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