# IAU Constellations The below content was originally compiled by [Cayla Cummings](/eons-internships#Cayla). Sort Name of Constellations Cultural Origin of Name (Astronomer) Meaning of Name Andromeda Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Aethiopian princess/daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia in Greek mythology Antila Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Air pump Apus Greek (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer created by Pieter Keyser in 1603) Bird-of-paradise Aquarius Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Water bearer Aquila Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Eagle Ara Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Altar Aries Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Ram Auriga Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Charioteer Bootes Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Herdsman Caelum Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, 1763) Chisel Camelopardalis Latin (Petrus Plancius, 1613) Giraffe Cancer Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Crab Canes Venatici Latin (from Firmamentum Sobiescianum by Johannes Hevelius, 1690) Hunting dogs Canis Major Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Greater dog Canis Minor Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Lesser dog Capricornus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Sea goat Carina Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, 1763) Keel Cassiopeia Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Cassiopeia (queen of Aethiopia in Greek mythology) Centaurus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Centaur Cepheus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Cepheus (king of Aethiopia in Greek mythology) Cetus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Sea monster Chamaeleon Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer created by Pieter Keyser in 1603) Chameleon Circinus Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, 1763) Compasses Columba Latin (Petrus Plancius, 1592 - split from Canis Major) Dove Coma Berenices Latin (Casper Vopel, 1536 - split from Leo) Berenice's Hair (Queen Berenice II of Egypt) Corona Australis Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Southern crown Corona Borealis Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Northern crown Corvus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Crow Crater Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Cup Crux Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, 1603 - split from Centaurus) Southern cross Cygnus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Swan, Northern Cross Delphinus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Dolphin Dorado Spanish (given Latin genitive Doradus, from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Dolphinfish Draco Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Dragon Equuleus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Pony Eridanus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) River Eridanus Fornax Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, 1763) Chemical furnace Gemini Ancient Greek Twins Grus Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Crane Hercules Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Hercules (demigod hero from Greek mythology) Horologium Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, 1763) Pendulum clock Hydra Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Hydra (monster slayed by Hercules in Greek mythology) Hydrus Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Lesser water snake Indus Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Indian Lacerta Latin (from Firmamentum Sobiescianum by Johannes Hevelius -1690) Lizard Leo Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Lion Leo Minor Latin (from Firmamentum Sobiescianum by Johannes Hevelius - 1690) Lesser lion Lepus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Hare Libra Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Balance Lupus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Wolf Lynx Latin (from Firmamentum Sobiescianum by Johannes Hevelius - 1690) Lynx Lyra Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Lyre/harp Mensa Latin (Mons Mense. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Table mountain Microscopium Latin/Greek (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Microscope Monoceros Latin (Petrus Plancius - 1613) Unicorn Musca Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Fly Norma Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Carpenter's level Octans Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Octant Ophiuchus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Serpent-bearer Orion Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Orion (giant huntsman from Greek mythology) Pavo Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Peacock Pegasus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Pegasus (winged horse from Greek mythology) Perseus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Perseus (hero from Greek mythology) Phoenix Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Phoenix Pictor Latin (Equuleus Pictoris, Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Easel Pisces Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Fishes Piscis Austrinus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Southern fishes Puppis Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Poop deck Pyxis Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Mariner's compass Reticulus Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Eyepiece reticule Sagitta Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Arrow Sagittarius Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Archer Scorpius Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Scorpion (also represents scorpion monster slayed by Orion) Sculptor Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Sculptor Scutum Latin (from Firmamentum Sobiescianum by Johannes Hevelius - 1690) Shield (of John III Sobieski of Poland) Serpens Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Snake Sextans Latin (from Firmamentum Sobiescianum by Johannes Hevelius - 1690) Sextant Taurus Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Bull Telescopium Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Telescope Triangulum Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Triangle Triangulum Australe Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Southern triangle Tucana Latin (from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Toucan Ursa Major Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Great bear Ursa Minor Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Lesser bear Vela Latin (Nicolas Louis de Lacaille - 1763) Sails Virgo Ancient Greek (Ptolemy) Virgin/maiden Volans Latin (Piscis Volans, from Uranometria by Johann Bayer, created by Pieter Keyser - 1603) Flying fish Vulpecula Latin (Vulpecula cum Ansere, from Firmamentum Sobiescianum by Johannes Hevelius - 1690) Fox ###### ![Illustration by Nadieh Bremer showing glowing stars against a dark blue background. The stars are connected with thin lines representing asterism boundaries.](/sites/g/files/omnuum1806/files/wolbachlibrary/files/figures_in_the_stars_detail_5.png) [Figures in the Sky](https://figuresinthesky.visualcinnamon.com/) detail, Nadieh Bremer