The Constellations
A "constellation" is a group of stars apparently close together in the sky. Many of the constellations were recognized from the earliest times and are associated with great tales about the interactions between humans and the gods. Modern astronomy recognizes 88 constellations. While the stars of these groups appear to be close together, the individual stars of a constellation may be great distances apart and moving in different directions from one another.
***THE FOLLOWING COPY IS MEANT TO BE WRITTEN IN A CHART FORMAT***
Constellation Symbol Description Where Best Visible Visible From US
Andromeda AND Princess Northern October
Antlia ANT Pump Southern March
Apus APU Bird of Paradise South Polar May
Aquarius AQR Water Bearer Equatorial September
Aquila AQL Eagle Equatorial July
Ara ARA Altar Southern June
Aries ARI Ram Equatorial November
Auriga AUR Charioteer Northern January
Bootes BOO Herdsman Northern May
Caelum CAE Chisel Southern December
Camelopardalis CAM Giraffe North Polar February
Cancer CNC Crab Equatorial February
Canes Venatici CNV Hunting Dogs Northern April
Canis Major CMA Large Dog Equatorial January
Canis Minor CMI Small Dog Equatorial January
Capricornus CAP Sea Goat Equatorial August
Carina CAR Keel South Polar February
Cassiopeia CAS Queen North Polar October
Centaurus CEN Centaur Southern April
Cepheus CEP King North Polar October
Cetus CET Whale Equatorial October
Chamaeleon CHA Chameleon South Polar March
Circinus CIR Compasses South Polar May
Columba COL Dove Southern December
Coma Berenices COM Berenice's Hair Equatorial April
Corona Australis CRA Southern Crown Southern July
Corona Borealis CRB Northern Crown Northern May
Corvus CRV Crow Equatorial April
Crater CRT Cup Equatorial March
Crux CRU Southern Cross South Polar April
Cygnus CYG Swan Northern August
Delphinus DEL Dolphin Equatorial August
Dorado DOR Goldfish Southern December
Draco DRA Dragon North Polar May
Equuleus EQU Colt Equatorial August
Eridanus ERI River Southern November
Fornax FOR Furnace Southern November
Gemini GEM Twins Equatorial January
Grus GRU Crane Southern September
Hercules HER Champion Northern June
Horologium HOR Pendulum Southern November
Hydra HYA Sea Serpent Equatorial March
Hydrus HYS Serpent South Polar November
Indus IND Indian Southern August
Lacerta LAC Lizard Northern September
Leo LEO Lion Equatorial March
Leo Minor LMI Little Lion Northern March
Lepus LEP Rabbit Equatorial December
Libra LIB Scales Equatorial May
Lupus LUP Wolf Southern May
Lynx LYN Cat Northern January
Lyra LYR Harp Northern July
Mensa MEN Table mountain South Polar December
Microscopium MIC Microscope Southern August
Monoceros MON Unicorn Equatorial January
Musca MUS Fly South Polar April
Norma NOR Carpenter's Square Southern May
Octans OCT Octant South Polar March
Ophiuchus OPH Serpent Bearer Equatorial June
Orion ORI Hunter Equatorial December
Pavo PAV Peacock South Polar July
Pegasus PEG Winged Horse Equatorial October
Perseus PER Hero Northern November
Phoenix PHO Fire Bird Southern October
Pictor PIC Painter's Easel Southern December
Pisces PSC Fishes Equatorial October
Piscis Austrinus PSA Southern Fish Southern September
Puppis PUP Stern of Ship Southern January
Pyxis PYX Ship's Compass Southern February
Reticulum RET Net Southern November
Sagitta SGE Arrow Equatorial July
Sagittarius SGR Archer Southern July
Scorpius SCO Scorpion Southern June
Sculptor SCL Sculptor's Tool Southern October
Scutum SCT Shield Equatorial July
Serpens SER Serpent Equatorial May
Sextans SEX Sextant Equatorial March
Taurus TAU Bull Equatorial December
Telescopium TEL Telescope Southern July
Triangulum TRI Triangle Northern November
Triangulum Australe TRA Southern Triangle South Polar June
Tucana TUC Toucan South Polar October
Ursa Major UMA Big Bear Northern March
Ursa Minor UMI Little Bear North Polar March
Vela VEL Sails Southern February
Virgo VIR Virgin Equatorial April
Volans VOL Flying Fish South Polar January
Vulpecula VUL Little Fox Equatorial August
Serpens Cauda SRP Serpent Equatorial July