The 88 Constellations of the Night Sky

A constellation is a grouping of stars that represents one of the 88 divisions of the celestial sphere as defined by the International Astronomical Union. Many constellations are derived from old traditional asterisms, which are star patterns within a constellation. An example: the Big Dipper is an asterism inside of the Ursa Major constellation.

Seasons listed are for mid-northern latitudes. For southern latitudes, flip the season listed. For example, if a constellation is listed as best viewed in the summer, in the southern hemisphere the constellation would be best viewed in the winter and would be upside-down. Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in their hemisphere.

Constellations shown bolded are the Zodiac constellations.

1. Name
2. Meaning
3. Best Viewed

1. Andromeda
2. Daughter of Cepheus
3. Fall

1. Antlia
2. Air Pump
3. Spring

1. Apus
2. Bird of Paradise
3. Summer

1. Aquarius
2. Water Bearer
3. Fall

1. Aquila
2. Eagle
3. Fall

1. Ara
2. Altar
3. Summer

1. Aries
2. Ram
3. Winter

1. Auriga
2. Charioteer
3. Winter

1. Boötes
2. Herdsman
3. Summer

1. Caelum
2. Chisel
3. Winter

1. Camelopardus
2. Giraffe
3. Winter

1. Cancer
2. Crab
3. Spring

1. Canes Venatici
2. Hunting Dogs
3. Spring

1. Canis Major
2. Greater Dog
3. Winter

1. Canis Minor
2. Lesser Dog
3. Spring

1. Capricorn
2. Goat
3. Fall

1. Carina
2. Keel
3. Spring

1. Cassiopeia
2. Mother of Andromeda
3. Fall

1. Centaurus
2. Centaur
3. Spring

1. Cepheus
2. King of Ethiopia
3. Fall

1. Cetus
2. Whale
3. Winter

1. Chamaeleon
2. Chameleon
3. Spring

1. Circinus
2. Compasses
3. Summer

1. Columba
2. Dove
3. Winter

1. Coma Berenices
2. Berenice's Hair
3. Spring

1. Corona Australis
2. Southern Crown
3. Summer

1. Corona Borealis
2. Northern Crown
3. Summer

1. Corvus
2. Crow
3. Spring

1. Crater
2. Cup
3. Spring

1. Crux
2. Southern Cross
3. Spring

1. Cygnus
2. Swan or Northern Cross
3. Fall

1. Delphinus
2. Dolphin
3. Fall

1. Dorado
2. Swordfish
3. Winter

1. Draco
2. Dragon
3. Summer

1. Equuleus
2. Pony
3. Fall

1. Eridanus
2. River
3. Winter

1. Fornax
2. Furnace
3. Winter

1. Gemini
2. Twins
3. Winter

1. Grus
2. Crane
3. Fall

1. Hercules
2. Hercules
3. Summer

1. Horologium
2. Clock
3. Winter

1. Hydra
2. Water Monster
3. Spring

1. Hydrus
2. Water Snake
3. Winter

1. Indus
2. Indian
3. Fall

1. Lacerta
2. Lizard
3. Fall

1. Leo
2. Lion
3. Spring

1. Leo Minor
2. Lesser Lion
3. Spring

1. Lepus
2. Wolf
3. Summer

1. Libra
2. Balance
3. Summer

1. Lupus
2. Wolf
3. Summer

1. Lynx
2. Lynx
3. Spring

1. Lyra
2. Harp
3. Summer

1. Mensa
2. Table Mountain
3. Winter

1. Microscopium
2. Microscope
3. Fall

1. Monoceros
2. Unicorn
3. Winter

1. Musca
2. Fly
3. Spring

1. Norma
2. Square (and Rule)
3. Summer

1. Octans
2. Octant
3. Fall

1. Ophiuchus
2. Serpent Bearer
3. Summer

1. Orion
2. Hunter
3. Winter

1. Pavo
2. Peacock
3. Fall

1. Pegasus
2. Winged Horse
3. Fall

1. Perseus
2. Hero (son of Zeus)
3. Winter

1. Phoenix
2. Phoenix
3. Fall

1. Pictor
2. Painter's Easel
3. Winter

1. Pisces
2. Fishes
3. Fall

1. Piscis Austrinus
2. Southern Fish
3. Fall

1. Puppis
2. Stern
3. Spring

1. Pyxis
2. Compass
3. Spring

1. Reticulum
2. Net (Reticle)
3. Winter

1. Sagitta
2. Arrow
3. Fall

1. Sagittarius
2. Archer
3. Summer

1. Scorpius
2. Scorpion
3. Summer

1. Sculptor
2. Sculptor
3. Fall

1. Scutum
2. Shield
3. Summer

1. Serpens
2. Serpent
3. Summer

1. Sextans
2. Sextant
3. Spring

1. Taurus
2. Bull
3. Winter

1. Telescopium
2. Telescope
3. Summer

1. Triangulum
2. Triangle
3. Winter

1. Triangulum Australe
2. Southern Triangle
3. Summer

1. Tucana
2. Toucan
3. Fall

1. Ursa Major
2. Great Bear (Big Dipper)
3. Spring

1. Ursa Minor
2. Little Bear (Little Dipper)
3. Summer

1. Vela
2. Sails
3. Spring

1. Virgo
2. Virgin
3. Spring

1. Volans
2. Flying Fish
3. Spring

1. Vulpecula
2. Fox
3. Fall

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The 88 Constellations of the Night Sky

12 Zodiac Constellations