TABLE: The Constellations
The Latin names and meanings of the official 88
constellations are given below. The original 48
constellations of Ptolemy are indicated with an
asterisk *. Ptolemy's constellation Argo the Boat
was later divided into three parts (Carina,
Puppis, and Vela, which are noted).
Latin Name Meaning
Andromeda * And Daughter of Cassiopeia, chained maiden
Antlia Ant Air Pump
Apus Aps Bird of Paradise
Aquarius * Aqr Water-Bearer
Aquila * Aql Eagle
Ara * Ara Altar
Aries * Ari Ram
Auriga * Aur Charioteer
Boötes * Boo Herdsman
Caelum Cae Chisel
Camelopardalis Cam Giraffe
Cancer * Cnc Crab
Canes Venatici CVn Hunting Dogs
Canis Major * CMa Big Dog
Canis Minor * CMi Little Dog
Capricornus * Cap Sea Goat
Carina * Car Keel (of Argo)
Cassiopeia * Cas The Queen
Centaurus * Cen Centaur
Cepheus * Cep The King
Cetus * Cet Whale
Chamaeleon Cha Chameleon
Circinus Cir Compasses
Columba Col Dove
Coma Berenices Com Berenice's Hair
Corona Australis * CrA Southern Crown
Corona Borealis * CrB Northern Crown
Corvus * Crv Crow
Crater * Crt Cup
Crux Cru Southern Cross
Cygnus * Cyg Swan
Delphinus * Del Dolphin
Dorado Dor Swordfish
Draco * Dra Dragon
Equuleus * Equ Little Horse
Eridanus * Eri The River Eridanus
Fornax For Furnace
Gemini * Gem Twins
Grus Gru Crane (bird)
Hercules * Her The Son of Zeus
Horologium Hor Clock
Hydra * Hya The Water Snake (female)
Hydrus Hyi The Water Snake (male)
Indus Ind Indian (American)
Lacerta Lac Lizard
Leo * Leo Lion
Leo Minor LMi Little Lion
Lepus * Lep Hare
Libra * Lib Balance (scale)
Lupus * Lup Wolf
Lynx Lyn Lynx
Lyra * Lyr Lyre
Mensa Men Table (mountain)
Microscopium Mic Microscope
Monoceros Mon Unicorn
Musca Mus Fly
Norma Nor Carpenter's Square
Octans Oct Octant
Ophiuchus * Oph Serpent-Bearer
Orion * Ori The Hunter
Pavo Pav Peacock
Pegasus * Peg The Winged Horse
Perseus * Per The Rescuer of Andromeda
Phoenix Phe Phoenix
Pictor Pic Painter's Easel
Pisces * Psc Fishes
Piscis Austrinus * PsA Southern Fish
Puppis * Pup Stern (of Argo)
Pyxis Pyx Compass (Malus)
Reticulum Ret Reticle (net)
Sagitta * Sge Arrow
Sagittarius * Sgr Archer
Scorpius * Sco Scorpion
Sculptor Scl Sculptor's Workshop
Scutum Sct Shield
Serpens * Ser Serpent (head=Caput, tail=Cauda)
Sextans Sex Sextant
Taurus * Tau Bull
Telescopium Tel Telescope
Triangulum * Tri Triangle
Triangulum Australe TrA Southern Triangle
Tucana Tuc Toucan
Ursa Major * UMa Great Bear
Ursa Minor * UMi Little Bear
Vela * Vel Sails (of Argo)
Virgo * Vir Maiden
Volans Vol Flying Fish
Vulpecula Vul Fox
In addition Ptolemy places stars in Aqua in Aquarius,
which is the eastern part of the modern constellation.