IAU Constellations (88)

“Why did not somebody teach me the constellations,
and make me at home in the starry heavens,
which are always overhead, and which I don't know to this day?” 
– Thomas Carlyle

The International Astronomical Union established official boundaries for 88 constellations in 1922.  Each IAU constellation is designated by a three-letter abbreviation, such as "Tau" for Taurus the Bull. 

  1. And - Andromeda the Princess of Ethiopia
  2. Ant - Antlia the Air Pump
  3. Aps - Apus the Bird of Paradise
  4. Aql - Aquila the Eagle
  5. Aqr - Aquarius the Water Carrier
  6. Ara - Ara the Altar
  7. Ari - Aries the Ram
  8. Aur - Auriga the Charioteer
  9. Boo - Bootes the Herdsman or Bear Driver
  10. Cae - Caelum the Engraver's Chisel
  11. Cam - Camelopardalis the Giraffe
  12. Cap - Capricornus the Sea Goat
  13. Car - Carina the Keel of Argo Navis
  14. Cas - Cassiopeia the Queen of Ethiopia
  15. Cen - Centaurus the Centaur
  16. Cep - Cepheus the King of Ethiopia
  17. Cet - Cetus the Sea Monster or Whale
  18. Cha - Chamaeleon
  19. Cir - Circinus the Drafting Compass
  20. CMa - Canis Major the Big Dog
  21. CMi - Canis Minor the Little Dog
  22. Cnc - Cancer the Crab
  23. Col - Columba the Dove
  24. Com - Coma Berenices the Hair of Berenice
  25. CrA - Corona Australis the Southern Crown
  26. CrB - Corona Borealis the Northern Crown
  27. Crt - Crater the Cup
  28. Cru - Crux the Southern Cross
  29. Crv - Corvus the Crow
  30. CVn - Canes Venatici the Hunting Dogs
  31. Cyg - Cygnus the Swan
  32. Del - Delphinus the Dolphin
  33. Dor - Dorado the Swordfish
  34. Dra - Draco the Dragon
  35. Equ - Equuleus the Foal
  36. Eri - Eridanus the River
  37. For - Fornax the Furnace
  38. Gem - Gemini the Twins
  39. Gru - Grus the Crane
  40. Her - Hercules the Hero
  41. Hor - Horologium the Pendulum Clock
  42. Hya - Hydra the Water Snake
  43. Hyi - Hydrus the Southern Water Snake
  44. Ind - Indus the American Indian
  45. Lac - Lacerta the Lizard
  46. Leo - Leo the Lion
  47. Lep - Lepus the Hare
  48. Lib - Libra the Balance
  49. LMi - Leo Minor the Little Lion
  50. Lup - Lupus the Wolf
  51. Lyn - Lynx
  52. Lyr - Lyra the Harp
  53. Men - Mensa the Table Mountain
  54. Mic - Microscopium the Microscope
  55. Mon - Monoceros the Unicorn
  56. Mus - Musca the Fly
  57. Nor - Norma the Carpenter's Square
  58. Oct - Octans the Octant
  59. Oph - Ophiuchus the Serpent Handler
  60. Ori - Orion the Hunter
  61. Pav - Pavo the Peacock
  62. Peg - Pegasus the Flying Horse
  63. Per - Perseus the Hero
  64. Phe - Phoenix the Fire Bird
  65. Pic - Pictor the Painter's Easel
  66. PsA - Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish
  67. Psc - Pisces the Fishes
  68. Pup - Puppis the Stern of Argo Navis
  69. Pyx - Pyxis the Mariner's Compass of Argo Navis
  70. Ret - Reticulum the Net
  71. Scl - Sculptor the Sculptor's Workshop
  72. Sco - Scorpius the Scorpion
  73. Sct - Scutum the Shield
  74. Ser - Serpens the Snake
  75. Sex - Sextans the Sextant
  76. Sge - Sagitta the Arrow
  77. Sgr - Sagittarius the Archer
  78. Tau - Taurus the Bull
  79. Tel - Telescopium the Telescope
  80. TrA - Triangulum Australe the Southern Triangle
  81. Tri - Triangulum the Triangle
  82. Tuc - Tucana the Toucan
  83. UMa - Ursa Major the Big Bear
  84. UMi - Ursa Minor the Little Bear
  85. Vel - Vela the Sail of Argo Navis
  86. Vir - Virgo the Maiden
  87. Vol - Volans the Flying Fish
  88. Vul - Vulpecula the Fox

Constellations by region:

  • IAU Constellations:  sky maps with boundaries for astronomical use.
  • Asterisms:  Star patterns other than the official IAU constellations.
  • Objects (named stars, deep sky objects)