List of constellations

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Great Bear constellation

The list of constellations contains all 88 constellations specified by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) . After the number of constellations, some of which were created arbitrarily and without a system, had reached more than 100 in the course of time, the IAU established a binding list of 88 constellations in its first meeting in 1922. In 1930 the names of the constellations were determined on the basis of the Latin or Latinized names of the time. At the second meeting of the IAU in 1925, Eugène Delporte was tasked with setting the exact limits, which were approved at the third general assembly in 1928.

When drawing precise boundaries, the precession that has accumulated since then (shifting of the coordinate system) must be taken into account.

Explanation of the table below

Andromeda constellation
  • IAU genitive: Names the Latin genitive of the constellation.
  • Abbreviation: Calls the three-letter abbreviation of the Latin name of the constellation determined according to the system proposed by Henry Norris Russell in 1922.
  • Hemisphere: states the position of the constellation within the celestial sphere . N stands for the northern and S for the southern hemisphere. Constellations marked with NS or SN lie fairly centrally on the celestial equator; with the majority on the first-mentioned hemisphere. With N s and S n only a very small part of the constellation area lies on the hemisphere marked with the lower case letter.
  • Author: Names the author who first introduced or named the constellation and published it in maps. Individual constellations were already known in parts of another constellation or under a different name. 47 constellations go back to Claudius Ptolemy , who described them in his Almagest around 150 . Petrus Plancius introduced four more around 1600. Johann Bayer added twelve more constellations in the Uranometria of 1603. In Johannes Hevelius go back seven constellations. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille expanded the southern sky by 17 constellations around 1750.
  • Year: Indicates the year the constellation was introduced and published on maps. The presumable year 150 of the creation by Ptolemy was given for the Almagest.
  • Area: Indicates the area (more precisely: the solid angle) of the constellation in square degrees . The celestial vault comprises 41,253 square degrees, which are distributed over the 88 constellations. The boundaries of the constellations were established and approved by the IAU in 1928.
  • Visibility: Visibility indicates the area on earth in degrees of latitude from which the constellation can be fully observed or visible mathematically (ie "deep at night alone on the high seas without clouds or fog on the horizon").
  • brightest star: names the star that shines brightest in the constellation ( apparent brightness )
  • m max : Describes the apparent brightness in magnitudo ( m ) of the brightest star within the corresponding constellation.
  • <3.0 m : states the number of stars that are brighter than 3.0 m within the corresponding constellation .
  • Map: Cross reference to a star map
  • Stars: Cross reference for the most important stars

table

Name of the constellation IAU name
 IAU genitive
 Abbr. Hemisphere author year Area
(deg²) 		visibility brightest star m max <3.0 m map Stars
Aft deck of the ship Puppis Puppis Pup S. Lacaille 1763 673,434 39 ° N to 90 ° S Naos 2.21 4th map list
Eagle Aquila Aquilae Aql NS Ptolemy ≈150 652.473 78 ° N to 71 ° S Altair 0.76 3 map list
altar Era Arae Era S. Ptolemy ≈150 237.057 25 ° N to 90 ° S Beta Arae 2.85 2 map list
Andromeda Andromeda Andromedae And N Ptolemy ≈150 722.278 90 ° N to 37 ° S Sirrah 2.07 3 map list
Bear keeper Boats / Boötes Bootis / Boötis Boo N Ptolemy ≈150 906.831 90 ° N to 50 ° S Arcture −0.050 3 map list
cups Crater Crateris Crt S. Ptolemy ≈150 282,398 65 ° N to 90 ° S Delta Crateris 3.56 0 map list
sculptor Sculptor Sculptoris Scl S. Lacaille 1756 474.764 50 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Sculptoris 4.27 0 map list
chameleon Chameleon Chamaeleontis Cha S. Bayer 1603 131.592 07 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Chamaeleontis 4.05 0 map list
Chemical furnace Fornax Fornacis For S. Lacaille 1756 397.502 50 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Fornacis 3.87 0 map list
dolphin Delphinus Delphini Del N Ptolemy ≈150 188,549 90 ° N to 70 ° S Rotanev 3.63 0 map list
Dragon Draco Draconis Dra N Ptolemy ≈150 1,082,952 90 ° N to 15 ° S Etamin 2.24 3 map list
triangle Triangulum Trianguli Tri N Ptolemy ≈150 131.847 90 ° N to 50 ° S Beta trianguli 3.00 1 map list
lizard Lacerta Lacertae Lac N Hevelius 1687 200.688 90 ° N to 40 ° S Alpha Lacertae 3.77 0 map list
unicorn Monoceros Monocerotis Mon SN Plancius 1623 481,569 75 ° N to 85 ° S Beta monocerotis 3.76 0 map list
Eridanus Eridanus Eridani Eri S n Ptolemy ≈150 1,137,919 32 ° N to 89 ° S Achernar 0.50 4th map list
fishes Pisces Piscium Psc N s Ptolemy ≈150 889.417 84 ° N to 56 ° S Alpherg 3.62 0 map list
Fly Musca Muscae Mus S. Bayer 1603 138.355 10 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Muscae 2.69 1 map list
Flying fish Volans Volantis Vol S. Bayer 1603 141.354 14 ° N to 90 ° S Beta Volantis 3.77 0 map list
Fox Vulpecula Vulpeculae Vul N Hevelius 1690 268.165 90 ° N to 55 ° S Anser 4.44 0 map list
Carter Auriga Aurigae Aur N Ptolemy ≈150 657,438 90 ° N to 34 ° S Capella 0.03 5 map list
To fill Equuleus Equulei Equ N Ptolemy ≈150 71.641 90 ° N to 77 ° S Kitalpha 3.92 0 map list
giraffe Camelopardalis Camelopardalis Cam N Plancius 1613 756.828 90 ° N to 37 ° S Beta Camelopardalis 4.03 0 map list
Digger Caelum Caeli Cae S. Lacaille 1752 124.865 41 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Caeli 4.45 0 map list
Big Bear (Big Dipper) Ursa Major Ursae Majoris UMa N Ptolemy ≈150 1,279.660 90 ° N to 17 ° S Alioth 1.76 6th map list
Big dog Canis Major Canis Majoris CMa S. Ptolemy ≈150 380.118 57 ° N to 90 ° S Sirius −1.440 5 map list
Berenike's hair Coma Berenices Comae Berenices Com N Brahe 1590 386,475 90 ° N to 56 ° S Beta Comae Berenices 4.26 0 map list
Hare Lepus Leporis Lep S. Ptolemy ≈150 290.291 60 ° N to 90 ° S Arneb 2.58 2 map list
Hercules Hercules Herculis Her N Ptolemy ≈150 1,225.148 90 ° N to 39 ° S Beta Herculis 2.78 2 map list
Indians (Indian) Indus Indi Ind S. Bayer 1603 294.006 16 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Indi 3.11 0 map list
Hunting dogs Canes Venatici Canum venaticorum CVn N Hevelius 1690 465.194 90 ° N to 38 ° S Cor Caroli 2.80 1 map list
Virgin Virgo Virginis Vir SN Ptolemy ≈150 1,294,428 67 ° N to 76 ° S Spica 0.92 2 map list
Cassiopeia Cassiopeia Cassiopeiae Cas N Ptolemy ≈150 598,407 90 ° N to 12 ° S Schedir 2.23 4th map list
Cepheus Cepheus Cephei Cep N Ptolemy ≈150 587.787 90 ° N to 10 ° S Alderamin 2.45 1 map list
Keel of the ship Carina Carinae Car S. Lacaille 1763 494.184 14 ° N to 90 ° S Canopus −0.620 6th map list
Little water snake Hydrus Hydri Hyi S. Bayer 1603 243,035 08 ° N to 90 ° S Beta Hydri 2.80 2 map list
Little Bear (Little Carriage) Ursa Minor Ursae Minoris UMi N Ptolemy ≈150 255.864 90 ° N to 10 ° S Pole Star 1.97 2 map list
Small dog Canis Minor Canis Minoris CMi N s Ptolemy ≈150 183,367 89 ° N to 77 ° S Prokyon 0.37 2 map list
Little lion Leo Minor Leonis Minoris LMi N Hevelius 1687 231,956 90 ° N to 48 ° S 46 Leonis Minoris 3.83 0 map list
crane Grus Gruis Gru S. Bayer 1603 365.513 35 ° N to 90 ° S Al Nair 1.74 2 map list
cancer Cancer Cancri Cnc N Ptolemy ≈150 505.872 90 ° N to 60 ° S Altarf 3.52 0 map list
southern Cross Crux Crucis Cru S. Plancius 1589 68,447 25 ° N to 90 ° S Acrux 0.77 4th map list
lyre Lyre Lyrae Lyric N Ptolemy ≈150 286,476 90 ° N to 29 ° S Vega 0.03 1 map list
lion Leo Leonis Leo N s Ptolemy ≈150 946.964 83 ° N to 57 ° S Regulus 1.36 5 map list
lynx Lynx Lyncis Lyn N Hevelius 1690 545.386 90 ° N to 35 ° S Alpha Lyncis 3.13 0 map list
Air pump Antlia Antliae Ant S. Lacaille 1752 238,901 50 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Antliae 4.22 0 map list
painter Pictor Pictoris Pic S. Lacaille 1752 246.739 25 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Pictoris 3.27 0 map list
microscope Microscopium Microscopii Mic S. Lacaille 1752 209.513 45 ° N to 90 ° S Gamma Microscopii 4.67 0 map list
network Reticulum Reticuli Ret S. Lacaille 1752 113.936 23 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha reticuli 3.33 0 map list
Northern crown Corona Borealis Coronae Borealis CrB N Ptolemy ≈150 178.710 90 ° N to 50 ° S Gemma 2.21 1 map list
Octant Octane Octantis Oct S. Lacaille 1752 291.045 05 ° N to 90 ° S Ny Octantis 3.76 0 map list
Orion Orion Orionis Ori NS Ptolemy ≈150 594.120 85 ° N to 75 ° S Rigel 0.12 8th map list
Bird of paradise Apus Apodis Aps S. Bayer 1603 206,327 07 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Apodis 3.83 0 map list
Pegasus Pegasus Pegasi Peg N Ptolemy ≈150 1,120.794 90 ° N to 65 ° S Enif 2.38 5 map list
Pendulum clock Horologium Horologii Hor S. Lacaille 1752 248,885 20 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Horologii 3.85 0 map list
Perseus Perseus Persei By N Ptolemy ≈150 614,997 90 ° N to 35 ° S Mirfak 1.79 5 map list
peacock Pavo Pavonis Pav S. Bayer 1603 377.666 15 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Pavonis 1.94 1 map list
arrow Sagitta Sagittae Sge N Ptolemy ≈150 79.923 90 ° N to 70 ° S Gamma Sagittae 3.51 0 map list
Phoenix Phoenix Phoenicis Phe S. Bayer 1603 469.319 32 ° N to 90 ° S Ankaa 2.39 1 map list
Crow Corvus Corvi Crv S. Ptolemy ≈150 183,801 65 ° N to 90 ° S Gamma Corvi 2.59 3 map list
(Ship) compass Pyxis Pyxidis Pyx S. Lacaille 1763 220.833 53 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Pyxidis 3.68 0 map list
sign Scutum Scuti Sct S. Hevelius 1690 109.114 74 ° N to 64 ° S Alpha Scuti 3.85 0 map list
Snake Serpens Serpentis Ser NS Ptolemy ≈150 636,928 74 ° N to 64 ° S Unukalhai 2.63 1 map list
Snake bearer Ophiuchus Ophiuchi Oph SN Ptolemy ≈150 948,340 80 ° N to 80 ° S Ras Alhague 2.08 5 map list
Sagittarius Sagittarius Sagittarii Sgr S. Ptolemy ≈150 867,432 55 ° N to 90 ° S Kaus Australis 1.85 7th map list
swan Cygnus Cygni Cyg N Ptolemy ≈150 803.983 90 ° N to 29 ° S Deneb 1.25 5 map list
Swordfish Dorado Doradus Dor S. Bayer 1603 179.173 20 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Doradus 3.30 0 map list
Sails of the ship Vela Velorum Vel S. Lacaille 1763 499.649 33 ° N to 90 ° S Gamma Velorum 1.75 5 map list
sextant Sextans Sextantis sex SN Hevelius 1690 313,515 78 ° N to 83 ° S Alpha sextantis 4.49 0 map list
Scorpio Scorpius Scorpii Sco S. Ptolemy ≈150 496.783 44 ° N to 90 ° S Antares 1.06 11 map list
Capricorn Capricornus Capricorni Cap S. Ptolemy ≈150 413,947 62 ° N to 90 ° S Deneb Algedi 2.73 1 map list
bull Taurus Tauri dew N s Ptolemy ≈150 797.249 90 ° N to 65 ° S Aldebaran 0.85 4th map list
Southern crown Corona Australis Coronae Australis CrA S. Ptolemy ≈150 127.696 44 ° N to 90 ° S Beta Coronae Australis 4.10 0 map list
Southern fish Piscis Austrinus Piscis Austrini PsA S. Ptolemy ≈150 245.375 50 ° N to 90 ° S Fomal skin 1.16 1 map list
Southern triangle Triangulum Australe Trianguli Australis TrA S. Bayer 1603 109.978 20 ° N to 90 ° S Atria 1.91 3 map list
Table Mountain canteen Mensae Men S. Lacaille 1752 153.484 05 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Mensae 5.09 0 map list
Dove Columba Columbae Col S. Plancius 1592 270.184 41 ° N to 90 ° S Phact 2.65 1 map list
telescope Telescopium Telescopii Tel S. Lacaille 1756 251.512 33 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Telescopii 3.51 0 map list
Toucan Tucana Tucanae Tuc S. Bayer 1603 294,557 15 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Tucanae 2.86 1 map list
Libra Libra Librae Lib S. Ptolemy ≈150 538.052 60 ° N to 90 ° S Zuben-el-Shemali 2.61 2 map list
whale Cetus Ceti Cet S n Ptolemy ≈150 1,231,411 70 ° N to 90 ° S Deneb Kaitos 2.04 2 map list
Aquarius Aquarius Aquarii Aqr S n Ptolemy ≈150 979.854 65 ° N to 87 ° S Sadalsuud 2.90 2 map list
Water snake Hydra Hydrae Hya S n Ptolemy ≈150 1,302.844 55 ° N to 83 ° S Alphard 1.98 2 map list
Aries Aries Arietis Ari N Ptolemy ≈150 441.395 90 ° N to 59 ° S Hamal 2.01 2 map list
Angle measure Norma Normae Nor S. Lacaille 1752 165.290 30 ° N to 90 ° S Gamma 2 Normae 4.02 0 map list
wolf Lupus Lupi Lup S. Ptolemy ≈150 333,683 35 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Lupi 2.29 3 map list
Centaur , centaur Centaurus Centauri Cen S. Ptolemy ≈150 1,060,422 25 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Centauri −0.010 9 map list
Circle Circinus Circini Cir S. Lacaille 1752 93.353 20 ° N to 90 ° S Alpha Circini 3.19 0 map list
Twins Gemini Geminorum According to N Ptolemy ≈150 513.761 90 ° N to 60 ° S Pollux 1.16 4th map list
Remarks:
  1. ↑ a b These names and their genitive are determined by the IAU based on the Latin or Latinized names in 1930 and are not always an optimal name for the figurative meaning of the constellation.
  2. ↑ a b In these IAU constellation names, the genitive is the same as the nominative (due to the I-declension ) .
  3. ↑ a b The trema clarifies the separate pronunciation ( diaries ) of two o and not an umlaut . This avoids incorrect pronunciation of this word in English-speaking countries.

See also

literature

  • Eugène Delporte: Délimitation scientifique des constellations, tables et cartes. IAU . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1930.
  • Eckhard Slawik, Uwe Reichert: Atlas of the constellations. Spectrum, Heidelberg 2004, ISBN 3-8274-0268-9 .
  • Ian Ridpath: The Great Constellations. Patmos, Düsseldorf 2004, ISBN 3-491-69112-5 (English edition: " Star Tales ") -
  • Hermann-Michael Hahn, Gerhard Weiland: The new cosmos heavenly guide. Franckh, Stuttgart 1998. ISBN 3-440-07485-4 .
  • John Sanford: The New Cosmos Star Atlas. Franckh, Stuttgart 1990. ISBN 3-440-06087-X .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ IAU website. Retrieved April 13, 2016 .
  2. ↑ Ernst-Jochen Beneke: What do I see in the sky? Pp. 26-49.
  3. ^ Bertelsmann: The new Universal Lexicon. Bertelsmann Lexikon Institut, 2006, p. 478.
This version was included in the selection of informative lists and portals on August 29, 2007 .