Constellations
All 88 official constellations: their stories, their brightest stars, and real star maps for every one.
88 constellations shown. “Best month” = when it sits highest around 9 pm; zodiac constellations are marked ☉ (and see the note below on astronomy vs astrology).
Andromeda
The Chained Princess
Northern · best November · Alpheratz
Antlia
The Air Pump
Southern · best April · Alpha Antliae
Apus
The Bird-of-Paradise
Southern · best July · Alpha Apodis
Aquarius ☉
The Water Bearer
Both · best October · Sadalsuud
Aquila
The Eagle
Both · best August · Altair
Ara
The Altar
Southern · best July · Beta Arae
Aries ☉
The Ram
Northern · best December · Hamal
Auriga
The Charioteer
Northern · best February · Capella
Boötes
The Herdsman
Northern · best June · Arcturus
Caelum
The Chisel
Southern · best January · Alpha Caeli
Camelopardalis
The Giraffe
Northern · best February · Beta Camelopardalis
Cancer ☉
The Crab
Northern · best March · Tarf
Canes Venatici
The Hunting Dogs
Northern · best May · Cor Caroli
Canis Major
The Great Dog
Southern · best February · Sirius
Canis Minor
The Little Dog
Both · best March · Procyon
Capricornus ☉
The Sea Goat
Southern · best September · Deneb Algedi
Carina
The Keel
Southern · best March · Canopus
Cassiopeia
The Queen
Northern · best November · Gamma Cassiopeiae
Centaurus
The Centaur
Southern · best May · Alpha Centauri
Cepheus
The King
Northern · best October · Alderamin
Cetus
The Sea Monster
Both · best November · Diphda
Chamaeleon
The Chameleon
Southern · best April · Alpha Chamaeleontis
Circinus
The Drawing Compasses
Southern · best June · Alpha Circini
Columba
The Dove
Southern · best February · Phact
Coma Berenices
Berenice's Hair
Northern · best May · Beta Comae Berenices
Corona Australis
The Southern Crown
Southern · best August · Meridiana
Corona Borealis
The Northern Crown
Northern · best July · Alphecca
Corvus
The Crow
Southern · best May · Gienah
Crater
The Cup
Southern · best April · Delta Crateris
Crux
The Southern Cross
Southern · best May · Acrux
Cygnus
The Swan
Northern · best September · Deneb
Delphinus
The Dolphin
Northern · best September · Rotanev
Dorado
The Dolphinfish
Southern · best January · Alpha Doradus
Draco
The Dragon
Northern · best July · Eltanin
Equuleus
The Little Horse
Northern · best September · Kitalpha
Eridanus
The River
Southern · best December · Achernar
Fornax
The Furnace
Southern · best December · Alpha Fornacis
Gemini ☉
The Twins
Northern · best February · Pollux
Grus
The Crane
Southern · best October · Alnair
Hercules
The Hero (Hercules)
Northern · best July · Kornephoros
Horologium
The Pendulum Clock
Southern · best December · Alpha Horologii
Hydra
The Water Snake
Southern · best April · Alphard
Hydrus
The Little Water Snake
Southern · best December · Beta Hydri
Indus
The Indian
Southern · best September · Alpha Indi
Lacerta
The Lizard
Northern · best October · Alpha Lacertae
Leo ☉
The Lion
Both · best April · Regulus
Leo Minor
The Little Lion
Northern · best April · Praecipua
Lepus
The Hare
Southern · best February · Arneb
Libra ☉
The Scales
Both · best June · Zubeneschamali
Lupus
The Wolf
Southern · best June · Alpha Lupi
Lynx
The Lynx
Northern · best March · Alpha Lyncis
Lyra
The Lyre
Northern · best August · Vega
Mensa
The Table Mountain
Southern · best January · Alpha Mensae
Microscopium
The Microscope
Southern · best September · Gamma Microscopii
Monoceros
The Unicorn
Both · best February · Beta Monocerotis
Musca
The Fly
Southern · best May · Alpha Muscae
Norma
The Set Square
Southern · best July · Gamma2 Normae
Octans
The Octant
Southern · best October · Nu Octantis
Ophiuchus
The Serpent Bearer
Both · best July · Rasalhague
Orion
The Hunter
Both · best January · Rigel
Pavo
The Peacock
Southern · best August · Peacock (Alpha Pavonis)
Pegasus
The Winged Horse
Northern · best October · Enif
Perseus
The Hero
Northern · best December · Mirfak
Phoenix
The Phoenix
Southern · best November · Ankaa
Pictor
The Painter's Easel
Southern · best January · Alpha Pictoris
Pisces ☉
The Fishes
Both · best November · Eta Piscium
Piscis Austrinus
The Southern Fish
Southern · best October · Fomalhaut
Puppis
The Stern
Southern · best February · Naos
Pyxis
The Compass
Southern · best March · Alpha Pyxidis
Reticulum
The Reticle
Southern · best January · Alpha Reticuli
Sagitta
The Arrow
Northern · best August · Gamma Sagittae
Sagittarius ☉
The Archer
Southern · best August · Kaus Australis
Scorpius ☉
The Scorpion
Southern · best July · Antares
Sculptor
The Sculptor's Studio
Southern · best November · Alpha Sculptoris
Scutum
The Shield
Southern · best August · Alpha Scuti
Serpens
The Serpent
Both · best July · Unukalhai
Sextans
The Sextant
Both · best April · Alpha Sextantis
Taurus ☉
The Bull
Northern · best January · Aldebaran
Telescopium
The Telescope
Southern · best August · Alpha Telescopii
Triangulum
The Triangle
Northern · best December · Beta Trianguli
Triangulum Australe
The Southern Triangle
Southern · best July · Atria
Tucana
The Toucan
Southern · best November · Alpha Tucanae
Ursa Major
The Great Bear
Northern · best April · Alioth
Ursa Minor
The Little Bear
Northern · best June · Polaris
Vela
The Sails
Southern · best March · Gamma Velorum
Virgo ☉
The Maiden
Both · best May · Spica
Volans
The Flying Fish
Southern · best March · Beta Volantis
Vulpecula
The Little Fox
Northern · best September · Anser
Photographs show each constellation’s own patch of sky. Where no free photograph exists, the map is drawn from real star positions and magnitudes.
Photo credits
Antlia, Apus, Ara, Caelum, Carina, Centaurus, Chamaeleon, Circinus, Columba, Corona Australis, Crux, Dorado, Fornax, Grus, Horologium, Hydrus, Indus, Lupus, Mensa, Microscopium, Musca, Norma, Octans, Pavo, Phoenix, Pictor: Till Credner (CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons). Eridanus, Lynx, Pyxis, Reticulum, Sculptor, Telescopium, Triangulum Australe, Tucana, Vela, Volans: Till Credner (CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons).