88 Modern Constellations

Vocabulary flashcards covering all 88 modern constellations, pairing each constellation’s name with its traditional figure or key astronomical detail.

Andromeda

Princess of Ethiopia, chained to a rock; northern constellation near Pegasus and Perseus.

Antlia

The Air Pump; faint constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.

Apus

Bird of Paradise; southern sky constellation.

Aquarius

The Water Bearer; member of the zodiac.

Aquila

The Eagle; contains the bright star Altair.

Ara

The Altar; southern constellation.

Aries

The Ram; zodiac sign associated with the spring equinox.

Auriga

The Charioteer; contains the bright star Capella.

Boötes

The Herdsman; home to the bright star Arcturus.

Caelum

The Chisel; faint southern constellation.

Camelopardalis

The Giraffe; large but faint northern constellation.

Cancer

The Crab; zodiac constellation.

Canes Venatici

The Hunting Dogs; follow Boötes in the sky.

Canis Major

The Greater Dog; contains Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

Canis Minor

The Lesser Dog; home to the bright star Procyon.

Capricornus

The Sea-Goat; zodiac constellation.

Carina

The Keel; once part of the larger Argo Navis constellation.

Cassiopeia

The Queen; easily recognized by its W-shaped pattern in the northern sky.

Centaurus

The Centaur; contains Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Sun.

Cepheus

The King; northern constellation near Cassiopeia.

Cetus

The Sea Monster; tied to the Andromeda myth.

Chamaeleon

Southern constellation named after the chameleon.

Circinus

The Compass (drafting compass); small constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.

Columba

The Dove; located south of Canis Major.

Coma Berenices

Berenice’s Hair; an ancient asterism turned official constellation.

Corona Australis

The Southern Crown; lies near Sagittarius.

Corona Borealis

The Northern Crown; bright semicircle of stars.

Corvus

The Crow; small constellation near Virgo.

Crater

The Cup; associated with Apollo’s mythology.

Crux

The Southern Cross; small but iconic constellation of the southern sky.

Cygnus

The Swan; lies along the Milky Way and contains the bright star Deneb.

Delphinus

The Dolphin; small northern constellation.

Dorado

The Swordfish; includes part of the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Draco

The Dragon; winds around Ursa Minor and the Little Dipper.

Equuleus

The Little Horse; faint and small northern constellation.

Eridanus

The River; a long, winding southern constellation.

Fornax

The Furnace; faint constellation in the southern sky.

Gemini

The Twins; features the bright stars Castor and Pollux.

Grus

The Crane; southern constellation.

Hercules

The Hero; large northern constellation.

Horologium

The Clock; southern constellation.

Hydra

The Water Serpent; the longest constellation in the sky.

Hydrus

The Small Water Serpent; near the South Celestial Pole.

Indus

The Indian; faint southern constellation.

Lacerta

The Lizard; small, faint northern constellation.

Leo

The Lion; zodiac constellation with the bright star Regulus.

Leo Minor

The Smaller Lion; located between Ursa Major and Leo.

Lepus

The Hare; situated just below Orion.

Libra

The Scales; zodiac sign symbolizing justice.

Lupus

The Wolf; ancient constellation in the southern sky.

Lynx

Faint northern constellation between Ursa Major and Auriga.

Lyra

The Lyre; contains the bright star Vega.

Mensa

Table Mountain; faint constellation near the South Celestial Pole.

Microscopium

The Microscope; faint southern constellation.

Monoceros

The Unicorn; faint constellation adjacent to Orion.

Musca

The Fly; southern sky constellation.

Norma

The Level or Carpenter’s Square; small and faint constellation.

Octans

The Octant; contains the South Celestial Pole.

Ophiuchus

The Serpent Bearer; sometimes referred to as the 13th zodiac constellation.

Orion

The Hunter; one of the brightest and most recognizable constellations.

Pavo

The Peacock; southern constellation.

Pegasus

The Winged Horse; notable for the Great Square asterism.

Perseus

Hero who saved Andromeda; contains the variable star Algol.

Phoenix

Mythical Firebird; southern constellation.

Pictor

The Painter’s Easel; faint southern constellation.

Pisces

The Fish; zodiac sign.

Piscis Austrinus

The Southern Fish; contains the bright star Fomalhaut.

Puppis

The Stern (of Argo Navis); southern constellation.

Pyxis

The Compass Box; located near Puppis and Vela.

Reticulum

The Net; used historically for star-chart calibration.

Sagitta

The Arrow; small constellation near Cygnus.

Sagittarius

The Archer; zodiac constellation pointing toward the center of the Milky Way.

Scorpius

The Scorpion; zodiac constellation with the red giant Antares.

Sculptor

The Sculptor’s Workshop; southern constellation.

Scutum

The Shield; small constellation located on the Milky Way.

Serpens

The Serpent; divided into Serpens Caput (head) and Serpens Cauda (tail).

Sextans

The Sextant; faint constellation south of Leo.

Taurus

The Bull; zodiac constellation containing the Pleiades cluster and Aldebaran.

Telescopium

The Telescope; southern sky constellation.

Triangulum

The Triangle; small northern constellation.

Triangulum Australe

The Southern Triangle; bright and compact constellation.

Tucana

The Toucan; contains the Small Magellanic Cloud.

Ursa Major

The Great Bear; includes the Big Dipper asterism.

Ursa Minor

The Little Bear; contains Polaris, the North Star.

Vela

The Sails; former part of Argo Navis in the southern sky.

Virgo

The Maiden; large zodiac constellation with the bright star Spica.

Volans

The Flying Fish; southern constellation.

Vulpecula

The Little Fox; small and faint constellation near Lyra.