Constellations

This is a list of eighty-eight constellations. Both the scientific name and the common name are given for each. For those lying between 60°N and 60°S, the season when they are best seen is stated. For those who lie between 60°N and 90°N and between 60°S and 90°S, it is stated that they are either North Polar or South Polar. Most stars within the constellations that have names are listed. Those known by Greek letters are not listed. At the end of the list, the zodiac constellations are named.

Scientific Name	Common Name	Season	Name Stars
Andromeda	Chained Lady	Autumn	Sirrah, Mirach, Alamak
Antlia	Air Pump	Spring	None
Apus	Bird of Paradise	South Polar	None
Aquarius	Water Carrier	Autumn	Sadalmelek, Sadalaud, Skat, Albali
Aquila	Eagle	Summer	Altair, Alshain, Tarazed, Deneb Okab
Ara	Altar	Summer	None
Aries	Ram	Autumn	Hamal, Sheratan, Mesarthim
Auriga	Charioteer	Winter	Capella, Menkalinan
Boötes	Herdsman	Spring	Arcturus, Nekkar, Haris, Izar, Muphrid
Caelum	Graving Tool	Winter	None
Camelopardalis	Giraffe	North Polar	None
Cancer	Crab	Winter	Acubens, Asellus Borealis, Asellus Australis
Canes Venatici	Hunting Dogs	Spring	Cor Caroli, Asterion
Canis Major	Greater Dog	Winter	Sirius, Mirzam, Muliphein, Wezen, Adara, Furud, Aludra
Canis Minor	Lesser Dog	Winter	Procyon, Gomeisa
Capricornus	Goat	Autumn	Gredi, Dabih, Deneb Algiedi
Carina	Keel	Winter	Canopus, Miaplacidus
Cassiopeia	Queen	North Polar	Schedar, Caph, Rucbar, Cih, Segin
Centaurus	Centaur	Spring	Toliman, Proximus Centauri, Agena
Cephus	King	North Polar	Alderamin, Alfirk, Alrai
Cetus	Whale	Autumn	Menkar, Deneb Kaitos, Kaffaljidhma, Baten Kaitos, Mira Ceti
Chameleon	Chamaeleon	South Polar	None
Circinus	Compasses	South Polar	None
Columba	Dove	Winter	Phakt
Coma Berenices	Berenice’s Hair	Spring	Diadem
Corona Australis	Southern Crown	Summer	None
Corona Borealis	Northern Crown	Summer	None
Corvus	Crow	Spring	Alchita, Kraz
Crater	Cup	Spring	Alkes
Crux	Southern Cross	Spring	Acrux
Cygnus	Swan	Summer	Deneb, Albireo, Sadir, Gienah
Dolphinus	Dolphin	Summer	Svalocin, Rotanev
Dorado	Goldfish	Winter	None
Draco	Dragon	North Polar	Thuban, Alwaid, Etamin, Nodus II, Nodus I, Kuma
Equuleus	Foal	Autumn	None
Eridanus	River Eridanus	Winter	Achernar, Cursa, Zaurak, Rana
Fornax	Furnace	Autumn	None
Gemini	Twins	Winter	Castor, Pollux, Alhena, Mebsuta
Grus	Crane	Autumn	Alnair
Hercules	Hercules (Hero)	Summer	Ras Algethi, Antilicus, Sarin
Horologium	Pendulum Clock	Winter	None
Hydra	Water Snake	Spring	Alfard
Hydrus	Lesser Water Snake	South Polar	None
Indus	Indian	Summer	None
Lacerta	Lizard	Autumn	None
Leo	Lion	Spring	Regulus, Denebola, Algieba, Zosma
Leo Minor	Lesser Lion	Spring	None
Lepus	Hare	Winter	Arneb, Nihal
Libra	Scales	Summer	Zuben Elgenubi, Zuben Elschemali, Zuben Elakrab, Zuben Elakribi
Lupus	Wolf	Summer	None
Lynx	Lynx	Winter	None
Lyra	Lyre	Summer	Vega, Sheliak
Mensa	Table Mountain	South Polar	None
Microscopium	Microscope	Summer	None
Monoceros	Unicorn	Winter	None
Musca	Fly	South Polar	None
Norma	Level	Summer	None
Octans	Octant	South Polar	None
Ophiuchus	Serpent Holder	Summer	Ras Alhague, Kelb Alrai, Sabik
Orion	Hunter	Winter	Betelgeuse, Rigel, Bellatrix, Mintaka, Alnilam, Alnitak, Saiph
Pavo	Peacock	South Polar	None
Pegasus	Flying Horse	Autumn	Markab, Scheat, Algenib, Enif, Homam, Matar
Perseus	Hero	Winter	Mirfak, Algol, Menkhib
Phoenix	Phoenix	Autumn	None
Pictor	Painter’s Easel	Winter	None
Pisces	Fishes	Autumn	Alrisha
Pisces Australis	Southern Fish	Autumn	Fomalhaut
Puppis	Stern	Winter	Naos, Azmidiske
Pyxis	Mariner’s Compass	Winter	None
Reticulum	Net	South Polar	None
Sagita	Arrow	Summer	Sham
Sagittarius	Archer	Summer	Alrami, Kaus Medius, Kaus Australis, Kaus Borealis, Nunki
Scorpius	Scorpion	Summer	Antares, Acrab, Dschubba, Shaula, Lesath
Sculptor	Sculptor	Autumn	None
Scutum	Shield	Summer	None
Serpens	Serpent	Summer	Unuk Elhaia
Sextans	Sextant	Spring	None
Taurus	Bull	Winter	Aldebaran, Nath
Telescopium	Telescope	Summer	None
Triangulum	Triangle	Autumn	Metallah
Triangulum Australe	Southern Triangle	South Polar	None
Toucana	Toucan	South Polar	None
Ursa Major	Great Bear	Spring	Dubha, Merak, Phekda, Megrez, Alioth, Benetnash, Mizar
Ursa Minor	Little Bear	North Polar	Polaris, Kochab, Pherkab
Vela	Sail	Winter	Alsuhail
Virgo	Virgin	Spring	Spica, Porrima, Vindermiatrix
Volans	Flying Fish	South Polar	None
Vulpecula	Fox	Summer	None

The word “zodiac” comes from the Greek zoidiakos kyklos, meaning “circle of little figures.” The original zodiac included twelve constellations, with the vernal equinox occurring as the sun entered Aries. However, precession – the slow wobble of Earth’s rotation axis – has changed that position from Aries to Pisces. According to the official boundaries of constellations set in 1930, the ecliptic now also passes through a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus (Serpent-Bearer).

The original twelve are as follows: