Constellations Overview

Constellations are usual boundaries of regions of the sky inside which are found groups of stars. Such stars are not bound in space in anyway. They just look close to each other as seen from Earth. Diverse civilizations saw diverse objects, myths or symbols into the skies but today skies are largely due to Babylonians and Greeks for the constellations, to Arabs for stars names, as European explorers starting in the 16th century began to chart southern parts of sky never seen from the northern hemisphere. Definitive constellations boundaries were fixed in 1930 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as constellations number was fixed at 88. A base to today constellations are the famous 48 constellations which were recensed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy. An asterism is only a part of a constellation's group of stars, like the Leo's Sickle which is a part only of constellation of Leo, the Lion or the Great Square of Pegasus which is a part of Pegasus, the Winged Horse. The following overview provides for each constellation its surface on the sky in square degrees, most usual facts and myths about it, and when needed, objects found in it. Constellations are sorted by their Latin name

(click the illustration for each notice, to a chart of the constellation. The limiting magnitude for the named stars are mostly the 4.5, or 5th magnitude; the charts not scale relatively to each other)

important note about the constellations shapes: you will note that the current astronomical softwares and charts tending to shift from the constellations' shapes as usually recognized by the amateur astronomy community. This may be of a lesser inconvenience in the case of our constellation charts. A check to the appropriate general, monthly sky chart, may be of use however, as found either in the three tutorials about naked-eye sky learning, or the "12 Months Sky Charts" series, both, on the other hand, in the printer-friendly format. It's those charts in that format that support constellations shapes which shift less from the commonly accepted shapes. Those printer-friendly charts however are just providing an approaching estimation of the constellations' shapes like they should be however and must considered like such. more details on a dedicated page

Andromeda, Andromeda

722° Andromeda was the daughter of Cassiopeia (the constellation bears too this name). Cepheus was her father. To calm Poseidon who had become angry to the family, Andromeda was chained to a rock on an island and offered to Cetus, a sea monster. Perseus returning from killing the Medusa rescued Andromeda and fell in love with her. Hence the link between these constellations: Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Andromeda, Perseus, Cetus (the Whale). This story may have been borrowed by Greeks to Babylonians. M31, M32, M110 i.e. Andromeda Galaxy and its two satellites. Region of galaxies and deep sky objects

Antlia, the Air Pump

239° Named by Lacaille in honor of the 17th century British chemist Robert Boyle. Antlia Pneumatica until work of IAU 1930

Apus, the Bird of Paradise

206° First appears in Uranometria 1603. Amerigo Vespucci might have been one of its discoverers. Probably named by Pieter Dirksz Keyser and Fredrick de Houtman about 1595-1597

Aquarius, the Water Bearer

980° One of the constellations of the zodiac. Is in a large part of the sky known since the most ancient antiquity as "the water", or "the sea". One finds there other constellations related to water. Sometimes River Eridanus is shown having its source at the Water Bearer. The Water Bearer may be related to the biblical story of the Flood, and in Antiquity, the constellation's rise matched the beginning of rainy season in the Middle East. M2 (globular cluster), M72 (globular cluster), M73

Aquila, the Eagle

652° Thought to be Zeus eagle, keeping the thunderbolts of the god. Known as a vulture by the Romans. Altair brightest star of the constellation is part of the summer triangle with Deneb and Vega

Ara, the Altar

237° Was part of the Centaurus and of the Lupus but became independent when Norma was created. Ara Centauri was Chiron the centaur's altar. Was seen in numerous civilizations as an altar generally. Region of deep sky objects

Aries, the Ram

441° One of the constellations of the zodiac. Mostly the ram of the Golden Fleece

Auriga, the Charioteer

657° This constellation is associated on one hand to a charioteer (either Hephaestus -Vulcan at Rome or his son, all persons who invented the chariot), on another hand to sheperds and goats: Capella the bright star is maybe Amalthea, the goat which nourished Zeus when infant and two fainter stars associated to it are the goat's kids. M36 (open cluster), M37 (open cluster), M38 (open cluster). Region of open clusters

Bootes, the Herdsman

907° An ox-driver or herdsman. Maybe the son of Demeter (Ceres in Rome), goddess of agriculture. Maybe the inventor of the plow. The herdsman might too the son of Callisto and Zeus and nearly killed his mother transformed into a she-bear, would not have Zeus taken her to heavens where she became the Great Bear. see at Great Bear. Maybe too the driver of Asterion and Chara pursuing the Great Bear

Caelum, the Chisel

125° Constellation devised by Lacaille during its work at the Cape of Good Hope

Camelopardalis, the Giraffe

757° Constellation appeared in 1614; was more formally devised by the German astronomer Jakob Bartsch (1624); was representing the camel which brought Rebecca to Issac

Cancer, the Crab

506° One constellation of the zodiac. A crab sent by Hera against Hercules when the latter was fighting Hydra. Hercules killed it. Hera placed it in the sky. Another view (Chaldeans, Platon) is that the Crab was the gate through which souls descended upon men from heavens. M44 (famous open cluster the Beehive), M67 (large open cluster, one of the oldest known)

Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs

465° Hunting dogs of the Herdsman (Asterion or Cor Caroli, and Chara). They are pursuing the Great and the Little Bear. see at Great Bear. M3 (globular cluster), M51 (Whirlpool galaxy), M63 (Sunflower galaxy), M94 (galaxy), M106 (galaxy), NGC 4631 (galaxy), NGC 4656 (galaxy). Region of galaxies

Canis Major, the Great Dog

941° One of Orion's dogs. The other is the Little Dog. Orion may seen too like pursuing the Hare with his dogs. see at Orion. Sirius, main star to the constellation was rising at the Nile flooding season in ancient Egypt. Hence roman language the name for heavily warm periods in summer (canicule, from the Latin for dog, "canis"). Sirius is known as the "Dog Star". M41 (a large open cluster). Region of open clusters

Canis Minor, the Little Dog

182° The other dog of Orion with the Great Dog. The name of its bright star, "Procyon" means "before the dog" in Greek as it is above Sirius of the Great Dog

Capricornus, the Goat

414° One of the constellations of the zodiac. A fine myth see the Goat like the gate through which the souls of men entered after death. Might be too the god Pan. The Goat is the most ancient constellation known since pre-Babylonian times. M30 (globular cluster)

Carina, the Ship's Keel

494° Was part of the ship Argo, ship of the Argonauts, with Jason, looking for the Golden Fleece. Carina is the keel. The original constellation of the Ship extended as large as 75 deg; (about a quarter of the sky) hence far too large for observational purposes. It was divided into the Keel (Carina), the Stern (Puppis) and the Sails (Vela). Carina is home to the famous exploding unstable star Eta Carina. This star pulls material from the nearby Keyhole nebula (NGC 3372) and intermittently puffs off as a nova; last episode occurred about 200 years ago. Region of numerous open clusters

Cassiopeia , Cassiopeia, or the Queen

598° Aethiopiean queen. Married to Cepheus, etc. see at Andromeda. The constellation is also called "the Queen". Cassiopeia herself was punished by the Nereids to be chained head downward to her chair. M52 (open cluster), M103 (open cluster). Region of numerous open clusters

Centaurus, the Centaur

1060° With the Archer is one of the two centaurs in the sky. Centaurs were part human-part horse creatures. Centaurus is Chiron, king of centaurs. He was a wise man and tutor to mankind. Was tutor to Jason, Achilles, Hercules and Asclepius. Is thought to have taught men to draw constellations. Was accidentally wounded by Hercules and entered a torturing pain. He finally was released of his immortality by the gods and offered his life in exchange of the release of Prometheus who had stolen the fire for men. Centaurus is one of the largest constellations spanning about 60°. Region of deep sky objects

Cepheus, Cepheus, or the King

588° Cassiopeia husband. The constellation is also called "the King". Was one of the Argonauts. see at Andromeda. Region of deep sky objects. Region of open clusters

Cetus, the Whale

1231° The sea monster which was to kill Andromeda. see at Andromeda. Was turned to stone by Perseus through Medusa's head. Nowaday is seen as a whale. The original Cetus was found on the banks of River Eridanus. Is vast without brighter stars than magnitude 2 however. M77 (galaxy)

Chamaeleon, the Chameleon

132° Constellation devised by Bayer or by Pieter Dirksz Keyser and Fredrick de Houtman about 1595-1597.

Circinus, the Compass

93° Constellation devised by Lacaille during its Cape of Good Hope expedition about 1750

Columba, the Dove

270° Constellation appearing with Bayer, more formally in 1679 by Royer. Seen as the dove of Noah which came back with an olive-tree branch showing that Flood was over

Coma Berenices, Berenice's Hair

386° Sister and spouse to Ptolemy, sovereign of Egypt. She made the vow to sacrifice her long golden hair to Aphrodite if Ptolemy won over the Assyrians. She did and the hair was mysteriously taken into the sky. M53 (globular cluster), M64 (Blackeye Galaxy), M85 (galaxy), M88 (galaxy; member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies), M91 (galaxy; member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies), M98 (galaxy), M99 (galaxy; member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies), M100 (galaxy), NGC 4565 (galaxy). Region of galaxies

Corona Austrina (or Australis), the Southern Crown

128° The crown worn by the centaur Chiron or a bunch of arrows handed by him. Or the crown of Bacchus in honor of his mother Semele. One of the 48 constellations of Ptolemy

Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown

179° Crown of Ariadne. She was the daughter of Minos, king of Crete who was yearly leviing Athens with seven young men and maidens to sacrifice them to the Minotaur, a half man half bull who was living in a maze. One year Theseus, son of the king of Athens was among the victims. Ariadne fell in love and gave him a sword and a string. Theseus so could kill the Minotaur and find his way back. He fled with Ariadne. On the way he eventually abandonned her at Naxos, and Dyonysus courted her. As she would not believed he was a god, he threw his crown in the sky creating the Northern Crown. Maybe too simply Ariadne's crown given to her by Theseus, then placed in the stars by Venus

Corvus the Crow

184° Sacred crow of Apollo sent by the latter to look for a cup of spring water. The raven waited for a fig to ripen, hence was late and lied saying he had been attacked by a water serpent he had taken back as a proof. Apollo banished him, the cup and the water serpent in the sky (the Crow, the Cup, Hydra; the Crow is in sight of the Cup but the latter is guarded by Hydra)

Crater, the Cup

282° The Cup. see at Crow Also with the stars of Corvus was seen like the Ark of the Covenant

Crux, the Southern Cross

68° The well known southern sky constellation is paradoxically the smallest constellation in the sky. Invisible above 35° North. By Ptolemy was only a part of the Centaur. Seems to be known as independent to Amerigo Vespucci about 1507. Official by Royer in 1679. Was an aid to southern hemisphere sailors. Region of open clusters

Cygnus, the Swan

804° Cygnus was a friend to Phaeton, the son of Apollo. Phaeton tried to drive Apollo chariot. As he lost control and was to put Earth on fire, Zeus killed him. The chariot kept on in the sky creating the Milky Way as Phaeton fell in the River Eridanus. Cygnus dove many times in the river to save him but failed. Zeus turned him into a swan so he could dive more easily M29, M39 (open cluster). Region of open clusters

Delphinus, the Dolphin

189° Either a dolphin rode by Poseidon (Neptune) when he courted Amphitrite or a dolphin which helped a court Greek poet to escape seamen who wanted to rob and kill him

Dorado, the Swordfish

179° Constellation appearing with Bayer (1603) or among the 11 constellations devised by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597. Home to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), galaxies

Draco, the Dragon

1083° The dragon sent by ancient Greek gods against new. Athena defeated it and flung it into the sky. A crocodile for Indians and for Egyptians. Seen too as the guardian of the celestial pole which was the doorway between Earth and eternity. Long ago home to the polar star

Equuleus, the Little Horse

72° Ancient constellation, known since Antiquity. Second smallest constellation. Thought to be the brother to Pegasus which was given by Mercury to Castor. Is seen rising just before Pegasus

Eridanus, the River

1138° Known since the Antiquity and already then seen as a river. One Ptolemy 48 constellations. Maybe the Nile

Fornax, the Furnace

398° Constellation devised by Lacaille. Galaxies

Gemini, the Twins

514° One of the constellations of the zodiac. The twins Castor and Pollux, born to Zeus and Leda. Their sisters were Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. Raised by the centaur Chiron. Joined Jason for the search of the Golden Fleece. Pollux was immortal, Castor was mortal. In China symbolize the ying and the yang. The Greek twins are still known today to sailors as St. Elmos fire, twin balls of lightening hitting ships rigging. M35 (open cluster). Region of open clusters

Grus, the Crane

366° Constellation devised by Bayer (1603) or by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597

Hercules, Hercules, or the Heroe

1225° Heroe, son of Zeus and Alcmene, a princess. Performed the famous Twelve Labors (killed the Nemean Lion hence the constellation of the Lion; killed the monster Hydra hence the constellation; subdued the Minotaur -which might be the Bull). At his death was placed in the sky by Zeus. The constellation was known to the Greeks as the "Kneeling One" M13 (globular cluster), M92 (globular cluster)

Horologium, the Clock

249° Constellation devised by Lacaille

Hydra, the Hydra

1303° The many headed monster killed by Hercules as one of this Twelve Labors. Was placed in the sky by Zeus. Is guarding the cup from the Crow (Corvus). To the Babylonians Hydra was Tiamat, dragon of Chaos conquered by Gilgamesh. Hydra is the largest constellation of the sky. M48 (open cluster), M68 (globular cluster), M83 (galaxy), NGC 3242 (planetary nebula, "The Ghost of Jupiter"). Region of deep sky objects

Hydrus, the Water Serpent

243° Constellation devised by Bayer (1603) or by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597

Indus, the Indian

294° Constellation devised by Bayer (1603) or by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597

Lacerta, the Lizard

201° Constellation devised by Hevelius ca. 1687. Before Royer had placed there the "Sceptre" in honor to Louis XIV, King of France. Bode had there the Sceptre of Fredrick the Great, King of Germany. Open clusters

Leo Minor, the Little Lion

232° Constellation created by Hevelius ca. 1687. In China are associated to the Lion to form a huge celestial dragon or a chariot

Leo, the Lion

947° One of the constellation of the zodiac. The Nemean Lion killed by Hercules as one of his Twelve Labors. The Nemean Lion had fell from the Moon on Earth as a meteor. He was ravaging the countryside around Corinth. Lion's skin rendered Hercules invincible. Is now in the sky with Hercules. M65 (galaxy), M66 (galaxy), M95 (galaxy), M96 (galaxy), M105 (galaxy), NGC 2903 (galaxy), Wolf 359 (mag. 13.6 red dwarf, one of our closest neighbours with Alpha Centauri and Barnard's star). Region of galaxies

Lepus, the Hare

290°, A hare hiding at the feet of Orion as the latter pursues the Bull. Or the hare itself being chased by Orion. M79 (globular cluster). Home to Hind's Crimson Star

Libra, the Scales

538° Was originally belonging to the constellation of the Scorpion. Its two main stars were the Scorpion's claws. Was scales to the Romans. Mostly known as scales or as a scorpion's claws

Lupus, the Wolf

334° Known since the Antiquity. Long known as Therion, an unknown wild animal which was maybe linked to the centaur Chiron. Deep sky objects

Lynx, the Lynx

545° Or the Tiger. Constellation devised by Hevelius ca. 1687. Lynx is due to "lynx-eyes" are needed to see the constellation

Lyra, the Lyre

286° A Vulture in very ancient worlds. Vega was the "Vulture Star". Seen as a harp by Greeks (instrument inventend by Mercury and given to Apollo his half-brother; the latter eventually gave it to his son Orpheus, musician of the Argonauts expedition). Remained however long depicted as a harp in a vulture's claws or an eagle's. M56 (globular cluster), M57 (Ring planetary nebula), Epsilon Lyrae (the famous "double-double")

Mensa, the Table

153° Constellation devised by Lacaille. Is translated as the "Table Mountain"

Microscopium, the Microscope

210° Constellation devised by Lacaille

Monoceros, the Unicorn

482° Constellation devised by Bartsch about 1624 or by someone else about 1690. Maybe older. Messier object: M50. Contains two most massive stars discovered yet (two blue-giants, 55 times Sun's size and revolving about each other; known as Plaskett's Star). Region of open clusters

Musca, the Fly

138° Originally devised by Bayer in 1603 as "Apis", the Bee or by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597. Edmond Halley later called it Musca Apis, the Fly Bee. Eventually Lacaille called it Musca Australis, the Southern Fly (to distinguish it from the Northern Fly which existed on the back of the Ram). As the Northern Fly does not exist anymore, the Southern Fly became the Fly only, Musca. Open clusters

Norma, the Square

165° Constellation devised by Lacaille. Region of open clusters

Octans, the Octant

291° Constellation devised by Lacaille. It is the constellation where the south celestial pole is located. Contrarily to the Little Bear, there is no equivalent to Polaris however. Oddly Amerigo Vespucci recorded about 20 stars brighter than Venus and Jupiter in the region

Ophiuchus, the Serpent Holder

948° Is Asclepius, god of medicine, son of Apollo, educated by Chiron and the Argonauts expedition surgeon. Was so skilled that Hades, god of Hell, fearing to no more receive souls told his brother Zeus to kill him and decree that all mortals had to die. Zeus honored him however placing it in the sky with his two serpents (serpents are linked to medicine as herbs finders). M9 (globular cluster), M10 (globular cluster), M12 (globular cluster), M14 (globular cluster), M19 (globular cluster), M62 (globular cluster), M107 (globular cluster), NGC 6369 (planetary nebula). Region of globular clusters. Open clusters

Orion, Orion, or the Hunter

594° A famed giant hunter. As he was boasting no beast could harm him, Hera (or Artemis) sent a scorpion which stung Orion fatally. Both were place in the sky, on opposite sides of heavens. Orion had been blinded by the father of a Greek princess he had fell in love with; he regained his sight looking at Sun at dawn; he then saw Aurora the goddess of dawn. Orion might be too the son of Poseidon. Artemis, the goddess of the Moon and the hunt fell in love with him but eventually killed him as deceived by her brother Apollo. She placed Orion and his dogs in the sky. Orion rising signaled grapes harvest (midnight rise), early summer (morning rise) or winter coming (evening rise). M42 (the Great Orion Nebula), M43 (diffuse nebula), M78 (diffuse nebula), NGC 1773-75-77 (nebulosity north of M42), NGC 2022 (planetary nebula), NGC 2024 (the Flame nebula). Region of open clusters. Nebulae

Pavo, the Peacock

378° Constellation devised by Bayer in 1603 or by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597. Pavo is Argos, the builder of the Argonauts' ship, Argo Navis. The builder was transformed into a peacock when the boat itself was placed among the stars

Pegasus, the Winged Horse

1121° When the Medusa was killed by Perseus, Pegasus, a winged horse was created by a mixture of Medusa's blood, sea foam, and sand. see at Perseus. Pegasus was then captured by Bellerophon and used as a horse to kill Chimaera. In the sky mostly as the thundering horse of Jupiter. M15 (globular cluster), NGC 7177 (galaxy), NGC 7331 (galaxy), NGC 7332 (galaxy), NGC 7479 (galaxy). The constellation is home to NGC 7479 or Stephan's Quintet which unluckily is out of reach to amateurs

Perseus, Perseus

615° Or "Rescuer of Andromeda". Son of Zeus and Danae. At a moment of his life sent by a king who was courting his mother and wanted him out of the way, to kill the Gorgon Medusa. He was helped by gods and goddesses with magic weapons and tools and eventually managed to kill the Medusa. From the blood left by the latter's head was born Pegasus the winged horse upon which Perseus fled the vindication of Medusa's sisters. On his way he freed Andromeda. see at Andromeda M34 (open cluster), M76 (Dumbell planetary nebula), NGC 859-884 (the famous Perseus Double Cluster). The constellation is home to the 2.86 day famous eclipse-variable star Algol. Region of open clusters

Phoenix, the Phoenix

469° Constellation devised by Bayer in 1603 or by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597. May have been thought as a constellation when Sirius and the Sun rose together in July 139 AD

Pictor, the Easel

247° Constellation devised by Lacaille about 1750

Pisces, the Fishes

889° One of the constellations of the zodiac. Seen as Aphrodite and her son Eros in the Antiquity, fleeing the giant Typhon and turning themselves into two fishes to escape. Pisces became the place for the vernal equinox about Jesus Christ's birth as Ram was until then and as this period was marked by a remarkable closeness of Jupiter and Saturn the latter might have been the famous bright star which guided the Wise Men to Bethlehem. M74 (galaxy)

Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish

245° Known since Antiquity. One of the Ptolemy 48 constellations. Its brightest star is named by Arabs Fum al Hut (the Fish's Mouth) hence Fomalhaut

Puppis, the Ship's Stern

673° Stern of the ship Argo. South of Puppis is Carina, the Keel. In the region are Pyxis, the Compass and Vela, the Sails. M46 (open cluster), M47 (open cluster), M93 (open cluster), NGC 2440 (planetary nebula). Region of numerous open clusters

Pyxis, the Ship's Compass

221° Constellation devised by Lacaille about 1750 using stars which were part of the ship Argo

Reticulum, the Reticle

114° Constellation devised by Lacaille or simply adopted by him (might have been devised by Issak Habrecht of Strassburg as the Rhombus)

Sagitta, the Arrow

80° An arrow. Which of arrows of the Antiquity? The third smallest constellation. M71 (globular cluster)

Sagittarius, the Archer

867° An archer by the Greeks. Later another centaur to Chiron. Or a constellation devised by Chiron to guide the Argonauts to Colchis. M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M17 (Omega or Swan Nebula), M18 (open cluster), M20 (Trifid Nebula), M21 (open cluster), M22 (globular cluster), M23 (open cluster), M24 (Small Sagittarius Star Cloud, a separated part of Milky Way), M25 (open cluster), M28 (globular cluster), M54 (globular cluster; maybe a galaxy), M55 (globular cluster), M69 (globular cluster), M70 (globular cluster), M75 (globular cluster), NGC 6440 (globular cluster), NGC 6445 (planetary nebula), NGC 6603 (open cluster), NGC 6818 (planetary nebula), NGC 6822 (Barnard's galaxy). Open clusters. Globular clusters. Deep sky objects

Scorpius, the Scorpion

497° The scorpion which killed Orion. M4 (globular cluster), M6 (Butterfly cluster), M7 (open cluster), M80 (globular cluster), NGC 6144 (globular cluster just 1° from Antares), NGC 6231 (open cluster). Region of open clusters. Globular clusters

Sculptor, the Sculptor

475° Constellation devised by Lacaille

Scutum, the Shield

109° Constellation devised by Hevelius in 1690 in honor of King John III Sobieski of Poland who defended Vienna against the Turks in 1683. Is supposed to represent his coat of arms. M11 (open cluster), M26 (open cluster). Region of open clusters

Serpens, the Serpent

637° It is the only constellation which is separated into two parts. Serpent Caput, the Serpent's Head is 429°, Serpens Cauda, the Serpent's Tail is 208°. Each part is on each side of Ophiuchus. see at Serpent Holder M5 (globular cluster), M16 (Eagle nebula and cluster)

Sextans, the Sextant

314° Devised by Hevelius (?) Is an astronomer's sextant not a mariner's

Taurus, the Bull

797° One of the constellations of the zodiac. One of the most ancient constellations. Might be Zeus disguised in a white bull with golden horns to seduced and abduct Europa to Crete where she gave birth to the Minotaur. The Bull is also thought to charge Orion who is at its left. Might be too the brazen feet bull tamed by Jason (Argonauts). M1 (Crab Nebula), M45 (open cluster; the Pleiades), NGC 1514 (planetary nebula), NGC 1807/1817 (open clusters), the Hyades (open cluster; Aldebaran is a foreground star)

Telescopium, the Telescope

Constellation devised by Lacaille

Triangulum, the Triangle

132° Known since Antiquity. One of the Ptolemy 48 constellations. Maybe Sicily figured in the sky at its inhabitants demand by Jupiter. The first asteroid was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi on January, 1st 1801. M33 (the Pinwheel Galaxy)

Triangulum Australe, the Southern Triangle

110° Maybe reported by Amerigo Vespucci in 1503 and "found again" by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597. Again devised by Bayer in 1603

Tucana, the Toucan

295° Constellation devised by Bayer in 1603 or by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597. Home to the Small Magellanic Cloud

Ursa Major, the Great Bear

1280° The best known of constellations among a vast public. As Zeus had fallen in love of Callisto, Hera changed her into a she-bear. One day the bear met a hunter who was his son, Arcas. Arcas was to kill the bear when Zeus intervened, changed Arcas into a bear and placed both in the sky. Callisto is the Great Bear, Arcas the Little Bear. See too at Herdsman. M40 (a double star), M81 (galaxy), M82 (galaxy), M97 (the Owl Nebula), M101 (galaxy), M102, M108 (galaxy), M109 (galaxy), NGC 2841 (galaxy), NGC 3079 (galaxy), NGC 3631 (galaxy). Region of galaxies

Ursa Minor, the Little Bear

256° see at Great Bear. Was seen as a constellation only by 600 BC when separated from an old constellation (the Dragon's wing) and used as a navigational aide by sailors. Contains Polaris, the North Star

Vela, the Ship's Sails

500° Sails of the ship Argo. The ship, one of the Ptolemy 48 constellations, was divided into several smaller constellations (Vela, Puppis, Carina) by Lacaille. Region of open clusters

Virgo, the Virgin

1294° One of the constellation of the zodiac. One of the oldest constellations. Might have been the constellation of vernal equinox in ancient Egypt (which was the time of harvest). Goddess Istar by the Babylonians. Second largest constellation. M49 (galaxy), M58 (galaxy), M59 (galaxy; member of the Virgo cluster), M60 (galaxy), M61 (galaxy), M84 (galaxy), M86 (galaxy), M87 (galaxy), M89 (galaxy, member of the Virgo cluster), M90 (galaxy, member of the Virgo cluster), M104 (the Sombrero Galaxy). Region of galaxies

Volans, the Flying Fish

141° Constellation devised by Bayer in 1603 or by Keyser and Houtman about 1595-1597

Vulpecula, the Little Fox

278° Constellation devised by Hevelius along with the Goose; the Goose does not exist anymore. M27 (Dumbbell Nebula), Cr 399 (open cluster, the Coathanger). Open clusters