There are 88 official constellations as set forth by the International
Astronomical Union in 1930. They are:
Constellation | Description | Abbr. | Possessive form |
Andromeda | Princess Andromeda | And | Andromedae |
Antlia | Airpump | Ant | Antliae |
Apus | Bird of Paradise | Aps | Apodis |
Aquarius | Water Bearer | Aqr | Aquarii |
Aquila | Eagle | Aql | Aquilae |
Ara | Altar | Ara | Arae |
Aries | Ram | Ari | Arietis |
Auriga | Charioteer | Aur | Aurigae |
Boötes | Herdsman | Boo | Boötis |
Caelum | Sculptor's Tool | Cae | Caeli |
Camelopardalis | Giraffe | Cam | Camelopardalis |
Cancer | Crab | Cnc | Cancri |
Canes Venatici | Hunting Dogs | CVn | Canum Venaticorum |
Canis Major | Great Dog | CMa | Canis Majoris |
Canis Minor | Little Dog | CMi | Canis Minoris |
Capricornus | Sea Goat | Cap | Capricorni |
Carina | Keel of Argo | Car | Carinae |
Cassiopeia | Queen Cassiopeia | Cas | Cassiopeiae |
Centaurus | Centaur | Cen | Centauri |
Cepheus | King Cepheus | Cep | Cephei |
Cetus | Sea Monster | Cet | Ceti |
Chamaeleon | Chameleon | Cha | Chamaeleontis |
Circinus | Compasses | Cir | Circini |
Columba | Dove | Col | Columbae |
Coma Berenices | Berenice's Hair | Com | Comae Berenices |
Corona Australis | Southern Crown | CrA | Coronae Australis |
Corona Borealis | Northern Crown | CrB | Coronae Borealis |
Corvus | Crow | Crv | Corvi |
Crater | Cup | Crt | Crateris |
Crux | Southern Cross | Cru | Crucis |
Cygnus | Swan | Cyg | Cygni |
Delphinus | Dolphin | Del | Delphini |
Dorado | Swordfish | Dor | Doradus |
Draco | Dragon | Dra | Draconis |
Equuleus | Colt | Equ | Equulei |
Eridanus | River Eridanus | Eri | Eridani |
Fornax | Furnace | For | Fornacis |
Gemini | Twins | Gem | Geminorum |
Grus | Crane | Gru | Gruis |
Hercules | Hercules | Her | Herculis |
Horologium | Clock | Hor | Horologii |
Hydra | Water Serpent | Hya | Hydrae |
Hydrus | Little Serpent | Hyi | Hydri |
Indus | Indian | Ind | Indi |
Lacerta | Lizard | Lac | Lacertae |
Leo | Lion | Leo | Leonis |
Leo Minor | Little Lion | LMi | Leonis Minoris |
Lepus | Hare | Lep | Leporis |
Libra | Scales | Lib | Librae |
Lupus | Wolf | Lup | Lupi |
Lynx | Lynx | Lyn | Lyncis |
Lyra | Lyre (Harp) | Lyr | Lyrae |
Mensa | Table Mountain | Men | Mensae |
Microscopium | Microscope | Mic | Microscopii |
Monoceros | Unicorn | Mon | Monocerotis |
Musca | Fly | Mus | Muscae |
Norma | Carpenter's Square | Nor | Normae |
Octans | Octant | Oct | Octantis |
Ophiuchus | Serpent Bearer | Oph | Ophiuchi |
Orion | Hunter Orion | Ori | Orionis |
Pavo | Peacock | Pav | Pavonis |
Pegasus | Winged Horse | Peg | Pegasi |
Perseus | Hero Perseus | Per | Persei |
Phoenix | Phoenix | Phe | Phoenicis |
Pictor | Painter's Easel | Pic | Pictoris |
Pisces | Fishes | Psc | Piscium |
Piscis Austrinus | Southern Fish | PsA | Piscis Austrini |
Puppis | Stern of Argo | Pup | Puppis |
Pyxis | Mariner's Compass | Pyx | Pyxidis |
Reticulum | Reticle | Ret | Reticuli |
Sagitta | Arrow | Sge | Sagittae |
Sagittarius | Archer | Sgr | Sagittarii |
Scorpius | Scorpion | Sco | Scorpii |
Sculptor | Sculptor | Scl | Sculptoris |
Scutum | Shield | Sct | Scuti |
Serpens | Serpent | Ser | Serpentis |
Sextans | Sextant | Sex | Sextantis |
Taurus | Bull | Tau | Tauri |
Telescopium | Telescope | Tel | Telescopii |
Triangulum | Triangle | Tri | Trianguli |
Triangulum Australe | Southern Triangle | TrA | Trianguli Australis |
Tucana | Toucan | Tuc | Tucanae |
Ursa Major | Great Bear | UMa | Ursae Majoris |
Ursa Minor | Little Bear | UMi | Ursae Minoris |
Vela | Sail of Argo | Vel | Velorum |
Virgo | Virgin | Vir | Virginis |
Volans | Flying Fish | Vol | Volantis |
Vulpecula | Fox | Vul | Vulpeculae |
Note: The constellation Serpens (the serpent) is in two pieces: Serpens Caput (the head), and Serpens Cauda (the tail). (In between the two is Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer.)
There are discrepancies among different sources as to the descriptions of certain constellations. For example, some sources refer to Apus as the "Bird of Paradise", while others refer to it as the "Bee".
The possessive (genitive) form of the constellation name is used with the
Bayer (Greek letter) star designation to uniquely identify a star. For example
the alpha star in the constellation Centaurus is known as "Alpha Centauri".
(This particular star also happens to have a common name of "Rigil Kentaurus".)