Common Name: Andromeda
Bright Stars: Sirrah (Alpheratz)
Objects: M31, M32, NGC752
Mythology: Princess Andromeda
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Airpump
Bright Stars: 6th Mag
Objects: NGC3132
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Bird of Paradise
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Orange giants
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Water-bearer
Bright Stars: Sadalmelik
Objects: M2, M72, NGC7009, NGC7293
Mythology: Ganymede, Zeus's cupbearer
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Eagle
Bright Stars: Altair
Objects: Annual meteor showers (5 May, 28 July, 6 Aug)
Mythology: Carried Ganymede to heaven
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Altar
Bright Stars: 3rd Mag
Objects: NGC6193, NGC6397
Mythology: Sacrificial Altar
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Ram
Bright Stars: Arietis (Hamal)
Objects: Double stars γ & λ Arietis
Mythology: The Golden Fleece sought by Jason
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Charioteer
Bright Stars: Capella
Objects: M36, M37, M38
Mythology: Erichthonius, Orsilochus or Myrtilus
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Herdsman
Bright Stars: Arcturus
Objects: Quadrantids meteor shower (3/4 Jan)
Mythology: Possibly Callisto's son, Arcas
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Graving Tool
Bright Stars: 5th & 8th Mag
Objects: Double star
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Giraffe
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: NGC 2403
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Crab
Bright Stars: Acubens
Objects: M44 (Beehive Cluster), M67
Mythology: Attacked Hercules during his fight with Hydra
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Hunting Dogs
Bright Stars: Cor Caroli
Objects: M3, M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy), M94
Mythology: The two dogs of Bootes
Common Name: The Great Dog
Bright Stars: Sirius
Objects: M41, NGC 2362
Mythology: Orion's Dog
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Little Dog
Bright Stars: Procyon
Objects: Forms triangle with Sirius & Betelgeuse
Mythology: Orion's Smaller Dog
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Sea-Goat
Bright Stars: Algedi
Objects: Double stars, M30
Mythology: Aegipan
Ptolemy
Zodiac Sign Name: Capricorn
Symbol: ♑
Sun in Constellation: 19 Jan – 15 Feb
Common Name: The Keel
Bright Stars: Canopus
Objects: NGC33, NGC3532, NGC2516
Mythology: The keel of the Argonauts' ship
Common Name: Cassiopeia
Bright Stars: Schedar
Objects: M52, NGC457
Mythology: Queen Cassiopeia
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Centaur
Bright Stars: Alpha Centauri (Rigil Kentaurus)
Objects: Proxima Centauri
Mythology: Upper body of man, lower body of horse
Ptolemy
Common Name: Cepheus
Bright Stars: Alderamin
Objects: Delta Cephei (Cepheid variables)
Mythology: King Cepheus
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Whale
Bright Stars: Menkar
Objects: M77
Mythology: Sea monster
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Chameleon
Bright Stars: 4th & 5th Mag
Objects: NGC 3195
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Compasses
Bright Stars: 3rd Mag
Objects: Double Star
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Dove
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Runaway Star
Mythology: Noah's Ark
Common Name: Berenice's Hair
Bright Stars: Diadem
Objects: M53, M64, M85, M88, M91, M98–100
Mythology: Locks of Queen Berenice's hair
Common Name: The Southern Crown
Bright Stars: 5th–6th Mag
Objects: NGC 6541
Mythology: The crown worn by Sagittarius
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Northern Crown
Bright Stars: Gemma (Alphecca)
Objects: Blaze Star (T Coronae Borealis)
Mythology: A wedding gift to Ariadne
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Crow
Bright Stars: Al Chiba
Objects: Double Star
Mythology: Sent to fetch water; ate figs and returned late
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Cup
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: None
Mythology: The goblet of Apollo
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Southern Cross
Bright Stars: Acrux (Crucis)
Objects: Jewel Box
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Swan
Bright Stars: Deneb
Objects: M29, NGC 6826, NGC 6992, Black Hole
Mythology: Form taken by Zeus in a seduction
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Dolphin
Bright Stars: Sualacin
Objects: Double Stars
Mythology: Persuaded Amphitrite to marry Poseidon
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Swordfish
Bright Stars: 3rd–4th Mag
Objects: Large Magellanic Cloud
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Dragon
Bright Stars: Thuban
Objects: Multiple Stars
Mythology: Ladon, guardian at Hesperides
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Foal
Bright Stars: Kitalpha
Objects: Multiple stars
Mythology: None
Ptolemy
Common Name: The River
Bright Stars: Achernar
Objects: Multiple stars
Mythology: Mythical European River
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Furnace
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Double Star
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Twins
Bright Stars: Castor & Pollux
Objects: M35, Nebulae, Meteor showers (13 December)
Mythology: Dioscuri — Castor & Polydeuces
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Crane
Bright Stars: Alnair
Objects: Double Stars
Mythology: None
Common Name: Hercules
Bright Stars: Ras Algethi
Objects: M13, M92, Variable stars
Mythology: Set 12 labours as punishment for killing his family
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Clock
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Variable stars
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Watersnake
Bright Stars: Alphard
Objects: M48, M68, M83 & more
Mythology: Many‑headed monster, task of Hercules
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Little Snake
Bright Stars: 3rd Mag
Objects: Double Star
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Indian
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Double star
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Lizard
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: None
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Lion
Bright Stars: Regulus
Objects: M65, M66, M95, M96, M105
Mythology: The Nemean Lion, slain by Hercules
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Little Lion
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: None
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Hare
Bright Stars: Arneb
Objects: M79, NGC 2017
Mythology: Incident at Leros
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Balance
Bright Stars: Zubenelgenubi
Objects: NGC 5897
Mythology: None
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Wolf
Bright Stars: 3rd Mag
Objects: NGC 5822, NGC 5986
Mythology: Wolf held by Centaurus
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Lynx
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Double & multiple stars
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Lyre
Bright Stars: Vega
Objects: M56, M57, Meteor showers (21 April & 16 June)
Mythology: Used by Orpheus
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Table
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Large Magellanic Cloud
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Microscope
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Double star
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Unicorn
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: M50, NGC 2232, NGC 2237–9
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Southern Fly
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: NGC 4833
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Rule
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: NGC 6087, NGC 6067, NGC 6167
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Octant
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: South Pole Star
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Serpent-bearer
Bright Stars: Ras Alhague
Objects: M10, M12, M14, Barnard's Star
Mythology: Sun passes through in December (13th sign of zodiac)
Ptolemy
Common Name: Orion
Bright Stars: Rigel, Betelgeux
Objects: M42, M43, M78, Meteor showers (21 Oct)
Mythology: Linked to Artemis
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Peacock
Bright Stars: Peacock
Objects: NGC 6752
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Flying Horse
Bright Stars: Markab
Objects: M15
Mythology: Pegasus
Ptolemy
Common Name: Perseus
Bright Stars: Algenib, Algol
Objects: M34, Meteor showers (12 August)
Mythology: Perseus
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Phoenix
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Double stars
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Painter
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Kapteyn's Star nearby
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Fishes
Bright Stars: AlRischa
Objects: M74
Mythology: Aphrodite & Eros turned into fish to escape Typhon
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Southern Fish
Bright Stars: Fomalhaut
Objects: Double stars
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Stern
Bright Stars: Naos
Objects: M46, M47, M93
Mythology: Part of the Argonauts' Ship
Common Name: The Compass
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Recurrent Nova
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Net
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Double Stars
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Arrow
Bright Stars: 5th Mag
Objects: Double stars
Mythology: None
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Archer
Bright Stars: Kaus Australis
Objects: Lagoon Nebula (M8), many more
Mythology: Centaur archer
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Scorpion
Bright Stars: Antares
Objects: Many clusters and nebulae
Mythology: The scorpion sent to kill Orion
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Sculptor
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Sculptor Galaxy
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Shield
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: M11 (Wild Duck Cluster)
Mythology: Shield of Sobieski
Common Name: The Serpent
Bright Stars: Unukalhai
Objects: Many clusters and nebulae
Mythology: The serpent held by Ophiuchus
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Sextant
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Galaxy groups
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Bull
Bright Stars: Aldebaran
Objects: Pleiades (M45), Hyades
Mythology: Zeus in the form of a bull
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Telescope
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Globular clusters
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Triangle
Bright Stars: 3rd Mag
Objects: M33 (Triangulum Galaxy)
Mythology: Triangle symbol
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Southern Triangle
Bright Stars: 3rd Mag
Objects: Double stars
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Toucan
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Small Magellanic Cloud
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Great Bear
Bright Stars: Dubhe, Merak
Objects: Many galaxies and clusters
Mythology: Great Bear of Greek mythology
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Little Bear
Bright Stars: Polaris
Objects: Multiple stars
Mythology: Little Bear of Greek mythology
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Sail
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Vela Supernova Remnant
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Maiden
Bright Stars: Spica
Objects: Virgo Cluster of galaxies
Mythology: The Maiden of Greek mythology
Ptolemy
Common Name: The Flying Fish
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Double stars
Mythology: None
Common Name: The Little Fox
Bright Stars: 4th Mag
Objects: Dumbbell Nebula (M27)
Mythology: None
