The Modern Constellations
You can use the information below to find the names for the constellations in English, what they represent, their Latin genitive case (used with Greek alphabet designations for individual star names within a constellation) and the International Astronomical Union's three-letter abbreviation commonly used when referring to a constellation on maps, or in the literature.
A " * " following a constellation's name indicates that it was known from the time of the ancient Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, and is considered to be "classical."One of the following sets of initials after a constellation's name (for example "Antlia - NC") indicates that it was named in relatively modern times by the person named in the year indicated. Note that many of the names of these constellations are after objects of interest to scientists, or are curiosities of those times. The initials for the constellation namers, listed in the order of the year contributed (and followed by their number of additions), are:
TB = Tycho Brahe, 1602 (1)
KH = Keyser/de Houtman?, 1603 (10?)
JB = Jacob Bartsch, 1624 (3)
AR = Augustine Royer, 1679 (2)
JH = Johannes Hevelius, 1687 (6)
NC = Nicolas Louis de la Caille, 1763 (14)
Clicking on one of the International Astronomical Union's three-letter abbreviations will reveal a map of the constellation that includes: 1) its IAU boundary in green, 2) a stick figure of the constellation in red, 3) bright star names in yellow, and 4) some of the area surrounding the constellation in grey. These GIF-format maps range in file size from two to 10 kilobytes in size depending on the size of the constellation in question.
Pick a first letter for a constellation name:
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Andromeda*
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Daughter of Cassiopeia
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Andromedae
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AND
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Antlia - NC
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The Air Pump
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Antliae
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ANT
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Apus - KH
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Bird of Paradise
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Apodis
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APS
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Aquarius*
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The Water-bearer
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Aquarii
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AQR
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Aquila*
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The Eagle
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Aquilae
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AQL
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Ara*
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The Altar
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Arae
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ARA
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Aries*
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The Ram
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Arietis
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ARI
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Auriga*
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The Charioteer
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Aurigae
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AUR
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Bootes*
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The Herdsman
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Bootis
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BOO
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Caelum - NC
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The Chisel
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Caeli
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CAE
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Camelopardis - JB
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The Giraffe
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Camelopardalis
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CAM
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Cancer*
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The Crab
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Cancri
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CNC
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Canes Venatici - JH
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The Hunting Dogs
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Canum Venaticorum
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CVN
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Canis Major*
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The Big Dog
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Canis Majoris
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CMA
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Canis Minor*
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The Little Dog
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Canis Minoris
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CMI
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Capricornus*
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The Goat
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Capricorni
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CAP
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Carina
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The Keel
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Carinae
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CAR
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Cassiopeia*
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The Queen
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Cassiopeiae
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CAS
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Centaurus*
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The Centaur
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Centauri
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CEN
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Cepheus*
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The King
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Cephei
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CEP
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Cetus*
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The Whale
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Ceti
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CET
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Chamaeleon
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The Chameleon
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Chamaeleontis
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CHA
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Circinus - NC
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The Compasses
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Circini
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CIR
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Columba - AR
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The Dove
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Columbae
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COL
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Coma Berenices - TB
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Berenice's Hair
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Comae Berenices
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COM
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Corona Australis*
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The Southern Crown
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Coronae Australis
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CRA
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Corona Borealis*
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The Northern Crown
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Coronae Borealis
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CRB
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Corvus*
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The Crow
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Corvi
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CRV
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Crater*
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The Cup
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Crateris
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CRT
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Crux - AR
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The Cross
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Crucis
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CRU
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Cygnus*
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The Swan
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Cygni
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CYG
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Delphinus*
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The Dolphin
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Delphini
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DEL
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Dorado - KH
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The Swordfish
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Doradus
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DOR
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Draco*
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The Dragon
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Draconis
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DRA
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Equuleus*
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The Little Horse
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Equulei
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EQU
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Eridanus*
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The River
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Eridani
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ERI
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Fornax - NC
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The Furnace
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Fornacis
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FOR
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Gemini*
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The Twins
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Geminorum
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GEM
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Grus - KH
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The Crane (bird)
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Gruis
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GRU
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Hercules*
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The Son of Zeus
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Herculis
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HER
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Horologium - NC
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The Clock
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Horologii
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HOR
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Hydra*
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The Water Snake (female)
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Hydrae
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HYA
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Hydrus - KH
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The Water Snake (male)
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Hydri
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HYI
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Indus - KH
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The Indian
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Indi
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IND
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Lacerta - JH
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The Lizard
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Lacertae
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LAC
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Leo*
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The Lion
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Leonis
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LEO
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Leo Minor - JH
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The Little Lion
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Leonis Minoris
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LMI
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Lepus*
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The Hare
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Leporis
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LEP
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Libra*
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The Balance
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Librae
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LIB
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Lupus*
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The Wolf
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Lupi
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LUP
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Lynx - JH
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The Lynx
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Lyncis
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LYN
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Lyra*
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The Lyre
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Lyrae
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LYR
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Mensa - NC
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The Table
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Mensae
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MEN
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Microscopium - NC
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The Microscope
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Microscopii
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MIC
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Monoceros - JB
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The Unicorn
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Monocerotis
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MON
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Musca - JB
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The Fly
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Muscae
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MUS
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Norma - NC
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The Square
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Normae
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NOR
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Octans - NC
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The Octant
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Octantis
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OCT
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Ophiuchus*
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The Serpent-bearer
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Ophiuchi
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OPH
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Orion*
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The Hunter
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Orionis
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ORI
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Pavo - KH
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The Peacock
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Pavonis
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PAV
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Pegasus*
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The Winged Horse
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Pegasi
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PEG
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Perseus*
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The Champion
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Persei
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PER
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Phoenix - KH
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The Phoenix
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Phoenicis
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PHE
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Pictor - NC
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The Painter
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Pictoris
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PIC
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Pisces*
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The Fishes
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Piscium
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PSC
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Piscis Australis*
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The Southern Fish
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Piscis Austrini
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PSA
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Puppis
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The Stern
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Puppis
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PUP
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Pyxis - NC
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The Compass
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Pyxidis
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PYX
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Reticulum - NC
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The Reticle
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Reticuli
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RET
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Sagitta*
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The Arrow
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Sagittae
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SGE
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Sagittarius*
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The Archer
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Sagittarii
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SGR
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Scorpius*
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The Scorpion
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Scorpii
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SCO
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Sculptor - NC
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The Sculptor
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Sculptoris
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SCL
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Scutum - JH
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The Shield
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Scuti
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SCT
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Serpens*
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The Serpent
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Serpentis
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SER
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Sextans - JH
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The Sextant
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Sextantis
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SEX
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Taurus*
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The Bull
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Tauri
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TAU
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Telescopium - NC
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The Telescope
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Telescopii
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TEL
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Triangulum*
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The Triangle
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Trianguli
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TRI
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Triangulum Australe - KH
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The Southern Triangle
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Trianguli Australis
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TRA
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Tucana - KH
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The Toucan
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Tucanae
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TUC
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Ursa Major*
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The Great Bear
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Ursae Majoris
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UMA
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Ursa Minor*
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The Little Bear
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Ursae Minoris
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UMI
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Name
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Description
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Genitive
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IAU Abbreviation
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Vela
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The Sails
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Velorum
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VEL
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Virgo*
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The Maiden
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Virginis
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VIR
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Volans - KH
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The Flying Fish
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Volantis
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VOL
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Vulpecula - JH
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The Fox
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Vulpeculae
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VUL
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Sources:
-- "The Observer's Handbook, 1998," edited by Roy Bishop, The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada-- "Himlavalvets sällsamheter," by Peter Nilson, Rabén & Sjögren
Latest update: 14 September 2005, Tom Callen
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