| Constellation |
Abbreviations |
Origin |
Meaning |
Andromeda
|
And |
Andr |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Andromeda (mythological character) |
Antlia
|
Ant |
Antl |
1763, Lacaille |
air pump |
Apus
|
Aps |
Apus |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
bird of paradise |
Aquarius
|
Aqr |
Aqar |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
water-bearer |
Aquila
|
Aql |
Aqil |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
eagle |
Ara
|
Ara |
Arae |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
altar |
Aries
|
Ari |
Arie |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
ram |
Auriga
|
Aur |
Auri |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
charioteer |
Boötes
|
Boo |
Boot |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
herdsman |
| Caelum |
Cae |
Cael |
1763, Lacaille |
sculptor’s chisel |
Camelopardalis
|
Cam |
Caml |
1613, Plancius |
giraffe |
Cancer
|
Cnc |
Canc |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
crab |
Canes Venatici
|
CVn |
CVen |
1690, ‘Firmamentum Sobiescianum’, Hevelius |
hunting dogs |
Canis Major
|
CMa |
CMaj |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
greater dog |
Canis Minor
|
CMi |
CMin |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
lesser dog |
Capricornus
|
Cap |
Capr |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
goat (originally a sea-goat) |
Carina
|
Car |
Cari |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis |
keel |
Cassiopeia
|
Cas |
Cass |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Cassiopeia (mythological character) |
Centaurus
|
Cen |
Cent |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
centaur |
Cepheus
|
Cep |
Ceph |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Cepheus (mythological character) |
Cetus
|
Cet |
Ceti |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
sea monster (later interpreted as a whale) |
Chamaeleon
|
Cha |
Cham |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
chameleon |
Circinus
|
Cir |
Circ |
1763, Lacaille |
pair of dividers (drawing tool) |
Columba
|
Col |
Colm |
1592, Plancius, split from Canis Major |
Noah’s dove |
Coma Berenices
|
Com |
Coma |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, split from Leo |
Berenice’s hair |
Corona Australis
|
CrA |
CorA |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
southern crown |
Corona Borealis
|
CrB |
CorB |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
northern crown |
Corvus
|
Crv |
Corv |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
crow |
Crater
|
Crt |
Crat |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
cup |
Crux
|
Cru |
Cruc |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, split from Centaurus |
southern cross |
Cygnus
|
Cyg |
Cygn |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
swan |
Delphinus
|
Del |
Dlph |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
dolphin (mammal) |
Dorado
|
Dor |
Dora |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
gold fish |
Draco
|
Dra |
Drac |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
dragon |
Equuleus
|
Equ |
Equl |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
little horse (foal) |
Eridanus
|
Eri |
Erid |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
river Eridanus (mythology) |
Fornax
|
For |
Forn |
1763, Lacaille |
chemical furnace |
Gemini
|
Gem |
Gemi |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
twins |
Grus
|
Gru |
Grus |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
crane (bird) |
Hercules
|
Her |
Herc |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Hercules (mythological character) |
Horologium
|
Hor |
Horo |
1763, Lacaille |
pendulum clock |
Hydra
|
Hya |
Hyda |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Hydra (mythological creature) |
Hydrus
|
Hyi |
Hydi |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
lesser water snake |
Indus
|
Ind |
Indi |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
Indian (native American) |
Lacerta
|
Lac |
Lacr |
1690, ‘Firmamentum Sobiescianum’, Hevelius |
lizard |
Leo
|
Leo |
Leon |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
lion |
Leo Minor
|
LMi |
LMin |
1690, ‘Firmamentum Sobiescianum’, Hevelius |
lesser lion |
Lepus
|
Lep |
Leps |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
hare |
Libra
|
Lib |
Libr |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
balance |
Lupus
|
Lup |
Lupi |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
wolf |
Lynx
|
Lyn |
Lync |
1690, ‘Firmamentum Sobiescianum’, Hevelius |
lynx |
Lyra
|
Lyr |
Lyra |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
lyre |
Mensa
|
Men |
Mens |
1763, Lacaille |
Table Mountain (South Africa) |
Microscopium
|
Mic |
Micr |
1763, Lacaille |
microscope |
Monoceros
|
Mon |
Mono |
1613, Plancius |
unicorn |
Musca
|
Mus |
Musc |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
fly |
Norma
|
Nor |
Norm |
1763, Lacaille |
carpenter’s rule and square |
Octans
|
Oct |
Octn |
1763, Lacaille |
mariner’s octant |
Ophiuchus
|
Oph |
Ophi |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
serpent-holder |
Orion
|
Ori |
Orio |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Orion (mythological character) |
Pavo
|
Pav |
Pavo |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
peacock |
Pegasus
|
Peg |
Pegs |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Pegasus (mythological winged horse) |
Perseus
|
Per |
Pers |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Perseus (mythological character) |
Phoenix
|
Phe |
Phoe |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
phoenix |
Pictor
|
Pic |
Pict |
1763, Lacaille |
painter’s easel |
Pisces
|
Psc |
Pisc |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
fishes |
Piscis Austrinus
|
PsA |
PscA |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
southern fish |
Puppis
|
Pup |
Pupp |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis |
poop deck |
Pyxis
|
Pyx |
Pyxi |
1763, Lacaille |
ship’s compass |
Reticulum
|
Ret |
Reti |
1763, Lacaille |
eyepiece graticule |
Sagitta
|
Sge |
Sgte |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
arrow |
Sagittarius
|
Sgr |
Sgtr |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
archer |
Scorpius
|
Sco |
Scor |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
scorpion |
Sculptor
|
Scl |
Scul |
1763, Lacaille |
sculptor’s workshop |
Scutum
|
Sct |
Scut |
1690, ‘Firmamentum Sobiescianum’, Hevelius |
shield (of Sobieski) |
Serpens
|
Ser |
Serp |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
snake |
Sextans
|
Sex |
Sext |
1690, ‘Firmamentum Sobiescianum’, Hevelius |
astronomical sextant |
Taurus
|
Tau |
Taur |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
bull |
Telescopium
|
Tel |
Tele |
1763, Lacaille |
telescope |
Triangulum
|
Tri |
Tria |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
triangle |
Triangulum Australe
|
TrA |
TrAu |
1603 ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
southern triangle |
Tucana
|
Tuc |
Tucn |
1603 ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
toucan |
Ursa Major
|
UMa |
UMaj |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Great Bear |
Ursa Minor
|
UMi |
UMin |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
Lesser Bear |
Vela
|
Vel |
Velr |
1763, Lacaille, split from Argo Navis |
sails |
Virgo
|
Vir |
Virg |
ancient (Ptolemy) |
virgin |
Volans
|
Vol |
Voln |
1603, ‘Uranometria’, created by Keyser and de Houtman |
flying fish |
Vulpecula
|
Vul |
Vulp |
1690, ‘Firmamentum Sobiescianum’, Hevelius |
fox |
