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IAU designated constellations

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

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 covering the entire celestial sphere. Their boundaries were officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1928 and published in 1930.[2]

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.[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. In the 1750s the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille divided this into three separate constellations: Carina, Puppis, and Vela.

Modern constellations

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The 88 constellations depict 42 animals, 29 inanimate objects, and 17 humans or mythological characters.

Abbreviations

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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).[3]

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.[4] These are labeled "NASA" in the table below and are included here for reference only.

List

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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[5] NASA[6] Name Vis. mag.
Andromeda
/ænˈdrɒmɪdə/[7]
And Andr Andromedae ancient (Ptolemy) Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess) Alpheratz 2.06
Antlia
/ˈæntliə/[7]
Ant Antl Antliae 1763, Lacaille air pump α Antliae 4.25
Apus
/ˈpəs/[8]
Aps Apus Apodis
/ˈæpdɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird α Apodis 3.83
Aquarius
/əˈkwɛəriəs/[7]
Aqr Aqar Aquarii ancient (Ptolemy) water-bearer Sadalsuud 2.87
Aquila
/ˈækwɪlə/[7]
Aql Aqil Aquilae ancient (Ptolemy) eagle Altair 0.76
Ara
/ˈɛərə/[8]
Ara Arae Arae
/ˈɛər/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) altar β Arae 2.84
Aries
/ˈɛər(i)z/[7][8]
Ari Arie Arietis
/əˈr.ɪtɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) ram Hamal 2.00
Auriga
/ɔːˈrɡə/[7][8]
Aur Auri Aurigae
/ɔːˈr/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) charioteer Capella 0.08
Boötes
/bˈtz/[7]
Boo Boot Boötis ancient (Ptolemy) herdsman Arcturus -0.05
Caelum
/ˈsləm/[8]
Cae Cael Caeli
/ˈsl/[8]
1763, Lacaille chisel or engraving tool α Caeli 4.46
Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[8]
Cam Caml Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[8]
1613, Plancius[note 1] giraffe β Camelopardalis 4.02
Cancer
/ˈkænsər/[7]
Cnc Canc Cancri ancient (Ptolemy) crab β Cancri 3.52
Canes Venatici
/ˈknz vɪˈnætɪs/[8]
CVn CVen Canum Venaticorum 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius hunting dogs Cor Caroli 2.81
Canis Major
/ˈknɪs ˈmər/[8]
CMa CMaj Canis Majoris ancient (Ptolemy) greater dog Sirius -1.46
Canis Minor
/ˈknɪs ˈmnər/[8]
CMi CMin Canis Minoris ancient (Ptolemy) lesser dog Procyon 0.34
Capricornus
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnəs/[8]
Cap Capr Capricorni
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrn/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) sea goat Deneb Algedi 2.83
Carina
/kəˈrnə/[7]
Car Cari Carinae 1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis keel Canopus -0.74
Cassiopeia
/ˌkæsiˈpə/[7][8]
Cas Cass Cassiopeiae
/ˌkæsiˈp/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) Cassiopeia (mythological character) Schedar 2.24
Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔːrəs/[7]
Cen Cent Centauri ancient (Ptolemy) centaur Alpha Centauri -0.27
Cepheus
/ˈsfiəs/[8]
Cep Ceph Cephei
/ˈsfi/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) Cepheus (mythological character) Alderamin 2.46
Cetus
/ˈstəs/[8]
Cet Ceti Ceti
/ˈst/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) Diphda 2.02
Chamaeleon
/kəˈmliən/[7]
Cha Cham Chamaeleontis 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman chameleon α Chamaeleontis 4.06
Circinus
/ˈsɜːrsɪnəs/[7]
Cir Circ Circini 1763, Lacaille compasses α Circini 3.19
Columba
/kˈlʌmbə/[7]
Col Colm Columbae 1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major dove Phact 2.65
Coma Berenices
/ˈkmə bɛrəˈnsz/[8]
Com Coma Comae Berenices
/ˈkm bɛrəˈnsz/[8]
1536, Caspar Vopel,[9] split from Leo Berenice's hair β Comae Berenices 4.26
Corona Australis
/kˈrnə ɔːˈstrælɪs, -ˈstr-/[7][8]
CrA CorA Coronae Australis ancient (Ptolemy) southern crown α Coronae Australis 4.10
Corona Borealis
/kˈrnə ˌbɔːriˈælɪs, -ˈlɪs/[7][8]
CrB CorB Coronae Borealis ancient (Ptolemy) northern crown Alphecca 2.24
Corvus
/ˈkɔːrvəs/[7]
Crv Corv Corvi ancient (Ptolemy) crow Gienah 2.59
Crater
/ˈkrtər/[7]
Crt Crat Crateris ancient (Ptolemy) cup δ Crateris 3.56
Crux
/ˈkrʌks/[7]
Cru Cruc Crucis 1589, Plancius, split from Centaurus southern cross Acrux 0.76
Cygnus
/ˈsɪɡnəs/[7]
Cyg Cygn Cygni ancient (Ptolemy) swan or Northern Cross Deneb 1.25
Delphinus
/dɛlˈfnəs/[7]
Del Dlph Delphini ancient (Ptolemy) dolphin β Delphini 3.62
Dorado
/dəˈrɑːd/[10]
Dor Dora Doradus 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman dolphinfish α Doradus 3.28
Draco
/ˈdrk/[8]
Dra Drac Draconis
/drəˈknɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) dragon Eltanin 2.23
Equuleus
/ɪˈkwliəs/[8]
Equ Equl Equulei
/ɪˈkwli/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) pony α Equulei 3.92
Eridanus
/ɪˈrɪdənəs/[8]
Eri Erid Eridani
/ɪˈrɪdən/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) river Eridanus (mythology) Achernar 0.46
Fornax
/ˈfɔːrnæks/
For Forn Fornacis 1763, Lacaille chemical furnace α Fornacis 3.85
Gemini
/ˈɛmɪn/[7]
Gem Gemi Geminorum ancient (Ptolemy) twins Pollux 1.14
Grus
/ˈɡrʌs/[8]
Gru Grus Gruis
/ˈɡrɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman crane Alnair 1.74
Hercules
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlz/[8]
Her Herc Herculis ancient (Ptolemy) Hercules (mythological character) Kornephoros 2.81
Horologium
/ˌhɒrəˈlɒiəm, -ˈl-/[7][8]
Hor Horo Horologii 1763, Lacaille pendulum clock α Horologii 3.85
Hydra
/ˈhdrə/[7]
Hya Hyda Hydrae ancient (Ptolemy) Hydra (mythological creature) Alphard 2.00
Hydrus
/ˈhdrəs/[7]
Hyi Hydi Hydri 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman lesser water snake β Hydri 2.80
Indus
/ˈɪndəs/[7]
Ind Indi Indi 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Indian (of unspecified type) α Indi 3.11
Lacerta
/ləˈsɜːrtə/[7]
Lac Lacr Lacertae 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lizard α Lacertae 3.76
Leo
/ˈl/[7]
Leo Leon Leonis ancient (Ptolemy) lion Regulus 1.35
Leo Minor
/ˈl ˈmnər/[7]
LMi LMin Leonis Minoris 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lesser lion 46 Leonis Minoris 3.83
Lepus
/ˈlpəs/[8]
Lep Leps Leporis
/ˈlɛpərɪs/[7][8]
ancient (Ptolemy) hare Arneb 2.59
Libra
/ˈlbrə, ˈl-/[7]
Lib Libr Librae ancient (Ptolemy) balance Zubeneschemali 2.61
Lupus
/ˈljpəs/[7]
Lup Lupi Lupi ancient (Ptolemy) wolf α Lupi 2.30
Lynx
/ˈlɪŋks/[7]
Lyn Lync Lyncis 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lynx α Lyncis 3.14
Lyra
/ˈlrə/[7]
Lyr Lyra Lyrae ancient (Ptolemy) lyre / harp Vega 0.02
Mensa
/ˈmɛnsə/[7]
Men Mens Mensae 1763, Lacaille, as Mons Mensæ Table Mountain (South Africa) α Mensae 5.09
Microscopium
/ˌmkrˈskɒpiəm/
Mic Micr Microscopiae 1763, Lacaille microscope γ Microscopii 4.68
Monoceros
/məˈnɒsɪrəs/[7][8]
Mon Mono Monocerotis 1613, Plancius unicorn β Monocerotis 3.74
Musca
/ˈmʌskə/[8]
Mus Musc Muscae
/ˈmʌs/[7][8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman fly α Muscae 2.69
Norma
/ˈnɔːrmə/[7]
Nor Norm Normae
/ˈnɔːrm/[7]
1763, Lacaille carpenter's level γ2 Normae 4.02
Octans
/ˈɒktænz/[8]
Oct Octn Octantis
/ɒkˈtæntɪs/[8]
1763, Lacaille octant (instrument) ν Octantis 3.73
Ophiuchus
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/[7]
Oph Ophi Ophiuchi ancient (Ptolemy) serpent-bearer Rasalhague 2.07
Orion
/ˈrən/[7]
Ori Orio Orionis
/ˈrənɪs, ˌɒriˈnɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) Orion (mythological character) Rigel 0.13
Pavo
/ˈpv/[7][8]
Pav Pavo Pavonis
/pəˈvnɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman peacock Peacock 1.94
Pegasus
/ˈpɛɡəsəs/[7]
Peg Pegs Pegasi ancient (Ptolemy) Pegasus (mythological winged horse) Enif 2.40
Perseus
/ˈpɜːrsiəs/[8]
Per Pers Persei
/ˈpɜːrsi/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) Perseus (mythological character) Mirfak 1.82
Phoenix
/ˈfnɪks/[7]
Phe Phoe Phoenicis
/fɪˈnsɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman phoenix Ankaa 2.38
Pictor
/ˈpɪktər/[8]
Pic Pict Pictoris
/pɪkˈtɔːrɪs/[8]
1763, Lacaille, as Equuleus Pictoris easel α Pictoris 3.27
Pisces
/ˈpsz, ˈpɪ-/[7][8]
Psc Pisc Piscium
/ˈpɪʃiəm/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) fishes α Piscium 3.61
Piscis Austrinus
/ˈpsɪs ɔːˈstrnəs/
PsA PscA Piscis Austrini ancient (Ptolemy) southern fish Fomalhaut 1.16
Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/[8]
Pup Pupp Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/[8]
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis poop deck Naos 2.25
Pyxis
/ˈpɪksɪs/[7]
Pyx Pyxi Pyxidis 1763, Lacaille mariner's compass α Pyxidis 3.67
Reticulum
/rɪˈtɪkjʊləm/[7]
Ret Reti Reticuli 1763, Lacaille eyepiece graticule α Reticuli 3.32
Sagitta
/səˈɪtə/[7]
Sge Sgte Sagittae ancient (Ptolemy) arrow γ Sagittae 3.47
Sagittarius
/sæɪˈtɛəriəs/[7]
Sgr Sgtr Sagittarii ancient (Ptolemy) archer Kaus Australis 1.85
Scorpius
/ˈskɔːrpiəs/[7]
Sco Scor Scorpii ancient (Ptolemy) scorpion Antares 0.91
Sculptor
/ˈskʌlptər/[7]
Scl Scul Sculptoris 1763, Lacaille sculptor α Sculptoris 4.30
Scutum
/ˈskjuːtəm/[7]
Sct Scut Scuti 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius shield (of Sobieski) α Scuti 3.83
Serpens[11]
/ˈsɜːrpɛnz/
Ser Serp Serpentis ancient (Ptolemy) snake Unukalhai 2.62
Sextans
/ˈsɛkstənz/[8]
Sex Sext Sextantis
/sɛksˈtæntɪs/[8]
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius sextant α Sextantis 4.49
Taurus
/ˈtɔːrəs/[7]
Tau Taur Tauri ancient (Ptolemy) bull Aldebaran 0.86
Telescopium
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiəm/
Tel Tele Telescopii 1763, Lacaille telescope α Telescopii 3.51
Triangulum
/trˈæŋɡjʊləm/
Tri Tria Trianguli ancient (Ptolemy) triangle β Trianguli 3.00
Triangulum Australe
/trˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræl, -ˈstr-/
TrA TrAu Trianguli Australis 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman southern triangle Atria 1.91
Tucana
/tjˈknə/
Tuc Tucn Tucanae 1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman toucan α Tucanae 2.86
Ursa Major
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmər/[7]
UMa UMaj Ursae Majoris ancient (Ptolemy) great bear Alioth 1.77
Ursa Minor
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmnər/[7]
UMi UMin Ursae Minoris ancient (Ptolemy) lesser bear Polaris 1.98
Vela
/ˈvlə/[7]
Vel Velr Velae 1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis sails γ Velorum 1.83
Virgo
/ˈvɜːrɡ/[7]
Vir Virg Virginis ancient (Ptolemy) virgin or maiden Spica 0.97
Volans
/ˈvlænz/[8]
Vol Voln Volantis
/vˈlæntɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman, as Piscis Volans flying fish β Volantis 3.75
Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/[7]
Vul Vulp Vulpeculae 1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius, as Vulpecula cum Ansere fox α Vulpeculae 4.40

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

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Notes

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  1. ^ The constellations Camelopardalis, Columba, and Monoceros, formed by Petrus Plancius in 1592 and in 1613, are often erroneously attributed to Jacob Bartsch and Augustin Royer.

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b Eugène Delporte; International Astronomical Union (1930). Délimitation scientifique des constellations. At the University press.
  3. ^ Russell, Henry Norris (1922). "The New International Symbols for the Constellations". Popular Astronomy. 30: 469. Bibcode:1922PA.....30..469R.
  4. ^ "Constellations". Ian Ridpath. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  5. ^ "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  6. ^ NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use – table V, Constellations
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf OED, 2nd edition
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg Random House Dictionary
  9. ^ "Comae Berenices". Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Definition of dorado". Collins English Dictionary. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  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.
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