A complete list of the 88 constellations in the northern and southern hemispheres: names, depictions, and time of year.
There are 88 constellations in the sky. Most of these are viewable from both observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres, depending on the time of year. A few stars are circumpolar stars, meaning they are visible year-round from one hemisphere or the other. Let's begin with the constellations visible by either hemisphere. (Constellations of the Zodiac are italicized.) The divisions can change slightly depending on your latitude and the time of night you observe.
Constellation / Nickname / Best Time of Year to View (N. Hemisphere)
- Aquarius / The Water Bearer / Fall
- Aquila / The Eagle / Summer
- Aries / The Ram Late / Fall
- Bootes / The Herdsman / Late Spring
- Cancer / The Crab / Spring
- Canis Major / The Big Dog / Winter
- Canis Minor / The Little Dog / Winter
- Capricornus / The Sea Goat / Fall
- Cetus / The Whale / Fall
- Coma Berenices / Berenice's Hair / Spring
- Corona Borealis / The Northern Crown / Spring
- Corvus / The Crow / Spring
- Crater / The Cup / Spring
- Delphinus / The Dolphin / Fall
- Equuleus / The Little Horse / Fall
- Eridanus / The River / Fall
- Gemini / The Twins / Winter
- Hercules / The Strongman / Summer
- Hydra / The Water Snake / Spring
- Leo / The Lion / Spring
- Lepus / The Hare / Winter
- Libra / The Scales / Spring
- Lyra / The Lyre / Summer
- Monoceros / The Unicorn / Winter
- Ophiuchus / The Serpent Bearer / Summer
- Orion / The Hunter / Winter
- Pegasus / The Winged Horse / Fall
- Pisces / The Fish / Fall
- Puppis / The Stern / Winter
- Sagitta / The Arrow / Summer
- Sagittarius / The Archer / Summer
- Scorpius / The Scorpion / Summer
- Scutum / The Shield / Summer
- Serpens / The Serpent / Summer
- Taurus / The Bull / Winter
- Virgo / The Virgin / Spring
- Vulpecula / The Fox / Summer
Northern Constellations / Nicknames / Best Time to of Year to View
- Andromeda / Woman in Chains / Fall
- Auriga / The Charioteer / Winter
- Camelopardalis / The Giraffe / All Year (North Circumpolar)
- Canes Venatici / The Hunting Dogs / Spring
- Cassiopeia / The Queen / All Year (North Circumpolar)
- Cepheus / The King / All Year (North Circumpolar)
- Cygnus / The Swan / Summer
- Draco / The Dragon / All Year (North Circumpolar)
- Lacerta / The Lizard / Fall
- Leo Minor / The Little Lion / Spring
- Lynx / The Lynx / Winter
- Perseus / Soldier with Sword / Winter
- Triangulum / The Triangle / Fall
- Ursa Major / The Big Bear / All Year (North Circumpolar)
- Ursa Minor / The Little Bear / All Year (North Circumpolar)
Southern Constellations / Nickname / Best Time to of Year to View
- Antlia / The Air Pump / Fall
- Apus / The Bird of Paradise / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Ara / The Altar / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Caelum / The Chisel / Summer
- Carina / The Keel / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Centaurus / The Centaur / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Chamaeleon / The Chamaeleon / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Circinus / The Drawing Compass / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Columba / The Dove / Summer
- Corona Australis / The Southern Crown / Winter
- Crux / The Southern Cross / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Dorado / The Goldfish / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Fornax / The Furnace / Summer
- Grus / The Crane / Spring
- Horologium / The Pendulum Clock / Summer
- Hydrus / The Lesser Water Snake / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Indus / The Indian / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Lupus / The Wolf / Fall
- Mensa / The Table Mountain / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Microscopium / The Microscope / Spring
- Musca / The Fly / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Norma / The Set Square / Fall
- Octans / The Octant / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Pavo / The Peacock / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Phoenix / The Phoenix / Spring
- Pictor / The Painter's Easel / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Piscis Austrinus / The Southern Fish / Spring
- Pyxis / The Ship's Compass / Summer
- Reticulum / The Net / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Sculptor / The Sculptor / Spring
- Sextans / The Sextant / Fall
- Telescopium / The Telescope / Winter
- Triangulum Australe / The Southern Triangle / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Tucana / The Toucan / All Year (South Circumpolar)
- Vela / The Sails / Summer
- Volans / The Flying Fish / All Year (South Circumpolar)
The copyright of the article Quick Constellation Guide in Astronomy & Space is owned by Kelly Whitt. Permission to republish Quick Constellation Guide must be granted by the author in writing.
