Astronomy:IAU designated constellations

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Short description: Constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union


IAU designated constellations in equirectangular projection (epoch B1875.0)

In contemporary astronomy, 88 constellations are recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).[1] Each constellation is a region of the sky bordered by arcs of right ascension and declination, together covering the entire celestial sphere. Their boundaries were officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1928 and published in 1930.[2]

The ancient Mesopotamians and later the Greeks established most of the northern constellations in international use today, listed by the Roman-Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy. The constellations along the ecliptic are called the zodiac. When explorers mapped the stars of the southern skies, European astronomers proposed new constellations for that region, as well as ones to fill gaps between the traditional constellations. Because of their Roman and European origins, every constellation has a Latin name. In 1922, the International Astronomical Union adopted three-letter abbreviations for 89 constellations, the modern list of 88 plus Argo. After this, Eugène Joseph Delporte drew up boundaries for each of the 88 constellations so that every point in the sky belonged to one constellation.[1][2]

History

Some constellations are no longer recognized by the IAU, but may appear in older star charts and other references. Most notable is Argo Navis, which was one of Ptolemy's original 48 constellations. In the 1750s the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille divided this into three separate constellations: Carina, Puppis, and Vela.

Modern constellations

The 88 constellations depict 42 animals, 29 inanimate objects, and 17 humans or mythological characters.

Abbreviations

Each IAU constellation has an official three-letter abbreviation based on the genitive form of the constellation name. As the genitive is similar to the base name, the majority of the abbreviations are just the first three letters of the constellation name: Ori for Orion/Orionis, Ara for Ara/Arae, and Com for Coma Berenices/Comae Berenices. In some cases, the abbreviation contains letters from the genitive not appearing in the base name (as in Hyi for Hydrus/Hydri, to avoid confusion with Hydra, abbreviated Hya; and Sge for Sagitta/Sagittae, to avoid confusion with Sagittarius, abbreviated Sgr). Some abbreviations use letters beyond the initial three to unambiguously identify the constellation (for example when the name and its genitive differ in the first three letters): Aps for Apus/Apodis, CrA for Corona Australis, CrB for Corona Borealis, Crv for Corvus. (Crater is abbreviated Crt to prevent confusion with CrA.) When letters are taken from the second word of a two-word name, the first letter from the second word is capitalised: CMa for Canis Major, CMi for Canis Minor. Two cases are ambiguous: Leo for the constellation Leo could be mistaken for Leo Minor (abbreviated LMi), and Tri for Triangulum could be mistaken for Triangulum Australe (abbreviated TrA).[3]

In addition to the three-letter abbreviations used today, the IAU also introduced four-letter abbreviations in 1932. The four-letter abbreviations were repealed in 1955 and are now obsolete, but were included in the NASA Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use (NASA SP-7) published in 1965.[4] These are labeled "NASA" in the table below and are included here for reference only.

List

For help with the literary English pronunciations, see the pronunciation key. There is considerable diversity in how Latinate names are pronounced in English. For traditions closer to the original, see Latin spelling and pronunciation.

Constellation Abbreviations Genitive Origin Meaning Brightest star
IAU[5] NASA[6]
Andromeda
/ænˈdrɒmɪdə/[7]
And Andr Andromedae
/ænˈdrɒmɪd/
ancient (Ptolemy) Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess) Alpheratz
Antlia
/ˈæntliə/[7]
Ant Antl Antliae
/ˈæntli/
1763, Lacaille air pump α Antliae
Apus
/ˈpəs/[8]
Aps Apus Apodis
/ˈæpdɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird α Apodis
Aquarius
/əˈkwɛəriəs/[7]
Aqr Aqar Aquarii
/əˈkwɛəri/
ancient (Ptolemy) water-bearer β Aquarii
Aquila
/ˈækwɪlə/[7]
Aql Aqil Aquilae
/ˈækwɪl/
ancient (Ptolemy) eagle Altair
Ara
/ˈɛərə/[8]
Ara Arae Arae
/ˈɛər/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) altar β Arae
Aries
/ˈɛər(i)z/[7][8]
Ari Arie Arietis
/əˈr.ɪtɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) ram Hamal
Auriga
/ɔːˈrɡə/[7][8]
Aur Auri Aurigae
/ɔːˈr/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) charioteer Capella
Boötes
/bˈtz/[7]
Boo Boot Boötis
/bˈtɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) herdsman Arcturus
Caelum
/ˈsləm/[8]
Cae Cael Caeli
/ˈsl/[8]
1763, Lacaille chisel or engraving tool α Caeli
Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[8]
Cam Caml Camelopardalis
/kəˌmɛlˈpɑːrdəlɪs/[8]
1613, Plancius[note 1] giraffe β Camelopardalis
Cancer
/ˈkænsər/[7]
Cnc Canc Cancri
/ˈkæŋkr/
ancient (Ptolemy) crab β Cancri
Canes Venatici
/ˈknz vɪˈnætɪs/[8]
CVn CVen Canum Venaticorum
/ˈknəm vɪnætɪˈkɒrəm/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius hunting dogs Cor Caroli
Canis Major
/ˈknɪs ˈmər/[8]
CMa CMaj Canis Majoris
/ˈknɪs məˈɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) greater dog Sirius
Canis Minor
/ˈknɪs ˈmnər/[8]
CMi CMin Canis Minoris
/ˈknɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) lesser dog Procyon
Capricornus
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrnəs/[8]
Cap Capr Capricorni
/ˌkæprɪˈkɔːrn/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) sea goat δ Capricorni
Carina
/kəˈrnə/[7]
Car Cari Carinae
/kəˈrn/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis keel Canopus
Cassiopeia
/ˌkæsiˈpə/[7][8]
Cas Cass Cassiopeiae
/ˌkæsiˈp/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) Cassiopeia (mythological character) α Cassiopeiae
Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔːrəs/[7]
Cen Cent Centauri
/sɛnˈtɔːr/
ancient (Ptolemy) centaur α Centauri
Cepheus
/ˈsfiəs/[8]
Cep Ceph Cephei
/ˈsfi/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) Cepheus (mythological character) α Cephei
Cetus
/ˈstəs/[8]
Cet Ceti Ceti
/ˈst/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) β Ceti
Chamaeleon
/kəˈmliən/[7]
Cha Cham Chamaeleontis
/kəˌmliˈɒntɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman chameleon α Chamaeleontis
Circinus
/ˈsɜːrsɪnəs/[7]
Cir Circ Circini
/ˈsɜːrsɪn/
1763, Lacaille compasses α Circini
Columba
/kˈlʌmbə/[7]
Col Colm Columbae
/kˈlʌmb/
1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major dove α Columbae
Coma Berenices
/ˈkmə bɛrəˈnsz/[8]
Com Coma Comae Berenices
/ˈkm bɛrəˈnsz/[8]
1536, Caspar Vopel,[9] split from Leo Berenice's hair β Comae Berenices
Corona Australis
/kˈrnə ɔːˈstrælɪs, -ˈstr-/[7][8]
CrA CorA Coronae Australis
/kˈrn ɔːˈstrælɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) southern crown α Coronae Australis
Corona Borealis
/kˈrnə ˌbɔːriˈælɪs, -ˈlɪs/[7][8]
CrB CorB Coronae Borealis
/kˈrn bɔːriˈælɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) northern crown α Coronae Borealis
Corvus
/ˈkɔːrvəs/[7]
Crv Corv Corvi
/ˈkɔːrv/
ancient (Ptolemy) crow γ Corvi
Crater
/ˈkrtər/[7]
Crt Crat Crateris
/krəˈtɪərɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) cup δ Crateris
Crux
/ˈkrʌks/[7]
Cru Cruc Crucis
/ˈkrsɪs/
1603, Uranometria, split from Centaurus southern cross Acrux
Cygnus
/ˈsɪɡnəs/[7]
Cyg Cygn Cygni
/ˈsɪɡn/
ancient (Ptolemy) swan or Northern Cross Deneb
Delphinus
/dɛlˈfnəs/[7]
Del Dlph Delphini
/dɛlˈfn/
ancient (Ptolemy) dolphin β Delphini
Dorado
/dəˈrɑːd/[10]
Dor Dora Doradus
/dəˈrdəs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman dolphinfish α Doradus
Draco
/ˈdrk/[8]
Dra Drac Draconis
/drəˈknɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) dragon γ Draconis
Equuleus
/ɪˈkwliəs/[8]
Equ Equl Equulei
/ɪˈkwli/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) pony α Equulei
Eridanus
/ɪˈrɪdənəs/[8]
Eri Erid Eridani
/ɪˈrɪdən/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) river Eridanus (mythology) Achernar
Fornax
/ˈfɔːrnæks/
For Forn Fornacis
/fɔːrˈnsɪs/
1763, Lacaille chemical furnace α Fornacis
Gemini
/ˈɛmɪn/[7]
Gem Gemi Geminorum
/ˌɛmɪˈnɒrəm/
ancient (Ptolemy) twins Pollux
Grus
/ˈɡrʌs/[8]
Gru Grus Gruis
/ˈɡrɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman crane α Gruis
Hercules
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlz/[8]
Her Herc Herculis
/ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) Hercules (mythological character) β Herculis
Horologium
/ˌhɒrəˈlɒiəm, -ˈl-/[7][8]
Hor Horo Horologii
/ˌhɒrəˈli/
1763, Lacaille pendulum clock α Horologii
Hydra
/ˈhdrə/[7]
Hya Hyda Hydrae
/ˈhdr/
ancient (Ptolemy) Hydra (mythological creature) Alphard
Hydrus
/ˈhdrəs/[7]
Hyi Hydi Hydri
/ˈhdr/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman lesser water snake β Hydri
Indus
/ˈɪndəs/[7]
Ind Indi Indi
/ˈɪnd/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman Indian (of unspecified type) α Indi
Lacerta
/ləˈsɜːrtə/[7]
Lac Lacr Lacertae
/ləˈsɜːrt/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lizard α Lacertae
Leo
/ˈl/[7]
Leo Leon Leonis
/lˈnɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) lion Regulus
Leo Minor
/ˈl ˈmnər/[7]
LMi LMin Leonis Minoris
/lˈnɪs mɪˈnɒrɪs/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lesser lion 46 Leonis Minoris
Lepus
/ˈlpəs/[8]
Lep Leps Leporis
/ˈlɛpərɪs/[7][8]
ancient (Ptolemy) hare α Leporis
Libra
/ˈlbrə, ˈl-/[7]
Lib Libr Librae
/ˈlbr/
ancient (Ptolemy) balance β Librae
Lupus
/ˈljpəs/[7]
Lup Lupi Lupi
/ˈljp/
ancient (Ptolemy) wolf α Lupi
Lynx
/ˈlɪŋks/[7]
Lyn Lync Lyncis
/ˈlɪnsɪs/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius lynx α Lyncis
Lyra
/ˈlrə/[7]
Lyr Lyra Lyrae
/ˈlr/
ancient (Ptolemy) lyre / harp Vega
Mensa
/ˈmɛnsə/[7]
Men Mens Mensae
/ˈmɛns/
1763, Lacaille, as Mons Mensæ Table Mountain (South Africa) α Mensae
Microscopium
/ˌmkrˈskɒpiəm/
Mic Micr Microscopii
/ˌmkrˈskɒpi/
1763, Lacaille microscope γ Microscopii
Monoceros
/məˈnɒsɪrəs/[7][8]
Mon Mono Monocerotis
/ˌmɒnəsɪˈrtɪs/
1613, Plancius unicorn β Monocerotis
Musca
/ˈmʌskə/[8]
Mus Musc Muscae
/ˈmʌs/[7][8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman fly α Muscae
Norma
/ˈnɔːrmə/[7]
Nor Norm Normae
/ˈnɔːrm/[7]
1763, Lacaille carpenter's level γ2 Normae
Octans
/ˈɒktænz/[8]
Oct Octn Octantis
/ɒkˈtæntɪs/[8]
1763, Lacaille octant (instrument) ν Octantis
Ophiuchus
/ˌɒfiˈjuːkəs/[7]
Oph Ophi Ophiuchi
/ˌɒfiˈjuːk/
ancient (Ptolemy) serpent-bearer α Ophiuchi
Orion
/ˈrən/[7]
Ori Orio Orionis
/ˈrənɪs, ˌɒriˈnɪs/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) Orion (mythological character) Rigel
Pavo
/ˈpv/[7][8]
Pav Pavo Pavonis
/pəˈvnɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman peacock α Pavonis
Pegasus
/ˈpɛɡəsəs/[7]
Peg Pegs Pegasi
/ˈpɛɡəs/
ancient (Ptolemy) Pegasus (mythological winged horse) ε Pegasi
Perseus
/ˈpɜːrsiəs/[8]
Per Pers Persei
/ˈpɜːrsi/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) Perseus (mythological character) α Persei
Phoenix
/ˈfnɪks/[7]
Phe Phoe Phoenicis
/fɪˈnsɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman phoenix α Phoenicis
Pictor
/ˈpɪktər/[8]
Pic Pict Pictoris
/pɪkˈtɔːrɪs/[8]
1763, Lacaille, as Equuleus Pictoris easel α Pictoris
Pisces
/ˈpsz, ˈpɪ-/[7][8]
Psc Pisc Piscium
/ˈpɪʃiəm/[8]
ancient (Ptolemy) fishes η Piscium
Piscis Austrinus
/ˈpsɪs ɔːˈstrnəs/
PsA PscA Piscis Austrini
/ˈpsɪs ɔːˈstrn/
ancient (Ptolemy) southern fish Fomalhaut
Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/[8]
Pup Pupp Puppis
/ˈpʌpɪs/[8]
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis poop deck ζ Puppis
Pyxis
/ˈpɪksɪs/[7]
Pyx Pyxi Pyxidis
/ˈpɪksɪdɪs/
1763, Lacaille mariner's compass α Pyxidis
Reticulum
/rɪˈtɪkjʊləm/[7]
Ret Reti Reticuli
/rɪˈtɪkjʊl/
1763, Lacaille eyepiece graticule α Reticuli
Sagitta
/səˈɪtə/[7]
Sge Sgte Sagittae
/səˈɪt/
ancient (Ptolemy) arrow γ Sagittae
Sagittarius
/sæɪˈtɛəriəs/[7]
Sgr Sgtr Sagittarii
/ˌsæəˈtɛəri/
ancient (Ptolemy) archer ε Sagittarii
Scorpius
/ˈskɔːrpiəs/[7]
Sco Scor Scorpii
/ˈskɔːrpi/
ancient (Ptolemy) scorpion Antares
Sculptor
/ˈskʌlptər/[7]
Scl Scul Sculptoris
/skəlpˈtɒrɪs/
1763, Lacaille sculptor α Sculptoris
Scutum
/ˈskjuːtəm/[7]
Sct Scut Scuti
/ˈskjuːt/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius shield (of Sobieski) α Scuti
Serpens[11]
/ˈsɜːrpɛnz/
Ser Serp Serpentis
/sərˈpɛntɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) snake α Serpentis
Sextans
/ˈsɛkstənz/[8]
Sex Sext Sextantis
/sɛksˈtæntɪs/[8]
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius sextant α Sextantis
Taurus
/ˈtɔːrəs/[7]
Tau Taur Tauri
/ˈtɔːr/
ancient (Ptolemy) bull Aldebaran
Telescopium
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpiəm/
Tel Tele Telescopii
/ˌtɛlɪˈskɒpi/
1763, Lacaille telescope α Telescopii
Triangulum
/trˈæŋɡjʊləm/
Tri Tria Trianguli
/trˈæŋɡjʊl/
ancient (Ptolemy) triangle β Trianguli
Triangulum Australe
/trˈæŋɡjʊləm ɔːˈstræl, -ˈstr-/
TrA TrAu Trianguli Australis
/trˈæŋɡjʊl ɔːˈstrælɪs/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman southern triangle α Trianguli Australis
Tucana
/tjˈknə/
Tuc Tucn Tucanae
/tjˈkn/
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman toucan α Tucanae
Ursa Major
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmər/[7]
UMa UMaj Ursae Majoris
/ˌɜːrs məˈɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) great bear ε Ursae Majoris
Ursa Minor
/ˌɜːrsə ˈmnər/[7]
UMi UMin Ursae Minoris
/ˌɜːrs mɪˈnɒrɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) lesser bear Polaris
Vela
/ˈvlə/[7]
Vel Velr Velorum
/vɪˈlɔːrəm/
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis sails γ Velorum
Virgo
/ˈvɜːrɡ/[7]
Vir Virg Virginis
/ˈvɜːrɪnɪs/
ancient (Ptolemy) virgin or maiden Spica
Volans
/ˈvlænz/[8]
Vol Voln Volantis
/vˈlæntɪs/[8]
1603, Uranometria, created by Keyser and de Houtman, as Piscis Volans flying fish β Volantis
Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/[7]
Vul Vulp Vulpeculae
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊl/
1690, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, Hevelius, as Vulpecula cum Ansere fox α Vulpeculae

Asterisms

Main page: Astronomy:Asterism

Various other unofficial patterns exist alongside the constellations. These are known as "asterisms". Examples include the Big Dipper/Plough and the Northern Cross. Some ancient asterisms, for example Coma Berenices, Serpens, and portions of Argo Navis, are now officially constellations.

See also

Notes

  1. The constellations Camelopardalis, Columba, and Monoceros, formed by Petrus Plancius in 1592 and in 1613, are often erroneously attributed to Jacob Bartsch and Augustin Royer.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. https://www.iau.org/public/themes/constellations/. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Eugène Delporte; International Astronomical Union (1930). Délimitation scientifique des constellations. At the University press. https://books.google.com/books?id=v3XvAAAAMAAJ. 
  3. Russell, Henry Norris (1922). "The New International Symbols for the Constellations". Popular Astronomy 30: 469. Bibcode1922PA.....30..469R. 
  4. "Constellations". Ian Ridpath. http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations1.html. 
  5. "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. https://www.iau.org/public/themes/constellations/. 
  6. NASA Dictionary of terms for Aerospace Use – table V, Constellations
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 7.34 7.35 7.36 7.37 7.38 7.39 7.40 7.41 7.42 7.43 7.44 7.45 7.46 7.47 7.48 7.49 7.50 7.51 7.52 7.53 7.54 7.55 7.56 7.57 OED, 2nd edition
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 8.20 8.21 8.22 8.23 8.24 8.25 8.26 8.27 8.28 8.29 8.30 8.31 8.32 8.33 8.34 8.35 8.36 8.37 8.38 8.39 8.40 8.41 8.42 8.43 8.44 8.45 8.46 8.47 8.48 8.49 8.50 8.51 8.52 8.53 8.54 8.55 8.56 8.57 8.58 Random House Dictionary
  9. "Comae Berenices". http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/comaberenices.html. 
  10. "Definition of dorado". Collins English Dictionary. http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dorado. 
  11. Serpens may be divided into Serpens Cauda (serpent's tail) and Serpens Caput (serpent's head), but these disjoint areas are considered part of the same constellation by the IAU.

External links