GENERAL ASTRONOMY ARTICLESTHE CONSTELLATIONS : Part 2 |
Table 1. The Modern Constellations |
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No. | NAME | GENITIVE | 3 letter ABB. |
4 letter ABB. |
AREA sq.degrees |
SIZE No. |
01 | Andromeda | Andromedae | And | Andr | 722.278 | 19 |
02 | Antlia | Antliae | Ant | Antl | 238.901 | 62 |
03 | Apus | Apodis | Aps | Apus | 206.327 | 68 |
04 | Aquarius | Aquarii | Aqr | Aqar | 979.854 | 10 |
05 | Aquila | Aquilae | Aql | Aqil | 652.473 | 22 |
06 | Ara | Arae | Ara | Arae | 237.057 | 63 |
07 | Aries | Arietis | Ari | Arie | 441.395 | 38 |
08 | Auriga | Aurigae | Aur | Auri | 657.438 | 21 |
09 | Bootes | Bootis | Boo | Boot | 906.831 | 13 |
10 | Caelum | Caeli | Cae | Cael | 124.865 | 82 |
11 | Camelopardalis | Camelopardalis | Cam | Caml | 756.828 | 18 |
12 | Cancer | Cancri | Cnc | Canc | 505.872 | 30 |
13 | Canes Venatici | Canum Venaticorum | CVn | CVen | 465.194 | 37 |
14 | Canis Major | Canis Majoris | CMa | CMaj | 380.118 | 43 |
15 | Canis Minor | Canis Minoris | CMi | CMin | 183.367 | 72 |
16 | Capricornus | Capricorni | Cap | Capr | 413.947 | 40 |
17 | Carina | Carinae | Car | Cari | 494.184 | 33 |
18 | Cassiopeia | Cassiopeiae | Cas | Cass | 598.407 | 24 |
19 | Centaurus | Centauri | Cen | Cent | 1060.422 | 9 |
20 | Cepheus | Cephei | Cep | Ceph | 587.787 | 26 |
21 | Cetus | Ceti | Cet | Ceti | 1231.411 | 4 |
22 | Chamaeleon | Chamaeleontis | Cha | Cham | 131.592 | 80 |
23 | Circinus | Circini | Cir | Circ | 93.353 | 86 |
24 | Columba | Columbae | Col | Colm | 270.184 | 54 |
25 | Coma Berenices | Comae Berenices | Com | Coma | 386.475 | 42 |
26 | Corona Australis | Coronae Australis | CrA | CorA | 127.696 | 81 |
27 | Corona Borealis | Coronae Borealis | CrB | CorB | 178.710 | 74 |
28 | Corvus | Corvi | Crv | Corv | 183.801 | 71 |
29 | Crater | Crateris | Crt | Crat | 282.398 | 53 |
30 | Crux | Crucis | Cru | Cruc | 68.447 | 89 |
31 | Cygnus | Cygni | Cyg | Cygn | 803.983 | 16 |
32 | Delphinus | Delphini | Del | Dlph | 188.549 | 70 |
33 | Dorado | Doradus | Dor | Dora | 179.173 | 73 |
34 | Draco | Draconis | Dra | Drac | 1082.952 | 8 |
35 | Equuleus | Equulei | Equ | Equi | 71.641 | 88 |
36 | Eridanus | Eridani | Eri | Erid | 1137.919 | 6 |
37 | Fornax | Fornacis | For | Forn | 397.502 | 41 |
38 | Gemini | Geminorum | Gem | Gemi | 513.761 | 29 |
39 | Grus | Gruis | Gru | Grus | 365.513 | 45 |
40 | Hercules | Herculis | Her | Here | 1225.148 | 5 |
41 | Horologium | Horologii | Hor | Horo | 248.885 | 58 |
42 | Hydra | Hydrae | Hya | Hyda | 1302.844 | 1 |
43 | Hydrus | Hydri | Hyi | Hydi | 243.035 | 61 |
44 | Indus | Indi | Ind | Indi | 294.006 | 49 |
45 | Lacerta | Lacertae | Lac | Lacr | 200.688 | 69 |
46 | Leo | Leonis | Leo | Leon | 946.964 | 12 |
47 | Leo Minor | Leo Minoris | LMi | LMin | 231.956 | 64 |
48 | Lepus | Leporis | Lep | Leps | 290.291 | 51 |
49 | Libra | Librae | Lib | Libr | 538.052 | 28 |
50 | Lupus | Lupi | Lup | Lupi | 333.683 | 46 |
51 | Lynx | Lyncis | Lyn | Lyne | 545.386 | 27 |
52 | Lyra | Lyrae | Lyr | Lyra | 286.476 | 52 |
53 | Mensa | Mensae | Men | Mens | 153.484 | 76 |
54 | Microscopium | Microscopii | Mic | Micr | 209.513 | 66 |
55 | Monoceros | Monocerotis | Mon | Mono | 481.569 | 34 |
56 | Musca | Muscae | Mus | Musc | 138.355 | 78 |
57 | Norma | Normae | Nor | Norm | 165.290 | 75 |
58 | Octans | Octantis | Oct | Octa | 291.045 | 50 |
59 | Ophiuchus | Ophiuchi | Oph | Ophi | 948.340 | 11 |
60 | Orion | Orionis | Ori | Orio | 594.120 | 25 |
61 | Pavo | Pavonis | Pav | Pavo | 377.666 | 44 |
62 | Pegasus | Pegasi | Peg | Pegs | 1120.794 | 7 |
63 | Perseus | Persei | Per | Pers | 614.997 | 23 |
64 | Phoenix | Phoenicis | Phe | Phoe | 469.319 | 36 |
65 | Pictor | Pictoris | Pic | Pict | 246.739 | 59 |
66 | Pisces | Piscium | Psc | Pisc | 889.417 | 14 |
67 | Piscis Austrinus | Piscis Austrini | PsA | PscA | 245.375 | 60 |
68 | Puppis | Puppis | Pup | Pupp | 673.434 | 20 |
69 | Pyxis | Pyxidis | Pyx | Pyxi | 220.833 | 65 |
70 | Reticulum | Reticuli | Ret | Reti | 113.936 | 83 |
71 | Sagitta | Sagittae | Sge | Sgre | 79.932 | 87 |
72 | Sagittarius | Sagittarii | Sgr | Sgtr | 867.432 | 15 |
73 | Scorpius | Scorpii | Sco | Scor | 496.783 | 32 |
74 | Sculptor | Sculptoris | Scl | Scul | 474.764 | 35 |
75 | Scutum | Scuti | Sct | Scut | 109.114 | 85 |
76a | Serpens Caput | Serpentis | Ser | Serp | 428.484 | 39 |
76b | Serpens Cauda | Serpentis | Ser | Serp | 208.444 | 67 |
77 | Sextans | Sextantis | Sex | Sext | 313.515 | 47 |
78 | Taurus | Tauri | Tau | Taur | 797.249 | 17 |
79 | Telescopium | Telescopii | Tel | Tele | 251.512 | 57 |
80 | Triangulum | Trianguli | Tri | Tria | 131.847 | 79 |
81 | Triangulum Australe | Trianguli Australis | TrA | TrAu | 109.978 | 84 |
82 | Tucana | Tucanae | Tuc | Tuca | 294.557 | 48 |
83 | Ursa Major | Ursae Majoris | UMa | UMaj | 1279.660 | 3 |
84 | Ursa Minor | Ursae Minoris | UMi | UMin | 255.864 | 56 |
85 | Vela | Velorum | Vel | Velr | 499.649 | 31 |
86 | Virgo | Virginis | Vir | Virg | 1294.428 | 2 |
87 | Volans | Volantis | Vol | Voln | 141.354 | 77 |
88 | Vulpecula | Vulpeculae | Vul | Vulp | 268.165 | 55 |
Table 2. The Modern Constellations : Basic Table |
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CONSTELLATION COLOURS Southern = Pale Yellow, Northern = Pink, Equatorial = Light Blue, Zodiacal = Grey |
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NAME | NAME | |||||
Andromeda | Lacerta | |||||
Antlia | Leo | |||||
Apus | Leo Minor | |||||
Aquarius | Lepus | |||||
Aquila | Libra | |||||
Ara | Lupus | |||||
Aries | Lynx | |||||
Auriga | Lyra | |||||
Bootes | Mensa | |||||
Caelum | Microscopium | |||||
Camelopardalis | Monoceros | |||||
Cancer | Musca | |||||
Canes Venatici | Norma | |||||
Canis Major | Octans | |||||
Canis Minor | Ophiuchus | |||||
Capricornus | Orion | |||||
Carina | Pavo | |||||
Cassiopeia | Pegasus | |||||
Centaurus | Perseus | |||||
Cepheus | Phoenix | |||||
Cetus | Pictor | |||||
Chamaeleon | Pisces | |||||
Circinus | Piscis Austrinus | |||||
Columba | Puppis | |||||
Coma Berenices | Pyxis | |||||
Corona Australis | Reticulum | |||||
Corona Borealis | Sagitta | |||||
Corvus | Sagittarius | |||||
Crater | Scorpius | |||||
Crux | Sculptor | |||||
Cygnus | Scutum | |||||
Delphinus | Serpens Caput | |||||
Dorado | Serpens Cauda | |||||
Draco | Sextans | |||||
Equuleus | Taurus | |||||
Eridanus | Telescopium | |||||
Fornax | Triangulum | |||||
Gemini | Triangulum Australe | |||||
Grus | Tucana | |||||
Hercules | Ursa Major | |||||
Horologium | Ursa Minor | |||||
Hydra | Vela | |||||
Hydrus | Virgo | |||||
Indus | Volans | |||||
Vulpecula |
Table 2a. Modern Southern
Constellations |
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SOUTHERN CONSTELLATIONS Total = 33, Constellation (%) = 37.6% |
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NAME | NAME | |||||
Antlia | Mensa | |||||
Apus | Microscopium | |||||
Ara | Musca | |||||
Caelum | Norma | |||||
Carina | Octans | |||||
Centaurus | Pavo | |||||
Chamaeleon | Phoenix | |||||
Circinus | Pictor | |||||
Columba | Puppis | |||||
Crux | Pyxis | |||||
Dorado | Reticulum | |||||
Eridanus | Telescopium | |||||
Grus | Triangulum Australe | |||||
Horologium | Tucana | |||||
Hydrus | Vela | |||||
Indus | Volans | |||||
Lupus | " |
Table 2b. Modern Northern
Constellations |
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NORTHERN CONSTELLATIONS Total = 23, Constellation (%) = 26.1% |
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NAME | NAME | |||||
Andromeda | Hercules | |||||
Auriga | Lacerta | |||||
Bootes | Leo Minor | |||||
Camelopardalis | Lynx | |||||
Canes Venatici | Lyra | |||||
Draco | Perseus | |||||
Cassiopeia | Sagitta | |||||
Coma Berenices | Triangulum | |||||
Corona Borealis | Ursa Major | |||||
Cygnus | Ursa Minor | |||||
Cepheus | Vulpecula | |||||
Delphinus |
Table 2c. Modern Equatorial
Constellations |
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EQUATORIAL CONSTELLATIONS Equatorial Total = 19, Constellation (%) = 21.6% Zodiacal Total = 13, Constellation (%) = 14.7% Combined Total = 32, Constellation (%) = 36.3% |
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NAME | NAME | |||||
Aquarius | Libra | |||||
Aquila | Monoceros | |||||
Aries | Ophiuchus | |||||
Cancer | Orion | |||||
Canis Major | Pegasus | |||||
Canis Minor | Pisces | |||||
Capricornus | Piscis Austrinus | |||||
Cetus | Sagittarius | |||||
Corona Australis | Scorpius | |||||
Crater | Sculptor | |||||
Equuleus | Scutum | |||||
Fornax | Serpens Caput | |||||
Gemini | Serpens Cauda | |||||
Hydra | Sextans | |||||
Leo | Taurus | |||||
Lepus | Virgo |
Table 3. The Smallest and Largest Constellations |
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No. | Smallest | Largest |
1 | Crux | Hydra |
2 | Equuleus | Virgo |
3 | Sagitta | Ursa Major |
4 | Circinus | Cetus |
5 | Scutum | Hercules |
6 | Triangulum Australe | Eridanus |
7 | Reticulum | Pegasus |
8 | Caelum | Draco |
9 | Corona Australis | Centaurus |
10 | Chamaeleon | Aquarius |
(1) Argo Navis or Argo was divided into Carina, Puppis and Vela, and sometimes is included with Pyxis (once named Malus.) Total Area calculated for Argo Navis is 1888.100 deg2 (Other sources commonly state 1867.267 deg2) or being 4.58% of the entire celestial sky. Older name for Ophiuchus combined with Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda was Ophiuchus vel Sepentarius. Combined area was 1585.268 deg2 (3.84%). Together, these were the first and second of the largest constellations in the sky, that was until the elevation of Hydra as the largest constellation adopted today.
(2) Total spherical area of the entire sky is 41,252.9612494… square degrees or 12.56637071… steradians.
(3) Areas of all the constellations oddly do not appear to add up exactly to the area of the entire sphere. Areas in the literature that are often quoted are given from calculations made by English observer A.E. Levin during 1935. These were calculated by old seven digit logarithm tables, whose small cumulative errors appear to be small but significant. Method used divides each part into separate sectors, found by differences in right ascensions and declinations within each constellations. This is then totaled to get the whole constellation area. In 1937, another useful paper: “Constellations” by D.F. Brocchi gives another slightly different set of results, which are likely due to rounding errors. Both their methods are not exact calculations due to the inherent problems dealing with spherical geometry needed to be used. This becomes more complicated nearer to the celestial poles, requiring a different type of formula to properly calculate these areas. e.g. A three point spherical triangle between the pole and the difference between two right ascensions expressed in degrees — technically called a semi-lune.
(4) Original boundary data has been taken from Delporte’ boundaries, which are in epoch 1875.0.
(5) Modern constellations can be conveniently be usefully divided into three significant zones; Southern, Northern and Equatorial, which range between −90° to -30°, +90° to +30°, and −30° to +30°, respectively. By total area, these regions divide into equal parts, being each 10313.240 deg2 for the northern and southern, with 20623.481 deg2 for the equatorial regions.
(6) The equatorial region also contains thirteen zodiacal constellations, which additionally includes Ophiuchus. Position of any selected constellation is also dependant on the apparent centre, determining where it sits, even though the area might range across two zonal regions. Number of constellations within each zones are as follows;
(7) Both polar caps can be considered to extend to +90° in the north and −90° in the south, out to +60° and −60°, respectively. Calculated areas of each of these regions are 2763.424 deg2 apiece. Out to ±45°, these areas increase to 6041.356 deg2.
(8) Scorpius is the name of the astronomical constellation, while Scorpio is the astrological name. Some older astronomical books before 1930, however, sometimes use Scorpio.
(9) Southern Ophiuchus passes through the zodiac, making it the mostly unrecognised 13th zodiacal constellation. Some consider this part of the ecliptic as part of Scorpius, whose length on the ecliptic is only 6° 17′ while Ophiuchus is 18° 30′ or three times longer.
(10) Nebeculae Major (NMa) culminates on 13th December, while Nebeculae Minor (NMi) culminates on 3rd October.
(11) Three southern constellations and their genetive names are very confusing to the novice (and me!), and even the most skilful get them occasionally wrong. These are;
a.) Corona Australis / Coronae
Australis
b.) Piscis Austrinus / Piscis Austrini
c.) Triangulum Australe / Trianguli
Australis.
Mnemonically, I have remembered the words; Crown Bliss [same] for CrA; Two Venus & one Fishy for PsA, then trim-rally & tri-bliss for TrA. Another is the confusion with Pisces and Piscis Austrinus, being either two fishes or just one solitary fish. (Perhaps just remember the line, there are more fish in the zodiac than in Australia!)
(12) Originally, Corona Australis was officially recognised by the name Corona Austrina. It has since been corrected, but still embarrassingly holds this other name in the original IAU legislation decree.
(13) Simplest in constellation shape, having only four boundaries on the celestial sphere, total ten in number. These are in alphabetical order; Canis Major, Corona Australis, Chamaeleon, Crux, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus, Telescopium, Scutum, Sextans and Volans. Here Canis Major is the largest rectangular area, while Crux is the smallest. I.e. 380.1 sq. degrees to 68.4 sq.degrees, being 5.6 times bigger than Crux’s area) or 18% the size of Canis Major.
(14) Variable stars designations sometimes use numbers to assigned them to their constellations. These are from 1 for Andromeda to 88 for Vulpecula (See Main Constellation List (Table 1, above), with the following numbers as; AS R0001, R0002 etc. This used designation also appears within the now continuously updated General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS). Version 4.2.
(15) Some constellations have minor different spellings. e.g. Bootes is Böotes or Phoenix is Phœnix.
Reduction of some constellations names were mercifully made for some simplification. Many of the common ones appearing in the literature are listed in Table 3 below.
Those highlighted in RED are Southern Constellations, while those with an asterisks (*) are the now the universally accepted Shortened Constellation Names. Also Nebeculae Magellani are both the LMC & SMC
Table 4. Older Constellation Names |
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Antinous (Roman deified male youth) |
Antlia ; Antlia Pneumatica * |
Argo Navis or Argo (Ship of Jason and the Argonauts) |
Caelum ; Caelum (Caela) Scalptorium * (Sculptor’s Chisel) |
Cerberus (Three Headed Snake) |
Cela Sculptoria (Graver’s Tools) |
Columba; Columba Noae (or Noachi) (The Dove) |
Custos Messium |
Felis (The Cat) |
Fornax / Fornax Chemica (The Chemical Furnace) * |
Globus Aerostaticus or vel Aetherius (The Balloon) |
Horologium Oscillatorium (The Clock)* or Horologium Pendulum |
Lochium Funis or Linea Nautica [now Pyxis] (Log and Line) * |
Lynx ; Lynrsive Tigis * (Lynx) |
Machina Electria (Electricity Generator) |
Mensa ; Mons Mensae * Table Mountain : Cape of Good Hope |
Mons Maenalus | Musca ; Musca Australis vel Indica Apis (Southern or Indian Fly) * |
Musca Borealis / Vespa (Fly/Wasp) or Lilium / Fleur de Lys. |
Nebeculae Major |
Nebeculae Minor | Noctura: Turdus Solitarius |
Norma ; Norma et Regula * or Quadrans Euclidus (Euclid’s Square) * |
Octans or Octans Nautica Octans Hadleianus * |
Officina Topographica (The Printing Office) |
Ophiuchus Ophiuchus vel Sepentarius * |
Pictor : Equuleus Pictoris (Painter’s Easel) or Pluteum Pictoris |
Phoenicoterusnow Grus* (The Crane)
or Pheoenicopterus (Flamingo) |
Psalterium Georgi (Georgi Harp) |
Pyxis Pyxis Nautica * |
Quadrans Muralis (Mural Quadrant) |
Recticulum : Reticulus Rhomboidalis * (Rhomboidal Net) |
Robur Carolinum * Charles’ Oak (α Robinis = β Car) |
Sextans ; Sextans Uraniae |
Scutum ; Scutum Sobiescianum | Sceptrum Brandenburgicum |
Sculptor : Apparatus Sculptoris * (Sculptor’s Tools) |
Solarium (Sundial) |
Rangifer / Tarandus vel Rangifer (Reindeer) |
Taurus Poniatovii (Poiniatowslli’s Bull) |
Telescopium ; Telescopium Solarium or Tubus Astronomicus * |
Triangulum Minor or Triangula |
Telescopium Herschelii (Herschel’s Telescope) |
Triangulum Australe (Once Part of Norma) |
Turdus Solitarius (Solitary Thrush) |
Vultur et Lyra (Vulture and Harp) Lyra (The Lyre or Harp) |
Vulpecula et Anser (Fox and Goose) |
Xiphias (Swordfish) |
Last Update : 17th December 2017
Southern Astronomical Delights © (2015)