THE
UNIVERSAL COMPENDIUM
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| Name | Genitive | Meaning | Notable Features |
| Zodiac constellations (Ptolemy) | |||
| Aries | Arietis | Ram | |
| Taurus | Tauri | Bull | Brightest star Aldebaran; Pleiades star cluster; Crab Nebula |
| Gemini | Geminorum | Twins | Brightest stars Castor and Pollux |
| Cancer | Cancri | Crab | Star cluster Praesepe |
| Leo | Leonis | Lion | Brightest star Regulus |
| Virgo | Virginis | Virgin | Brightest star Spica |
| Libra | Librae | Balance | |
| Scorpius | Scorpii | Scorpion | Brightest star Antares |
| Sagittarius | Sagittarii | Archer | Milky Way's centre |
| Capricornus | Capricorni | Sea-goat | |
| Aquarius | Aquarii | Water-bearer | |
| Pisces | Piscium | Fishes | |
| Other constellations of Ptolemy | |||
| Andromeda | Andromedae | Andromeda (from Greek Mythology) | Spiral galaxy Andromeda (AKA, M31) |
| Aquila | Aquilae | Eagle | Brightest star Altair |
| Ara | Arae | Altar | |
| Argo Navis | Argus Navis | The legendary ship 'Argo' | Now consisting of various smaller constellations including Carina, Puppis, Pyxis and Vela |
| Auriga | Aurigae | Charioteer | Brightest star Capella; open star clusters M36, M37 and M38 |
| Boötes | Boötis | Herdsman | Brightest star Arcturus |
| Canis Major | Canis Majoris | Greater dog | Brightest star Sirius |
| Canis Minor | Canis Minoris | Smaller dog | Brightest star Procyon |
| Cassiopeia | Cassiopeiae | Cassiopeia (from Greek Mythology) | Tycho’s nova appeared in Cassiopeia in 1572 |
| Centaurus | Centauri | Centaur (possibly Chiron) | Alpha Centauri (with Proxima), the closest star to the sun |
| Cepheus | Cephei | Cepheus, from Greek Mythology | Delta Cephei, the cepheid variable prototype |
| Cetus | Ceti | Whale | First-known variable star Mira Ceti |
| Corona Austrina | Coronae Austrinae | Southern crown | |
| Corona Borealis | Coronae Borealis | Northern crown | |
| Corvus | Corvi | Raven | |
| Crater | Crateris | Cup | |
| Cygnus | Cygni | Swan | Northern Cross asterism; brightest star Deneb |
| Delphinus | Delphini | Dolphin | Job's Coffin asterism |
| Draco | Draconis | Dragon | Thuban star, the polestar of 3000 BC |
| Equuleus | Equulei | Little horse | |
| Eridanus | Eridani | River Eridanus/river god | Brightest star Achernar |
| Hercules | Herculis | Hercules (from Greek Mythology) | Globular star cluster M13 |
| Hydra | Hydrae | Water snake | |
| Lepus | Leporis | Hare | |
| Lupus | Lupi | Wolf | |
| Lyra | Lyrae | Lyre | Brightest star Vega - will be the polestar in approximately 10,000 years; Ring Nebula/M57 |
| Ophiuchus | Ophiuchi | Serpent-bearer | De facto Zodiac constellation |
| Orion | Orionis | Hunter | Brightest star Rigel; Great Nebula (AKA, M42) |
| Pegasus | Pegasi | Pegasus, the winged horse | Great Square of Pegasus stars |
| Perseus | Persei | Perseus, from Greek Mythology | |
| Piscis Austrinus | Piscis Austrini | Southern fish | Brightest star Fomalhaut |
| Sagitta | Sagittae | Arrow | |
| Serpens | Serpentis | Serpent | |
| Triangulum | Trianguli | Triangle | M33 spiral galaxy |
| Ursa Major | Ursae Majoris | Great bear | Big Dipper |
| Ursa Minor | Ursae Minoris | Lesser bear | North polestar Polaris |
| Southern Constellations, c.1600 | |||
| Apus | Apodis | Bird of paradise | |
| Chamaeleon | Chamaeleontis | Chamaeleon | |
| Dorado | Doradus | Swordfish | Large Magellanic Cloud |
| Grus | Gruis | Crane | |
| Hyrdus | Hydri | Water snake | |
| Indus | Indi | Indian | |
| Musca | Muscae | Fly | |
| Pavo | Pavonis | Peacock | |
| Phoenix | Phoenicis | Phoenix, mythical bird | |
| Triangulum Australe | Trianguli Australis | Southern triangle | |
| Tucana | Tucanae | Toucan | Small Magellanic Cloud |
| Volans | Volantis | Flying fish | |
| Constellations of Bartsch, 1624 | |||
| Camelopardalis | Camelopardalis | Giraffe | |
| Columba | Columbae | Dove | |
| Monoceros | Monocerotis | Unicorn | |
| Constellations of Hevelius, 1687 | |||
| Canes Venatici | Canum Venaticorum | Hunting dogs | Whirlpool Galaxy (AKA, M51) |
| Lacerta | Lacertae | Lizard | |
| Leo Minor | Leonis Minoris | Lesser lion | |
| Lynx | Lyncis | Lynx | |
| Scutum | Scuti | Shield | Scutim star cloud in the Milky Way |
| Vulpecula | Vulpeculae | Fox | Dumbbell Nebula (AKA, M27) |
| Ancient asterisms, now separate constellations | |||
| Carina | Carinae | Keel from the Argo [legendary ship] | Brightest star Canopus |
| Coma Berenices | Comae Berenices | Berenice's hair | A coma [star cluster] and the north galactic pole |
| Crux | Crucis | Cross [southern] | |
| Puppis | Puppis | Stern [of the 'Argo'] | |
| Pyxis | Pyxidis | Compass [of the 'Argo'] | |
| Vela | Velorum | Sails [of the 'Argo'] | |
| Southern constellations of Lacaille, c.1750 | |||
| Antlia | Antliae | Pump | |
| Caelum | Caeli | Chisel [sculptor's] | |
| Circinus | Circini | Drawing compasses | |
| Fornax | Fornacis | Furnace [chemical] | |
| Horologium | Horologii | Clock | |
| Mensa | Mensae | Table [mountain] | |
| Microscopium | Microscopii | Microscope | |
| Norma | Normae | Square | |
| Octans | Octantis | Octant | South celestial pole |
| Pictor | Pictoris | Painter's [easel] | |
| Reticulum | Reticuli | Reticle | |
| Sculptor | Sculptoris | Sculptor's [workshop] | South galactic pole |
| Telescopium | Telescopii | Telescope | |
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Sources Encyclopaedia Britannica Almanac 2009. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 2009.
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