List of constellations

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From the dawn of time, people observed the sky and grouped stars into patterns or constellations^{[citation needed]} . Each culture had its own constellations, usually based on mythology. Most of these are very hard to identify when you look at them without the lines, but some are very obvious.

The ancient Greeks originated many constellations that are still in use today, many of which were recorded by Ptolemy. However they left many gaps in the sky where there were was a lack of bright stars; also, they could not observe stars that were in the far southern hemisphere of the sky. European explorers mapped the stars of the southern skies, and various astronomers proposed new constellations to fill the gaps. Some new constellations caught on, while others did not.

In 1922, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially adopted the modern list of 88 official constellations. After this, Eugène Delporte drew up precise boundaries for each constellation, so that every point in the sky belonged to exactly one constellation.

Properly speaking, a constellation is an area of the sky or the celestial sphere. The term is more widely used to denote a particular star pattern that is contained within that area.

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

[edit] 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

[edit] Modern constellations

constellation	abbreviation	genitive	origin
Andromeda IPA: [ænˈdɹɑ.mə.də]	And	Andromedae IPA: [ænˈdɹɑ.mə.di]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Antlia IPA: [ˈænt.li.ə]	Ant	Antliae IPA: [ˈænt.li.i]	1763, Lacaille
Apus IPA: [ˈei.pəs]	Aps	Apodis IPA: [ˈæ.pə.dɪs]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Aquarius IPA: [əˈkwe.ɹi.əs]	Aqr	Aquarii IPA: [əˈkwe.ɹi.ai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Aquila IPA: [ˈæ.kwə.lə]	Aql	Aquilae IPA: [ˈæ.kwə.li]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Ara IPA: [ˈe.ɹə]	Ara	Arae IPA: [ˈe.ɹi]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Aries IPA: [ˈe.ɹiz]	Ari	Arietis IPA: [əˈɹai.ə.tɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Auriga IPA: [ɔˈɹai.gə]	Aur	Aurigae IPA: [ɔˈɹai.dʒi]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Boötes IPA: [bouˈou.tiz]	Boo	Boötis IPA: [bouˈou.tɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Caelum IPA: [ˈsi.ləm]	Cae	Caeli IPA: [ˈsi.lai]	1763, Lacaille
Camelopardalis IPA: [ kʰəˌmɛ.ləˈpʰaɹ.də.lɪs]	Cam	Camelopardalis IPA: [ kʰəˌmɛ.ləˈpʰaɹ.də.lɪs]	1624, Bartsch[2]
Cancer IPA: [ˈkʰæn.sɚ]	Cnc	Cancri IPA: [ˈkʰæŋ.kɹai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Canes Venatici IPA: [ˈkʰei.niz vɪˈnæ.tə.sai]	CVn	Canum Venaticorum IPA: [ˈkʰei.nəm vɪˌnæ.təˈkʰo.ɹəm]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius
Canis Major IPA: [ˈkʰei.nɪs ˈmei.dʒɚ]	CMa	Canis Majoris IPA: [ˈkʰei.nɪs məˈdʒo.ɹɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Canis Minor IPA: [ˈkʰei.nɪs ˈmai.nɚ]	CMi	Canis Minoris IPA: [ˈkʰei.nɪs mɪˈno.ɹɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Capricornus IPA: [ˌkʰæ.pɹəˈkʰɔɹ.nəs]	Cap	Capricorni IPA: [ˌkʰæ.pɹəˈkʰɔɹ.nai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Carina IPA: [kʰəˈɹai.nə]	Car	Carinae IPA: [kʰəˈɹai.ni]	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis
Cassiopeia IPA: [ˌkʰæ.si.əˈpʰi.ə]	Cas	Cassiopeiae IPA: [ˌkʰæ.si.əˈpʰi.i]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Centaurus IPA: [sɛnˈtʰɔ.ɹəs]	Cen	Centauri IPA: [sɛnˈtʰɔ.ɹai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Cepheus IPA: [ˈsi.fi.əs]	Cep	Cephei IPA: [ˈsi.fi.ai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Cetus IPA: [ˈsi.təs]	Cet	Ceti IPA: [ˈsi.taɪ]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Chamaeleon IPA: [kʰəˈmi.li.ən]	Cha	Chamaeleontis IPA: [kʰəˌmi.liˈɑn.tɪs]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Circinus IPA: [ˈsɝ.sə.nəs]	Cir	Circini IPA: [ˈsɝ.sə.nai]	1763, Lacaille
Columba IPA: [kʰɵˈlʌm.bə]	Col	Columbae IPA: [kʰɵˈlʌm.bi]	1679, Royer, split from Canis Major
Coma Berenices IPA: [ˈkʰou.mə ˌbɛ.ɹəˈnai.siz]	Com	Comae Berenices IPA: [ˈkʰou.mi ˌbɛ.ɹəˈnai.siz]	1603, Uranometria, split from Leo
Corona Australis[3] IPA: [kʰɵˈɹou.nə ɔˈstɹei.lɪs]	CrA	Coronae Australis IPA: [kʰɵˈɹou.ni ɔˈstɹei.lɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Corona Borealis IPA: [kʰɵˈɹou.nə ˌbo.ɹiˈei.lɪs]	CrB	Coronae Borealis IPA: [kʰɵˈɹou.ni ˌbo.ɹiˈei.lɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Corvus IPA: [ˈkʰɔɹ.vəs]	Crv	Corvi IPA: [ˈkʰɔɹ.vai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Crater IPA: [ˈkʰɹei.tɚ]	Crt	Crateris IPA: [kʰɹəˈtʰi.ɹɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Crux IPA: [ˈkʰɹʌks]	Cru	Crucis IPA: [ˈkʰɹu.sɪs]	1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus
Cygnus IPA: [ˈsɪg.nəs]	Cyg	Cygni IPA: [ˈsɪg.nai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Delphinus IPA: [dɛlˈfai.nəs]	Del	Delphini IPA: [dɛlˈfai.nai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Dorado IPA: [dɵˈɹei.dou]	Dor	Doradus IPA: [dɵˈɹei.dəs]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Draco IPA: [ˈdɹei.kou]	Dra	Draconis IPA: [dɹəˈkʰou.nɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Equuleus IPA: [ɪˈkʰwu.li.əs]	Equ	Equulei IPA: [ɪˈkʰwu.li.ai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Eridanus IPA: [ɪˈɹɪ.də.nəs]	Eri	Eridani IPA: [ɪˈɹɪ.də.nai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Fornax IPA: [ˈfɔɹ.næks]	For	Fornacis IPA: [fɔɹˈnei.sɪs]	1763, Lacaille
Gemini IPA: [ˈdʒɛ.mə.nai]	Gem	Geminorum IPA: [ˌdʒɛ.məˈno.rəm]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Grus IPA: [ˈgɹʌs]	Gru	Gruis IPA: [ˈgɹu.ɪs]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Hercules IPA: [ˈhɝ.kjə.liz]	Her	Herculis IPA: [ˈhɝ.kjə.lɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Horologium IPA: [ˌhɑ.ɹəˈlou.dʒi.əm]	Hor	Horologii IPA: [ˌhɑ.ɹəˈlou.dʒi.ai]	1763, Lacaille
Hydra IPA: [ˈhai.dɹə]	Hya	Hydrae IPA: [ˈhai.dɹi]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Hydrus IPA: [ˈhai.dɹəs]	Hyi	Hydri IPA: [ˈhai.dɹai]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Indus IPA: [ˈɪn.dəs]	Ind	Indi IPA: [ˈɪn.dai]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Lacerta IPA: [ləˈsɝ.tə]	Lac	Lacertae IPA: [ləˈsɝ.ti]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius
Leo IPA: [ˈli.ou]	Leo	Leonis IPA: [liˈou.nɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Leo Minor IPA: [ˈli.ou ˈmai.nɚ]	LMi	Leonis Minoris IPA: [liˈou.nɪs mɪˈno.ɹɪs]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius
Lepus IPA: [ˈli.pəs]	Lep	Leporis IPA: [ˈlɛ.pə.ɹɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Libra IPA: [ˈlai.bɹə]	Lib	Librae IPA: [ˈlai.bɹi]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Lupus IPA: [ˈlu.pəs]	Lup	Lupi IPA: [ˈlu.pai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Lynx IPA: [ˈlɪŋks]	Lyn	Lyncis IPA: [ˈlɪn.sɪs]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius
Lyra IPA: [ˈlai.ɹə]	Lyr	Lyrae IPA: [ˈlai.ɹi]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Mensa IPA: [ˈmɛn.sə]	Men	Mensae IPA: [ˈmɛn.si]	1763, Lacaille
Microscopium IPA: [ˌmai.kɹəˈskou.pi.əm]	Mic	Microscopii IPA: [ˌmai.kɹəˈskou.pi.ai]	1763, Lacaille
Monoceros IPA: [mɵˈnɑ.sə.ɹɑs]	Mon	Monocerotis IPA: [mɵˌnɑ.səˈɹou.tɪs]	1624, Bartsch
Musca IPA: [ˈmʌ.skə]	Mus	Muscae IPA: [ˈmʌ.si]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Norma IPA: [nɔɹˈmə]	Nor	Normae IPA: [nɔɹˈmi]	1763, Lacaille
Octans IPA: [ˈɑk.tænz]	Oct	Octantis IPA: [ɑkˈtʰæn.tɪs]	1763, Lacaille
Ophiuchus IPA: [ˌou.fiˈju.kəs]	Oph	Ophiuchi IPA: [ˌou.fiˈju.kaɪ]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Orion IPA: [ɵˈɹai.ən]	Ori	Orionis IPA: [ˌo.ɹiˈou.nɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Pavo IPA: [ˈpʰei.vou]	Pav	Pavonis IPA: [pʰəˈvou.nɪs]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Pegasus IPA: [ˈpʰɛ.gə.səs]	Peg	Pegasi IPA: [ˈpʰɛ.gə.sai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Perseus IPA: [ˈpʰɝ.sjus]	Per	Persei IPA: [ˈpʰɝ.si.ai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Phoenix IPA: [ˈfi.nɪks]	Phe	Phoenicis IPA: [fɪˈnai.sɪs]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Pictor IPA: [ˈpʰɪk.tɚ]	Pic	Pictoris IPA: [pʰɪkˈtʰo.ɹɪs]	1763, Lacaille
Pisces IPA: [ˈpʰai.siz]	Psc	Piscium IPA: [ˈpʰɪ.ʃi.əm]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Piscis Austrinus IPA: [ˈpʰai.sɪs ɔˈstɹai.nəs]	PsA	Piscis Austrini IPA: [ˈpʰai.sɪs ɔˈstɹai.nai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Puppis IPA: [ˈpʰʌ.pɪs]	Pup	Puppis IPA: [ˈpʰʌ.pɪs]	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis
Pyxis IPA: [ˈpʰɪk.sɪs]	Pyx	Pyxidis IPA: [ˈpʰɪk.sədɪs]	1763, Lacaille
Reticulum IPA: [ɹɪˈtʰɪ.kjə.ləm]	Ret	Reticuli IPA: [ɹɪˈtʰɪk.jə.lai]	1763, Lacaille
Sagitta IPA: [səˈdʒɪ.tə]	Sge	Sagittae IPA: [səˈdʒɪ.ti]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Sagittarius IPA: [ˌsæ.dʒəˈtʰe.ɹi.əs]	Sgr	Sagittarii IPA: [ˌsæ.dʒəˈtʰe.ɹi.ai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Scorpius IPA: [ˈskɔɹ.pi.əs]	Sco	Scorpii IPA: [ˈskɔɹ.pi.ai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Sculptor IPA: [ˈskʌlp.tɚ]	Scl	Sculptoris IPA: [skʌlpˈtʰo.ɹɪs]	1763, Lacaille
Scutum IPA: [ˈskju.təm]	Sct	Scuti IPA: [ˈskju.tai]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius
Serpens[4] IPA: [ˈsɝ.pɛnz]	Ser	Serpentis IPA: [sɝˈpʰɛn.tɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Sextans IPA: [ˈsɛk.stænz]	Sex	Sextantis IPA: [sɛkˈstæn.tɪs]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius
Taurus IPA: [ˈtʰɔ.ɹəs]	Tau	Tauri IPA: [ˈtʰɔ.ɹai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Telescopium IPA: [ˌtʰɛ.ləˈskou.pi.əm]	Tel	Telescopii IPA: [ˌtʰɛ.ləˈskou.pi.ai]	1763, Lacaille
Triangulum IPA: [tʰɹaiˈæŋ.gjə.ləm]	Tri	Trianguli IPA: [tʰɹaiˈæŋ.gjə.lai]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Triangulum Australe IPA: [tʰɹaiˈæŋ.gjə.ləm ɔˈstrɹei.li]	TrA	Trianguli Australis IPA: [tʰɹaiˈæŋ.gjə.lai ɔˈstɹei.lɪs]	1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Tucana IPA: [tʰjʊˈkʰei.nə]	Tuc	Tucanae IPA: [tʰjʊˈkʰei.ni]	1603 Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Ursa Major IPA: [ˈɝ.sə ˈmei.dʒɚ]	UMa	Ursae Majoris IPA: [ˈɝ.si məˈdʒo.ɹɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Ursa Minor IPA: [ˈɝ.sə ˈmai.nɚ]	UMi	Ursae Minoris IPA: [ˈɝ.si mɪˈno.ɹɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Vela IPA: [ˈvi.lə]	Vel	Velorum IPA: [vɪˈlo.ɹəm]	1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis
Virgo IPA: [ˈvɝ.gou]	Vir	Virginis IPA: [ˈvɝ.dʒə.nɪs]	ancient (Ptolemy)
Volans IPA: [ˈvou.lænz]	Vol	Volantis IPA: [vɵˈlæn.tɪs]	1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman
Vulpecula IPA: [vʌlˈpʰɛ.kjə.lə]	Vul	Vulpeculae IPA: [vʌlˈpʰɛ.kjə.li]	1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius

Notes

1. ^ '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.
2. ^ Some sources say that Camelopardalis, Columba, and Monoceros were invented by Petrus Plancius in the early 1600s.
3. ^ Corona Australis is sometimes called "Corona Austrina" (genitive: Coronae Austrinae).
4. ^ Serpens is divided into Serpens Cauda and Serpens Caput.

[edit] Former constellations

Main article: former constellations

Some constellations are no longer recognized by the International Astronomical Union, but may appear in older star charts and other references. Most notable is Argo Navis, which was one of Ptolemy's original 48 constellations.

[edit] Asterisms

Main article: Asterism (astronomy)

Various other unofficial patterns have existed alongside the constellations. These are known as "asterisms." Examples include the Big Dipper and the Northern Cross. Some ancient asterisms, for example Coma Berenices, Serpens, and portions of Argo Navis, are now officially constellations.

[edit] See also

• List of constellations by area
• List of stars by constellation

[edit] External links

• http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations1.htm
• http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/contents.htm