Constellation Charts

This page shows the IAU/Sky and Telescope constellations. They are not all to the same scale. The 88 official constellations are in 89 charts because Serpens is divided into two parts by Ophiuchus.

Many of the constellations in the northern sky originate from ancient times.

The southern constellations were unknown to the ancients and were defined only in recent centuries. The old southern constellation Argo Navis (the Ship Argo) was enormous and was split up into three others, Carina (the Keel), Puppis (the Stern) and Vela (the Sails); Pyxis (the Compass) later became a separate constellation from Argo’s mast.

Legend

Andromeda

Andromeda

Antila (the Air Pump)

Antila

Apus (the Bird of Paradise)

Apus

Aquarius (the Water Bearer)

Aquarius

Aquila (the Eagle)

Aquila

Ara (the Altar)

Ara

Argo Navis (the Ship Argo)

An old constellation, no longer used. See top of page.

Aries (the Ram)

Aries

Auriga (the Charioteer)

Auriga

Boötes (the Herdsman)

Bootes

Caelum (the Engraving Tool)

Caelum

Camelopardalis (the Giraffe)

Camelopardalis

Cancer (the Crab)

Cancer

Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs)

Canes Venatici

Canis Major (the Great Dog)

Canis Major

Canis Minor (the Lesser Dog)

Canis Minor

Capricornus (the Sea Goat)

Capricornus

Carina (the Keel)

Carina

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia

Centaurus (the Centaur)

Centaurus

Cepheus (the King)

Cepheus

Cetus (the Sea Monster)

Cetus

Chamaeleon (the Chameleon)

Chamaeleon

Circinus (the Compass)

Circinus

Columba (the Dove)

Columba

Coma Berenices (Bernice’s Hair)

Coma Berenices

Corona Australis (the Southern Crown)

Corona Australis

Corona Borealis

Corona Borealis

Corvus (the Crow)

Corvus

Crater (the Cup)

Crater

Crux (the Southern Cross)

Crux

Cygnus (the Swan)

Cygnus

Delphinus (the Dolphin)

Delphinus

Dorado (the Swordfish)

Dorado

Draco (the Dragon)

Draco

Equuleus (the Little Horse)

Equuleus

Eridanus (the River)

Eridanus

Fornax (the Furnace)

Fornax

Gemini (the Twins)

Gemini

Grus (the Crane)

Grus

Hercules

Hercules

Horologium (the Clock)

Horologium

Hydra (the Female Water Snake)

Cygnus

Hydrus (the Male Water Snake)

Hydrus

Indus (the Indian)

Indus

Lacerta (the Lizard)

Lacerta

Norton’s Star Atlas

Norton’s Star Atlas is a very good aid to star-gazing; the first edition was published in 1910 and it is now in its 20th edition. This edition (published by Penguin–Dutton) contains sections on: Position and time, the Heavens above, Position, Date and Time; Practical Astronomy, Observing, Astronomical Instruments, Astronomical Imaging; the Solar System, the Sun, the Moon, the Planets and their Satellites, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, Minor Planets, Comets, Meteors, Eclipses, Occultations, Aurorae, Noctilucent Clouds, the Zodiacal Light, Artificial Satellites; Stars – Constellations, Nomenclature, Radiation, Magnitude, Luminosity, Distances, Motions, Physical Parameters, Spectral Classification, Stellar Evolution, Double Stars, Variable Stars, Clusters; Nebulae, Galaxies; the famous Star Charts; and finally an appendix about Units and Notation, Astronomical Constants, Symbols and Abbreviations, and Useful Addresses.

See Wikipedia and the present editor, Ian Redpath’s web site.

There’s an asteroid, 3869 Norton (1981 JE), named after Arthur Philip Norton (1876–1955).

Leo (the Lion)

Leo

Leo Minor (the Lesser Lion)

Leo Minor

Lepus (the Hare)

Lepus

Libra (the Scales)

Libra

Lupus (the Wolf)

Lupus

Lynx

Lynx

Lyra (the Lyre)

Lyra

Mensa (the Table Mountain)

Mensa

Microscopium (the Microscope)

Microscopium

Monoceros (the Unicorn)

Monoceros

Musca (the Fly)

Musca

Norma (the Carpenter’s Square)

Norma

Octans (the Octant)

Octans

Ophiuchus

Ophiucus

Orion (the Hunter)

Orion

Pavo (the Peacock)

Pavo

Pegasus (the Winged Horse)

Pegasus

Perseus (the Hero)

Perseus

Phoenix

Phoenix

Pictor (the Painter’s Easel)

Pictor

Pisces (the Fishes)

Pisces

Piscis Austrinus (the Southern Fish)

Piscis Austrinus

Puppis (the Stern)

Puppis

Pyxis (the Compass)

Pyxis

Reticulum (the Reticle)

Reticulum

Sagitta (the Arrow)

Sagitta

Sagittarius (the Archer)

Sagittarius

Scorpius (the Scorpion)

Scorpius

Sculptor

Sculptor

Scutum (the Shield)

Scutum

Serpens Caput (the Serpent’s Head)

Serpens Caput

Serpens Cauda (the Serpent’s Tail)

Serpens Cauda

Sextans (the Sextant)

Sextans

Taurus (the Bull)

Taurus

Telescopium (the Telescope)

Telescopium

Triangulum (the Triangle)

Triangulum

Triangulum Australe (the Southern Triangle)

Triangulum Australe

Tucana (the Toucan)

Tucana

Ursa Major (the Great Bear)

Ursa Major

Ursa Minor (the Little Bear)

Ursa Minor

Vela (the Sails)

Vela

Virgo (the Maiden)

Virgo

Volans (the Flying Fish)

Volans

Vulpecula (the Fox)

Vulpecula