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Constellation List

There are 88 constellations officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). 36 modern constellations predominantly lie in the northern sky, while 52 are found in the southern celestial hemisphere. Most constellations (more than 40) represent animals. Many were named after humans or figures from mythology, while some depict inanimate objects.

The boundaries of the modern 88 constellations (listed below) were defined in the early 20th century. The constellation list was produced by American astronomer Henry Norris Russell and adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) at its General Assembly in Rome in May 1922.

Russell also provided three-letter abbreviations for each of the 89 constellations (the 88 modern ones and the Greek constellation Argo, which was later dropped). The constellations on Russell’s list corresponded to those listed in the Revised Harvard Photometry star catalogue (1908), published by Harvard College Observatory. The Harvard catalogue included the positions, photometric magnitudes and spectra of 9,110 stars visible to the unaided eye (mag. 6.50 and brighter) in every part of the sky.

The official boundaries of the modern constellations were drawn by Belgian astronomer Eugène Delporte and adopted by the IAU in 1928. The constellation boundaries were drawn along horizontal and vertical lines of right ascension and declination. The modern constellations were listed by Delporte in Délimitation scientifique des constellations in 1930.

Below is the list of all the 88 modern constellations recognized by the IAU, along with their English names, sizes (in square degrees), quadrants and the latitudes between which they are fully visible. The constellations are listed in alphabetical order.

LIST OF CONSTELLATIONS

Constellation English name Area (square degrees) Quadrant Visible between latitudes
Andromeda Andromeda 722.278 NQ1 90°N – 40°S
Antlia Air Pump 238.901 SQ2 45°N – 90°S
Apus Bird of Paradise 206.327 SQ3 5°N – 90°S
Aquarius Water Bearer 979.854 SQ4 65°N – 90°S
Aquila Eagle 652.473 NQ4 90°N – 75°S
Ara Altar 237.057 SQ3 25°N – 90°S
Aries Ram 441.395 NQ1 90°N – 60°S
Auriga Charioteer 657.438 NQ2 90°N – 40°S
Boötes Herdsman 906.831 NQ3 90°N – 50°S
Caelum Chisel 124.865 SQ1 40°N – 90°S
Camelopardalis Giraffe 756.828 NQ2 90°N – 10°S
Cancer Crab 505.872 NQ2 90°N – 60°S
Canes Venatici Hunting Dogs 465.194 NQ3 90°N – 40°S
Canis Major Greater Dog 380.118 SQ2 60°N – 90°S
Canis Minor Lesser Dog 183.367 NQ2 90°N – 75°S
Capricornus Sea Goat 413.947 SQ4 60°N – 90°S
Carina Keel 494.184 SQ2 20°N – 90°S
Cassiopeia Cassiopeia 598.407 NQ1 90°N – 20°S
Centaurus Centaur 1060.422 SQ3 25°N – 90°S
Cepheus Cepheus 587.787 NQ4 90°N – 10°S
Cetus Whale (or Sea Monster) 1231.411 SQ1 70°N – 90°S
Chamaeleon Chameleon 131.592 SQ2 0° – 90°S
Circinus Compass (drafting tool) 93.353 SQ3 30°N – 90°S
Columba Dove 270.184 SQ1 45°N – 90°S
Coma Berenices Berenice’s Hair 386.475 NQ3 90°N – 70°S
Corona Australis Southern Crown 127.696 SQ4 40°N – 90°S
Corona Borealis Northern Crown 178.710 NQ3 90°N – 50°S
Corvus Crow 183.801 SQ3 60°N – 90°S
Crater Cup 282.398 SQ2 65°N – 90°S
Crux Southern Cross 68.447 SQ3 20°N – 90°S
Cygnus Swan 803.983 NQ4 90°N – 40°S
Delphinus Dolphin 188.549 NQ4 90°N – 70°S
Dorado Dolphinfish 179.173 SQ1 20°N – 90°S
Draco Dragon 1082.952 NQ3 90°N – 15°S
Equuleus Little Horse (Foal) 71.641 NQ4 90°N – 80°S
Eridanus Eridanus (river) 1137.919 SQ1 32°N – 90°S
Fornax Furnace 397.502 SQ1 50°N – 90°S
Gemini Twins 513.761 NQ2 90°N – 60°S
Grus Crane 365.513 SQ4 34°N – 90°S
Hercules Hercules 1225.148 NQ3 90°N – 50°S
Horologium Pendulum Clock 248.885 SQ1 30°N – 90°S
Hydra Hydra 1302.844 SQ2 54°N – 83°S
Hydrus (male) Water Snake 243.035 SQ1 8°N – 90°S
Indus Indian 294.006 SQ4 15°N – 90°S
Lacerta Lizard 200.688 NQ4 90°N – 40°S
Leo Lion 946.964 NQ2 90°N – 65°S
Leo Minor Lesser Lion 231.956 NQ2 90°N – 45°S
Lepus Hare 290.291 SQ1 63°N – 90°S
Libra Scales 538.052 SQ3 65°N – 90°S
Lupus Wolf 333.683 SQ3 35°N – 90°S
Lynx Lynx 545.386 NQ2 90°N – 55°S
Lyra Lyre 286.476 NQ4 90°N – 40°S
Mensa Table Mountain (Mons Mensae) 153.484 SQ1 4°N – 90°S
Microscopium Microscope 209.513 SQ4 45°N – 90°S
Monoceros Unicorn 481.569 NQ2 75°N – 90°S
Musca Fly 138.355 SQ3 10°N – 90°S
Norma Level 165.290 SQ3 30°N – 90°S
Octans Octant 291.045 SQ4 0°- 90°S
Ophiuchus Serpent Bearer 948.340 SQ3 80°N – 80°S
Orion Orion (the Hunter) 594.120 NQ1 85°N – 75°S
Pavo Peacock 377.666 SQ4 30°N – 90°S
Pegasus Pegasus 1120.794 NQ4 90°N – 60°S
Perseus Perseus 614.997 NQ1 90°N – 35°S
Phoenix Phoenix 469.319 SQ1 32°N – 80°S
Pictor Easel 246.739 SQ1 26°N – 90°S
Pisces Fishes 889.417 NQ1 90°N – 65°S
Piscis Austrinus Southern Fish 245.375 SQ4 55°N – 90°S
Puppis Stern 673.434 SQ2 40°N – 90°S
Pyxis Compass (mariner’s compass) 220.833 SQ2 50°N – 90°S
Reticulum Reticle 113.936 SQ1 23°N – 90°S
Sagitta Arrow 79.932 NQ4 90°N – 70°S
Sagittarius Archer 867.432 SQ4 55°N – 90°S
Scorpius Scorpion 496.783 SQ3 40°N – 90°S
Sculptor Sculptor 474.764 SQ1 50°N – 90°S
Scutum Shield (of Sobieski) 109.114 SQ4 80°N – 90°S
Serpens Snake 636.928 NQ3 80°N – 80°S
Sextans Sextant 313.515 SQ2 80°N – 90°S
Taurus Bull 797.249 NQ1 90°N – 65°S
Telescopium Telescope 251.512 SQ4 40°N – 90°S
Triangulum Triangle 131.847 NQ1 90°N – 60°S
Triangulum Australe Southern Triangle 109.978 SQ3 25°N – 90°S
Tucana Toucan 294.557 SQ4 25°N – 90°S
Ursa Major Great Bear 1279.660 NQ2 90°N – 30°S
Ursa Minor Little Bear 255.864 NQ3 90°N – 10°S
Vela Sails 499.649 SQ2 30°N – 90°S
Virgo Virgin (Maiden) 1294.428 SQ3 80°N – 80°S
Volans Flying Fish 141.354 SQ2 15°N – 90°S
Vulpecula Fox 268.165 NQ4 90°N – 55°S