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Constellations have long captured the human imagination, serving as tools for navigation, storytelling, and scientific exploration. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially recognizes 88 constellations, each with its unique mythological association, brightest star, and genitive form. This guide explores these constellations, blending ancient lore with modern astronomy.
| Constellation | Mythological Association | First Appeared | Genitive Form | Brightest Star |
| Andromeda | The Princess Andromeda; daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia | Ancient | Andromedae | Alpheratz |
| Antlia | The air pump; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Antliae | α-Ant |
| Apus | The bird of paradise; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Apodis | α-Aps |
| Aquarius | The water bearer; Ganymede in Greek mythology | Ancient | Aquarii | Sadalsuud |
| Aquila | The eagle; bird of Zeus | Ancient | Aquilae | Altair |
| Ara | The altar; used by the Gods to vow allegiance | Ancient | Arae | α-Ara |
| Aries | The ram; associated with Jason and the Argonauts | Ancient | Arietis | Hamal |
| Auriga | The charioteer; Erichthonius, son of Vulcan | Ancient | Aurigae | Capella |
| Boötes | The herdsman; Arcas, son of Zeus | Ancient | Bootis | Arcturus |
| Caelum | The chisel; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Caeli | α-Cae |
| Camelopardalis | The giraffe; introduced by Plancius in 1612 | 1612 | Camelopardalis | β-Cam |
| Cancer | The crab; associated with the myth of Hercules | Ancient | Arietis | β-Cnc |
| Canes Venatici | The hunting dogs; associated with the hunt | Ancient | Canum Venaticorum | α-Cvn |
| Canis Major | The greater dog; associated with the myth of Orion | Ancient | Canis Majoris | Sirius |
| Canis Minor | The lesser dog; associated with the myth of Orion | Ancient | Canis Minoris | Procyon |
| Capricornus | The sea goat; associated with the myth of Pan | Ancient | Capricornus | δ-Cap |
| Carina | The keel; part of the ship Argo in Greek mythology | Ancient | Carinae | Canopus |
| Cassiopeia | The queen; associated with the myth of Cassiopeia | Ancient | Cassiopeiae | Schedar |
| Centaurus | The centaur; associated with the myth of Chiron | Ancient | Centauri | Alpha Centauri |
| Cepheus | The king; associated with the myth of Cepheus | Ancient | Cephei | Alderamin |
| Cetus | The whale; associated with the myth of Perseus | Ancient | Ceti | Menkar |
| Chamaeleon | The chameleon; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Chamaeleontis | α-Cha |
| Circinus | The compasses; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Circini | α-Cir |
| Columba | The dove; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Columbae | Phact |
| Coma Berenices | Berenice's hair; associated with the myth of Berenice | Ancient | Comae Berenices | β-Com |
| Corona Australis | The southern crown; associated with the myth of the crown of Achilles | Ancient | Coronae Australis | α-CrA |
| Corona Borealis | The northern crown; associated with the myth of Ariadne | Ancient | Coronae Borealis | Gemma |
| Corvus | The crow; associated with the myth of Apollo | Ancient | Corvi | α-Crv |
| Crater | The cup; associated with the myth of Apollo | Ancient | Crateris | α-Crt |
| Cygnus | The swan; associated with the myth of Zeus | Ancient | Cygni | Deneb |
| Delphinus | The dolphin; associated with the myth of Arion | Ancient | Delphini | β-Del |
| Dorado | The goldfish; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Doradus | α-Dor |
| Draco | The dragon; associated with the myth of Ladon | Ancient | Draconis | Thuban |
| Equuleus | The little horse; associated with the myth of the horse of Castor and Pollux | Ancient | Equulei | β-Equ |
| Eridanus | The river; associated with the myth of Phaethon | Ancient | Eridani | Achernar |
| Fornax | The furnace; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Fornacis | α-For |
| Gemini | The twins; associated with the myth of Castor and Pollux | Ancient | Geminorum | Pollux |
| Grus | The crane; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Gruis | α-Grus |
| Hercules | The hero; associated with the myth of Hercules | Ancient | Herculis | β-Her |
| Horologium | The clock; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Horologii | α-Hor |
| Hydra | The water serpent; associated with the myth of Hercules | Ancient | Hydrae | Alphard |
| Hydrus | The water snake; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Hydri | α-Hyd |
| Indus | The Indian; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Indi | α-Ind |
| Lacerta | The lizard; introduced by Hevelius in 1687 | 1687 (Hevelius) | Lacertae | α-Lac |
| Leo | The lion; associated with the myth of the Nemean lion | Ancient | Leonis | Regulus |
| Leo Minor | The lesser lion; associated with the myth of the lion | Ancient | Leonis Minoris | β-LMi |
| Lepus | The hare; associated with the myth of Orion | Ancient | Leporis | α-Lep |
| Libra | The scales; associated with the myth of Astraea | Ancient | Librae | Zubeneschamali |
| Lupus | The wolf; associated with the myth of the wolf | Ancient | Lupi | α-Lup |
| Lynx | The lynx; introduced by Hevelius in 1687 | 1687 (Hevelius) | Lyncis | α-Lyn |
| Lyra | The lyre; associated with the myth of Orpheus | Ancient | Lyrae | Vega |
| Mensa | Table Mountain; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Mensae | α-Men |
| Microscopium | The microscope; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Microscopii | γ-Mic |
| Monoceros | The unicorn; introduced by Plancius in 1612 | 1612 | Monocerotis | α-Mon |
| Musca | The fly; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Muscae | α-Mus |
| Norma | The set square; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Normae | γ²-Nor |
| Octans | The octant; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Octantis | ν-Oct |
| Ophiuchus | The serpent bearer; associated with the myth of Asclepius | Ancient | Ophiuchi | Rasalhague |
| Orion | The hunter; associated with the myth of Orion | Ancient | Orionis | Rigel |
| Pavo | The peacock; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Pavonis | Peacock |
| Pegasus | The winged horse; associated with the myth of Pegasus | Ancient | Pegasi | Enif |
| Perseus | The hero; associated with the myth of Perseus | Ancient | Perseus | Mirfak |
| Phoenix | The phoenix; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Phoenicis | α-Pho |
| Pictor | The painter; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Pictoris | α-Pic |
| Pisces | The fishes; associated with the myth of Aphrodite and Eros | Ancient | Piscium | α-Psc |
| Piscis Austrinus | The southern fish; associated with the myth of the fish | Ancient | Piscis Austrini | Fomalhaut |
| Puppis | The stern of the ship Argo; associated with the myth of Jason | Ancient | Puppis | α-Pup |
| Pyxis | The compass; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Pyxidis | α-Pyx |
| Reticulum | The net; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Reticuli | α-Ret |
| Sagitta | The arrow; associated with the myth of Sagittarius | Ancient | Sagittae | α-Sge |
| Sagittarius | The archer; associated with the myth of Chiron | Ancient | Sagittarii | Kaus Australis |
| Scorpius | The scorpion; associated with the myth of Orion | Ancient | Scorpii | Antares |
| Sculptor | The sculptor; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Sculptoris | α-Scl |
| Scutum | The shield; introduced by Hevelius in 1684 | 1684 (Hevelius) | Scuti | α-Sct |
| Serpens | The serpent; associated with the myth of Asclepius | Ancient | Serpentis | Unukalhai |
| Sextans | The sextant; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Sextantis | α-Sex |
| Taurus | The bull; associated with the myth of the bull | Ancient | Tauri | Aldebaran |
| Telescopium | The telescope; introduced by Lacaille in 1756 | 1756 (Lacaille) | Telescopii | α-Tel |
| Triangulum | The triangle; associated with the myth of the triangle | Ancient | Trianguli | β-Tri |
| Triangulum Australe | The southern triangle; associated with the myth of the triangle | Ancient | Trianguli Australis | α-Tri |
| Tucana | The toucan; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Tucanae | α-Tuc |
| Ursa Major | The great bear; associated with the myth of the bear | Ancient | Ursae Majoris | Alioth |
| Ursa Minor | The little bear; associated with the myth of the bear | Ancient | Ursae Minoris | Polaris |
| Vela | The sails; part of the ship Argo; associated with the myth of Jason | Ancient | Velae | β-Vel |
| Virgo | The virgin; associated with the myth of Astraea | Ancient | Virginis | Spica |
| Volans | The flying fish; introduced by Keyser & de Houtman in 1598 | 1598 | Volantis | α-Vol |
| Vulpecula | The little fox; introduced by Hevelius in 1687 | 1687 (Hevelius) | Vulpeculae | α-Vul |
| Scutum | The shield; introduced by Hevelius in 1684 | 1684 (Hevelius) | Scuti | α-Sct |
From ancient mythology to modern astronomy, the 88 constellations recognized by the IAU provide a window into both the history of the cosmos and human imagination. Whether guiding sailors or inspiring stargazers, these celestial formations continue to fascinate and guide us, connecting our stories to the stars above.
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