| 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 |
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