara
/ˈɛərə/[7]
Ara Arae Arae
/ˈɛər/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) altar β Arae
Aries
/ˈɛər[unsupported input]i[unsupported input]z/[6][7]
Ari Arie Arietis
/əˈr.ts/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) ram Hamal
Auriga
/ɔːˈrɡə/[6][7]
Aur Auri Aurigae
/ɔːˈr/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) charioteer Capella
Boötes
/bˈtz/[6]
Boo Boot Boötis
/bˈts/
ancient (Ptolemy) herdsman Arcturus
Caelum
/ˈsləm/[7]
Cae Cael Caeli
/ˈsl/[7]
1763, Lacaille chisel or engraving tool α Caeli
Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlˈpɑːrdəls/[7]
Cam Caml Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlˈpɑːrdəls/[7]
1613, Plancius[Note 1] giraffe β Camelopardalis
Cancer
/ˈkænsər/[6]
Cnc Canc Cancri
/ˈkæŋkr/
ancient (Ptolemy) crab Tarf[8]
Canes Venatici
/ˈknz vˈnæts/[7]
CVn CVen Canum Venaticorum
/ˈknəm vnætˈkɒrəm/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius hunting dogs Cor Caroli
Canis Major
/ˈkns ˈmər/[7]
CMa CMaj Canis Majoris
/ˈkns məˈɒrs/
ancient (Ptolemy) greater dog Sirius
Canis Minor
/ˈkns ˈmnər/[7]
CMi CMin Canis Minoris
/ˈkns mˈnɒrs/
ancient (Ptolemy) lesser dog Procyon
Capricornus
/ˌkæprˈkɔːrnəs/[7]
Cap Capr Capricorni
/ˌkæprˈkɔːrn/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) sea goat Deneb Algedi
Carina
/kəˈrnə/[6]
Car Cari Carinae
/kəˈrn/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis keel Canopus
Cassiopeia
/ˌkæsiˈpə/[6][7]
Cas Cass Cassiopeiae
/ˌkæsiˈp/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) Cassiopeia (mythological character) Schedar[8]
Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔːrəs/[6]
Cen Cent Centauri
/sɛnˈtɔːr/
ancient (Ptolemy) centaur Rigil Kentaurus[8]
Cepheus
/ˈsfiəs/[7]
Cep Ceph Cephei
/ˈsfi/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) Cepheus (mythological character) Alderamin
Cetus
/ˈstəs/[7]
Cet Ceti Ceti
/ˈst/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) Diphda[8]
Chamaeleon
/kəˈmliən/[6]
Cha Cham Chamaeleontis
/kəˌmliˈɒnts/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman chameleon α Chamaeleontis
Circinus
/ˈsɜːrsnəs/[6]
Cir Circ Circini
/ˈsɜːrsn/
1763, Lacaille compasses α Circini
Columba
/kˈlʌmbə/[6]
Col Colm Columbae
/kˈlʌmb/
1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major dove Phact
Coma Berenices
/ˈkmə bɛrəˈnsz/[7]
Com Coma Comae Berenices
/ˈkm bɛrəˈnsz/[7]
1536, Caspar Vopel,[9] split from Leo Berenice's hair β Comae Berenices
Corona Australis
/kˈrnə ɔːˈstræls, -ˈstr-/[6][7]
CrA CorA Coronae Australis
/kˈrn ɔːˈstræls/
ancient (Ptolemy) southern crown Meridiana[8]
Corona Borealis
/kˈrnə ˌbɔəriˈæls, -ˈls/[6][7]
CrB CorB Coronae Borealis
/kˈrn bɔəriˈæls/
ancient (Ptolemy) northern crown Alphecca
Corvus
/ˈkɔːrvəs/[6]
Crv Corv Corvi
/ˈkɔːrv/
ancient (Ptolemy) crow Gienah
Crater
/ˈkrtər/[6]
Crt Crat Crateris
/krəˈtɪərs/
ancient (Ptolemy) cup δ Crateris
Crux
/ˈkrʌks/[6]
Cru Cruc Crucis
/ˈkrss/
1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus southern cross Acrux
Cygnus
/ˈsɪɡnəs/[6]
Cyg Cygn Cygni
/ˈsɪɡn/
ancient (Ptolemy) swan or Northern Cross Deneb
Delphinus
/dɛlˈfnəs/[6]
Del Dlph Delphini
/dɛlˈfn/
ancient (Ptolemy) dolphin Rotanev
Dorado
/dəˈrɑːd/[10]
Dor Dora Doradus
/dəˈrdəs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman dolphinfish α Doradus
Draco
/ˈdrk/[7]
Dra Drac Draconis
/drəˈkns/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) dragon Eltanin[8]
Equuleus
/ˈkwliəs/[7]
Equ Equl Equulei
/ˈkwli/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) pony Kitalpha
Eridanus
/ˈrɪdənəs/[7]
Eri Erid Eridani
/ˈrɪdən/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) river Eridanus (mythology) Achernar
Fornax
/ˈfɔːrnæks/
For Forn Fornacis
/fɔːrˈnss/
1763, Lacaille chemical furnace Dalim[8]
Gemini
/ˈɛmn/[6]
Gem Gemi Geminorum
/ˌɛmˈnɒrəm/
ancient (Ptolemy) twins Pollux
Grus
/ˈɡrʌs/[7]
Gru Grus Gruis
/ˈɡrs/[7]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman crane Alnair
Hercules
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlz/[7]
Her Herc Herculis
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) Hercules (mythological character) Kornephoros
Horologium
/ˌhɒrəˈlɒiəm, -ˈl-/[6][7]
Hor Horo Horologii
/ˌhɒrəˈli/
1763, Lacaille pendulum clock α Horologii
Hydra
/ˈhdrə/[6]
Hya Hyda Hydrae
/ˈhdr/
ancient (Ptolemy) Hydra (mythological creature) Alphard
Hydrus
/ˈhdrəs/[6]
Hyi Hydi Hydri
/ˈhdr/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman lesser water snake β Hydri
Indus
/ˈɪndəs/[6]
Ind Indi Indi
/ˈɪnd/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Indian (of unspecified type) α Indi
Lacerta
/ləˈsɜːrtə/[6]
Lac Lacr Lacertae
/ləˈsɜːrt/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lizard α Lacertae
Leo
/ˈl/[6]
Leo Leon Leonis
/lˈns/
ancient (Ptolemy) lion Regulus
Leo Minor
/ˈl ˈmnər/[6]
LMi LMin Leonis Minoris
/lˈns mˈnɒrs/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lesser lion Praecipua
Lepus
/ˈlpəs/[7]
Lep Leps Leporis
/ˈlɛpərs/[6][7]
ancient (Ptolemy) hare Arneb
Libra
/ˈlbrə, ˈl-/[6]
Lib Libr Librae
/ˈlbr/
ancient (Ptolemy) balance Zubeneschamali[8]
Lupus
/ˈljpəs/[6]
Lup Lupi Lupi
/ˈljp/
ancient (Ptolemy) wolf α Lupi
Lynx
/ˈlɪŋks/[6]
Lyn Lync Lyncis
/ˈlɪnss/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lynx α Lyncis
Lyra
/ˈlrə/[6]
Lyr Lyra Lyrae
/ˈlr/
ancient (Ptolemy) lyre / harp Vega
Mensa
/ˈmɛnsə/[6]
Men Mens Mensae
/ˈmɛns/
Mons Mensæ, 1763, Lacaille Table Mountain (South Africa) α Mensae
Microscopium
/ˌmkrˈskɒpiəm/
Mic Micr Microscopii
/ˌmkrˈskɒpi/
1763, Lacaille microscope γ Microscopii
Monoceros
/məˈnɒsrəs/[6][7]
Mon Mono Monocerotis
/ˌmɒnəsˈrts/
1613, Plancius unicorn β Monocerotis
Musca
/ˈmʌskə/[7]
Mus Musc Muscae
/ˈmʌs/[6][7]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman fly α Muscae
Norma
/ˈnɔːrmə/[6]
Nor Norm Normae
/ˈnɔːrm/[6]
1763, Lacaille carpenter's level γ2 Normae
Octans
/ˈɒktænz/[7]
Oct Octn Octantis
/ɒkˈtænts/[7]
1763, Lacaille octant (instrument) ν Octantis
Ophiuchus
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/[6]
Oph Ophi Ophiuchi
/ˌɒfiˈjuːk/
ancient (Ptolemy) serpent-bearer Rasalhague
Orion
/ˈrən/[6]
Ori Orio Orionis
/ˈrəns, ˌɒriˈns/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) Orion (mythological character) Rigel
Pavo
/ˈpv/[6][7]
Pav Pavo Pavonis
/pəˈvns/[7]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman peacock Peacock
Pegasus
/ˈpɛɡəsəs/[6]
Peg Pegs Pegasi
/ˈpɛɡəs/
ancient (Ptolemy) Pegasus (mythological winged horse) Enif
Perseus
/ˈpɜːrsiəs/[7]
Per Pers Persei
/ˈpɜːrsi/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) Perseus (mythological character) Mirfak
Phoenix
/ˈfnks/[6]
Phe Phoe Phoenicis
/fˈnss/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman phoenix Ankaa
Pictor
/ˈpɪktər/[7]
Pic Pict Pictoris
/pɪkˈtɔərs/[7]
Equuleus Pictoris, 1763, Lacaille easel α Pictoris
Pisces
/ˈpsz, ˈpɪ-/[6][7]
Psc Pisc Piscium
/ˈpɪʃiəm/[7]
ancient (Ptolemy) fishes Alpherg
Piscis Austrinus
/ˈpss ɔːˈstrnəs/
PsA PscA Piscis Austrini
/ˈpss ɔːˈstrn/
ancient (Ptolemy) southern fish Fomalhaut
Puppis
/ˈpʌps/[7]
Pup Pupp Puppis
/ˈpʌps/[7][Note 2]
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis poop deck Naos
Pyxis
/ˈpɪkss/[6]
Pyx Pyxi Pyxidis
/ˈpɪksds/
1763, Lacaille mariner's compass α Pyxidis
Reticulum
/rɪˈtɪkjʊləm/[6]
Ret Reti Reticuli
/rɪˈtɪkjʊl/
1763, Lacaille eyepiece graticule α Reticuli
Sagitta
/səˈɪtə/[6]
Sge Sgte Sagittae
/səˈɪt/
ancient (Ptolemy) arrow γ Sagittae
Sagittarius
/sæˈtɛəriəs/[6]
Sgr Sgtr Sagittarii
/ˌsæəˈtɛəri/
ancient (Ptolemy) archer Kaus Australis
Scorpius
/ˈskɔːrpiəs/[6]
Sco Scor Scorpii
/ˈskɔːrpi/
ancient (Ptolemy) scorpion Antares
Sculptor
/ˈskʌlptər/[6]
Scl Scul Sculptoris
/skəlpˈtɒrs/
1763, Lacaille sculptor α Sculptoris
Scutum
/ˈskjuːtəm/[6]
Sct Scut Scuti
/ˈskjuːt/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius shield (of Sobieski) α Scuti
Serpens[11]
/ˈsɜːrpɛnz/
Ser Serp Serpentis
/sərˈpɛnts/
ancient (Ptolemy) snake Unukalhai
Sextans
/ˈsɛkstənz/[7]
Sex Sext Sextantis
/sɛksˈtænts/[7]
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius sextant α Sextantis
Taurus
/ˈtɔːrəs/[6]
Tau Taur Tauri
/ˈtɔːr/
ancient (Ptolemy) bull Aldebaran
Telescopium
/ˌtɛlˈskɒpiəm/
Tel Tele Telescopii
/ˌtɛlˈskɒpi/
1763, Lacaille telescope α Telescopii
Triangulum
/trˈæŋɡjʊləm/
Tri Tria Trianguli
/trˈæŋɡjʊl/
ancient (Ptolemy) triangle β Trianguli
Triangulum Australe
/trˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræl, -ˈstr-/
TrA TrAu Trianguli Australis
/trˈæŋɡjʊl ɔːˈstrælɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman southern triangle Atria
Tucana
/tjˈknə/
Tuc Tucn Tucanae
/tjˈkn/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman toucan α Tucanae
Ursa Major
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmər/[6]
UMa UMaj Ursae Majoris
/ˌɜːrs məˈɒrs/
ancient (Ptolemy) great bear Alioth
Ursa Minor
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmnər/[6]
UMi UMin Ursae Minoris
/ˌɜːrs mˈnɒrs/
ancient (Ptolemy) lesser bear Polaris
Vela
/ˈvlə/[6]
Vel Velr Velorum
/vˈlɔərəm/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis sails γ2 Velorum
Virgo
/ˈvɜːrɡ/[6]
Vir Virg Virginis
/ˈvɜːrns/
ancient (Ptolemy) virgin or maiden Spica
Volans
/ˈvlænz/[7]
Vol Voln Volantis
/vˈlænts/[7]
Piscis Volans, 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman flying fish β Volantis
Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/[6]
Vul Vulp Vulpeculae
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊl/
Vulpecula cum Ansere, 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius fox Anser

Asterisms

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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

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use – table V, Constellations
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28 6.29 6.30 6.31 6.32 6.33 6.34 6.35 6.36 6.37 6.38 6.39 6.40 6.41 6.42 6.43 6.44 6.45 6.46 6.47 6.48 6.49 6.50 6.51 6.52 6.53 6.54 6.55 6.56 6.57 OED, 2nd edition
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 7.34 7.35 7.36 7.37 7.38 7.39 7.40 7.41 7.42 7.43 7.44 7.45 7.46 7.47 7.48 7.49 7.50 7.51 7.52 7.53 7.54 7.55 7.56 7.57 7.58 Random House Dictionary
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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.

External links

Template:Dutch constellations


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