Constellations which span the celestial equator have been grouped under this heading for convenience.

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Name	Meaning	Major Stars	Interesting features
Andromeda	Daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus	alpha Andromedae	Double star, gamma Andromedae Great Andromeda Galaxy Planetary nebula NGC 7662 Open cluster NGC 752
Aquila	The Eagle	Altair (alpha Aquilae)	Cepheid variable star eta Aquilae Double stars 15 Aquilae and 57 Aquilae
Aries	The Ram	alpha Arietis (Hamal)	Double stars gamma Arietis, lambda Arietis and pi Arietis
Auriga	The Charioteer	Capella (alpha Aurigae)	Variable star epsilon Aurigae Double stars theta Aurigae and 4 Aurigae Open clusters M36 (NGC 1960), M37 (NGC 2099) and M38 (NGC 1912)
Boötes	The Herdsman	Arcturus (alpha Boötes)	Double stars Izar or Pulcherrima (epsilon Boötes), mu, nu1, nu2 and xi Boötes Quadrantid meteors
Camelopardalis	The Giraffe	Brightest stars mag 4	Double stars beta Camelopardalis, Struve 1694 or 32 Cam Open cluster NGC 1502 Galaxy NGC 2403
Cancer	The Crab	No bright stars	Double stars zeta Cancri and iota Cancri Open cluster M44 (NGC 2632), Praesepe or the Beehive Cluster
Canes Venatici	The Hunting Dogs	Alpha Canum Venaticorum (Cor Caroli), a double star of mag 2.9	Globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272) Galaxies M51 (NGC 5194), the Whirlpool Galaxy, NGC 5195, a satellite galaxy of M51, and M94 (NGC 4736)
Canis Minor	The Lesser Dog	Procyon (alpha Canis Minoris)	Procyon forms a triangle of bright stars with Sirius and Betelgeux
Cassiopeia	Wife of King Cepheus and mother of Andromeda	Variable star gamma Cassiopeiae, an unstable blue giant	Double star eta Cassiopeiae Multiple star iota Cassiopeiae Open clusters M52 (NGC 7654) and NGC 457
Cepheus	King Cepheus of Ethiopia, husband of Cassiopeia and father of Andromeda	Variable star delta Cephei, a yellow-white supergiant	Variable star mu Cephei, a red supergiant, also called the Garnet Star Double stars beta Cephei, delta Cephei, xi Cephei and omicron Cephei
Coma Berenices	Berenice's Hair	No bright stars	Double star 24 Comae Berenicis Coma Star cluster (also called Melotte 111) Globular cluster M53 (NGC 5024) Galaxy M64 (NGC 4826) sometimes called the Black Eye Galaxy
Corona Borealis	The Northern Crown	Alphekka or Gemma (alpha Coronae Borealis)	Double stars zeta Coronae Borealis and nu1 nu2 Coronae Borealis Variable stars R Coronae Borealis which varies between Mag 6 and 15 and T Coronae Borealis (the Blaze Star), a recurrent nova
Cygnus	The Swan	Deneb, a white supergiant of Mag 1.2 and Sadr	Double stars beta Cygni or Albireo, omicron1 Cygni and 61 Cygni Variable stars chi Cygni and P Cygni Planetary nebula NGC 6826, the Blinking Planetary Nebulae NGC 6992 (part of the Veil Nebula), the Cygnus Rift or Northern Coalsack and NGC 7000, the North America Nebula Black hole Cygnus X-1 Radio galaxy Cygnus A
Delphinus	The Dolphin	Sualocin & Rotanev	Double stars gamma Deplhini and Struve 2725
Draco	The Dragon	gamma Draconis or Etamin, mag 2.2	Double stars mu Draconis, nu Draconis, omicron Draconis, psi Draconis, 16-17 Draconis and 40-41 Draconis Triple star 39 Draconis Planetary nebula NGC6543
Equuleus	The Little Horse	No bright stars	Double stars gamma Equulei and epsilon Equulei
Gemini	The Twins	Castor (alpha Geminorum) and Pollux (beta Geminorum) Alhena (gamma Geminorum)	Double star 38 Geminorum Variable stars eta Geminorum and zeta Geminorum Open cluster M35 (NGC 2168) Planetary nebula NGC 2392, also known as Eskimo or Clown Face Nebula Geminid meteors
Hercules	Son of Zeus	Variable star Rasalgethi (alpha Herculis), a red giant varying between mag 3 and 4	Double stars kappa Herculis, rho Herculis and 95 Herculis Globular clusters M13 (NGC 6205), the brightest in the northern sky and M92 (NGC 6341)
Lacerta	The Lizard	No bright stars	3 naked-eye novae observed in Lacerta since 1910
Leo	The Lion	Regulus (alpha Leonis), mag 1.4 and Denebola and Zosma	Double stars Algieba (gamma Leonis) and tau Leonis Triple star zeta Leonis Variable star R Leonis Galaxies M65 (NGC 3623), M66 (NGC 3627), M95 (NGC 3351) and M96 (NGC 3368) Leonid meteors
Leo Minor	The Lesser Lion	No bright stars	A faint constellation containing nothing of note for the amateur astronomer
Lynx	The Lynx	No bright stars	Double stars 5 Lyncis, 12 Lyncis, 19 Lyncis and 38 Lyncis Triple star 41 Lyncis
Lyra	The Lyre	Vega (alpha Lyrae) mag 0	Double star zeta Lyrae Quadruple star epsilon Lyrae Variable stars beta Lyrae and delta Lyrae, both double variables Planetary nebula M57 (NGC 6720), the Ring Nebula Lyrid meteors
Monoceros	The Unicorn	No bright stars	Double stars delta Monocerotis and epsilon (or 8) Monocerotis Triple star beta Monocerotis Variable star S Monocerotis Open clusters M50 (NGC 2323), NGC 2232, NGC 2244 surrounded by the faint Rosette Nebula and NGC 2264 embedded in the Cone Nebula
Ophiuchus	The Serpent Holder	beta Ophiuchi, an orange giant of mag 3 Barnard's Star (mag 9.5) is the next closest star to the Sun after the alpha Centauri system	Double stars tau Ophiuchi, 36 Ophiuchi and 70 Ophiuchi which is close to the solar system Multiple star rho Ophiuchi Variable star RS Ophiuchi, a recurrent nova Open clusters IC 4665 and NGC 6633 Globular clusters M10 (NGC 6254) and M12 (NGC 6218)
Orion	The Hunter	Betelgeuse (alpha Orionis), a red supergiant variable star fluctuating between 0 and 1.3 mag Rigel (beta Orionis), a blue-white supergiant of mag 0.2 Bellatrix (gamma Orionis), a blue giant of mag 1.6 Alnilam (epsilon Orionis), a blue supergiant of mag 1.7	Double stars Mintaka (delta Orionis), Alnitak (zeta Orionis), theta2 Orionis, iota Orionis and lambda Orionis Multiple stars The Trapezium (theta1 Orionis) at the heart of the Orion Nebula and sigma Orionis Open cluster NGC 1981 Nebulae M42 (NGC 1976) and M43 (NGC 1982) form the Great Orion Nebula; NGC 1977 and the Horseshoe Nebula The Orionid meteors
Pegasus	The Winged Horse	Markab (alpha Pegasi) Scheat (beta Pegasi), a variable red giant Algenib (gamma Pegasi)	Double stars Enif (epsilon Pegasi) and 1 Pegasi Globular cluster M15 (NGC 7078), one of the best in the northern sky
Perseus	A Greek hero	alpha Persei, a white supergiant of mag 1.8 Algol (beta Persei), an eclipsing binary, varying between mag 2.1 and 3.4	Double stars epsilon Persei, a blue-white star of mag 3, zeta Persei, a 3rd mag blue supergiant and eta Persei Variable stars Algol and rho Persei, a red giant of mag 3 - 4 Open clusters the Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884) and M34 (NGC 1039), a large 5th mag cluster Perseid meteors
Pisces	The Fishes	Brightest stars of 4th mag	Double stars Alrescha (alpha Piscium), zeta Piscium, rho and 94 Piscium, and psi Piscium Variable star TX or 19 Piscium, a red giant of around mag 5 Galaxy M74 (NGC 628)
Sagitta	The Arrow	Brightest stars of 4th mag	Double star zeta Sagittae Variable stars S Sagittae and VZ Sagittae Recurrent nova WZ Sagittae Globular cluster M71 (NGC 6838)
Serpens	The Serpent	No bright stars	Split into 2 separate halves on either side of Ophiuchus Double stars beta Serpentis, delta Serpentis, theta Serpentis and nu Serpentis Open cluster M16 (NGC 6611) surrounded by the Eagle Nebula Globular cluster M5 (NGC 5904)
Taurus	The Bull	Aldebaran (alpha Tauri), an orange giant of mag 0.9 and Alnath (beta Tauri)	Double stars theta1 theta2 Tauri, kappa1 kappa2 Tauri, sigma1 sigma2 Tauri, phi Tauri and chi Tauri Variable star lambda Tauri Open clusters The Hyades and M45 The Pleiades Nebula M1, the Crab Nebula The Taurid meteors
Triangulum	The Triangle	No bright stars	Double star iota Trianguli Galaxy M33 (NGC 598)
Ursa Major	The Great Bear	Dubhe (alpha Ursae Majoris) and Merak (beta Ursae Majoris) both of 2nd mag	Double star xi Ursae Majoris Multiple star Mizar (zeta Ursae Majoris) Galaxies M81 (NGC 3031), M82 (NGC 3034) and M101 (NGC 5457)
Ursa Minor	The Little Bear	Polaris (alpha Ursae Minoris), a 2nd magnitude supergiant within 1° of the north celestial pole	Stars, Kochab and Yildun. Double star gamma Ursae Minoris
Virgo	The Virgin	Spica (alpha Virginis), a blue- white star of mag 1	Double stars gamma Virginis, theta Virginis and tau Virginis Galaxies M49 (NGC 4472), M58 (NGC 4579), M60 (NGC 4649), M84 (NGC 4374), M87 (NGC 4486), also known as radio source Virgo A, and M104 (NGC 4594), the Sombrero Galaxy
Vulpecula	The Fox	No bright stars	Double star alpha Vulpeculae Open cluster The Coathanger, also known as Collinder 399 or Brocchi's Cluster Planetary nebula M27 (NGC 6853), the Dumbbell Nebula

Constellations of the southern hemisphere

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Name	Meaning	Major Stars	Interesting features
Antlia	The Air Pump	No bright stars	Double star zeta1 and zeta2 Antliae
Apus	The Bird of Paradise	No bright stars	Double star delta1 and delta2 Apodis
Aquarius	The Water Carrier	zeta Aquarii (double star)	Planetary nebulae NGC 7009 and NGC 7293 Globular clusters M2 (NGC 7089) and M72 (NGC 6981) Aquarid meteors
Ara	The Altar	No bright stars	Open cluster NGC 6193 Globular cluster NGC 6397
Caelum	The Chisel	No bright stars	Double star gamma Caeli
Canis Major	The Great Dog	Sirius, alpha Canis Majoris Mirzam, beta Canis Majoris Wezen, delta Canis Majoris Adhara, epsilon Canis Majoris	Open cluster NGC 2287 Compact cluster NGC 2362
Capricornus	The Sea Goat	No bright stars	Double stars alpha Capricorni (Algedi or Giedi) and beta Capricorni Globular cluster M30 (NGC 7099)
Carina	The Keel	Canopus (alpha Carinae), a white supergiant, Miaplacidus (beta Carinae), and epsilon Carinae, an orange giant star	Variable star eta Carinae Double star upsilon Carinae Open clusters IC 2602 sometimes called the Southern Pleiades, NGC 2516, NGC 3114 and NGC 3532 Nebula NGC 3372 which contains the erratic variable star eta Carinae
Centaurus	The Centaur	alpha Centauri, a pair of yellow stars and beta Centauri (Hadar or Agena), a blue giant	Double star 3 Centauri Planetary nebula NGC 3918, also called the Blue Planetary Globular cluster omega Centauri (NGC 5139), the largest and brightest globular cluster in the sky Galaxy NGC 5128, a strong source of radio emission
Cetus	The Whale	Deneb Kaitos (beta Ceti), a yellow giant of mag 2 and tau Ceti which is very similar to the Sun	Variable star Mira (omicron Ceti), a red giant Double stars Menkar (alpha Ceti) and gamma Ceti Galaxy M77 (NGC 1068), a spiral galaxy
Chamaeleon	The Chameleon	No bright stars	Double star delta Chamaeleontis Planetary nebula NGC 3195
Circinus	The Compasses	No bright stars	Double star alpha Circini
Columba	The Dove	No bright stars	mu Columbae, a 5th Mag white star is one of 3 "runaway" stars that appear to be diverging from a point in Orion
Corona Australis	The Southern Crown	No bright stars	Double stars gamma Coronae Australis, kappa Coronae Australis and lambda Coronae Australis Globular cluster NGC 6541
Corvus	The Crow	No bright stars	Double stars delta Corvi and Struve 1669
Crater	The Cup	No bright stars	Contains nothing of particular interest to amateur astronomers
Crux	The Southern Cross	Acrux (alpha Crucis) and beta Crucis Mimosa	Double star mu Crucis Open cluster NGC 4755, also known as the Jewel Box The Coalsack Nebula
Dorado	The Goldfish	Variable star beta Doradus	Galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud Nebula NGC 2070 or Tarantula Nebula
Eridanus	The River	alpha Eridani or Achernar, mag 0.5, Cursa, mag 2 and epsilon Eridani, a yellow dwarf similar to the sun	Double stars theta Eridani and 32 Eridani Triple star omicron Eridani Planetary nebula NGC 1535
Fornax	The Furnace	No bright stars	Double star alpha Fornacis
Grus	The Crane	Alnair (alpha Gruis), mag 1.7	Double stars delta Gruis and mu Gruis
Horologium	The Pendulum Clock	No bright stars	Variable stars R Horologii and TW Horologii
Hydra	The Water Snake	Alphard (alpha Hydrae)	Double stars epsilon Hydrae, 27 Hydrae, 54 Hydrae and 1 Hydrae Variable stars R Hydrae and U Hydrae Open cluster M48 (NGC 2548) Planetary nebula NGC 3242 Globular cluster M68 (NGC 4590) Galaxy M83 (NGC 5236), an 8th mag spiral galaxy
Hydrus	The Lesser Water Snake	No bright stars	Double star pi Hydri
Indus	The Indian	No bright stars	Double star theta Indi
Lepus	The Hare	No bright stars	Double star gamma Leporis Variable star R Leporis or Hind's Crimson Star Open cluster NGC 2017 Globular cluster M79 (NGC 1904)
Libra	The Scales	No bright stars	Double stars Zubenelgenubi (alpha Librae) and mu Librae Multiple star iota Librae Variable star delta Librae, an eclipsing binary Globular cluster NGC 5897
Lupus	The Wolf	Double stars epsilon Lupi and eta Lupi, both mag 3	Double stars kappa Lupi, mu Lupi, xi Lupi and pi Lupi Open cluster NGC 5822
Mensa	The Table Mountain	No bright stars	Part of the Large Magellanic Cloud strays into Mensa from Dorado
Microscopium	The Microscope	No bright stars	Double star alpha Microscopii
Musca	The Fly	Double star beta Muscae, mag 3	Double star theta Muscae The dark Coalsack Nebula extends into Musca from Crux
Norma	The Level	No bright stars	Double stars gamma1 gamma2 Normae, epsilon Normae and iota1 Normae Open cluster NGC 6087
Octans	The Octant	No bright stars	Double star lambda Octantis The South Pole Star (sigma Octantis), a yellow-white giant of mag 5.4
Pavo	The Peacock	Peacock (alpha Pavonis), ablue-white star of mag 1.9	Double star xi Pavonis Variable star kappa Pavonis, a yellow-white supergiant, mag 3.9 - 4.8
Phoenix	The Phoenix	No bright stars>/td>	Double stars beta Phoenicis, a pair of 4th mag yellow stars and zeta Phoenicis Variable star zeta Phoenicis
Pictor	The Painter's Easel	No bright stars	beta Pictoris is a possible site for planetary formation
Piscis Austrinus	The Southern Fish	Fomalhaut (alpha Piscis Austrinis), a white star of mag 1.2	Double stars beta Piscis Austrini and gamma Piscis Austrini
Puppis
The Stern	xi Puppis, a 3rd mag yellow supergiant L2 Puppis, a red giant varaible of 3-6 mag	Double stars k Puppis and V puppis, an eclipsing binary Open clusters M46 (NGC 2437), M47 (NGC 2422), NGC 2451 and NGC 2477
Pyxis	The Compass	Brightest stars are mag 4	Recurrent nova T Pyxidis
Reticulum	The Net	Brightest star mag 3	Double star zeta Reticuli
Sagittarius	The Archer	Contains many Milky Way stars	Multiple star beta Sagittarii Variable stars W Sagittarii and X Sagittarii Open clusters M23 (NGC 6494), M24, M25 (IC 4725) and NGC 6530 Globular cluster M22 (NGC 6656) Nebulae M8 (NGC 6523) or Lagoon Nebula, M17 (NGC 6530), also known as the Omega Nebula, Swan Nebula and Horseshoe Nebula and M20 (NGC 6514) the Triffid Nebula
Scorpius	The Scorpion	Antares (alpha Scorpii), a variable red supergiant of mag 0.9 to 1.2: also Shaula (lambda scorpi)	Double stars Graffias (beta Scorpii), zeta1 zeta2 Scorpii, mu1 mu2 Scorpii, nu Scorpii and omega1 omega2 Scorpii Multiple star xi Scorpii, 2 pairs of stars gravitationally connected to each other Open clusters M6 (NGC 6405) also called the Butterfly Cluster, M7 (NGC 6475) and NGC 6231 Globular cluster M4 (NGC 6121)
Sculptor	The Sculptor	Brightest stars of 4th mag	Contains the south galactic pole Double stars epsilon Sculptoris and kappa1 Sculptoris Variable star R Sculptoris, a red giant Galaxies NGC 55 and NGC 253
Scutum	The Shield	Contains Milky Way star fields	Variable stars delta Scuti and R Scuti Open cluster M11 (NGC 6705), the Wild Duck Cluster
Sextans	The Sextant	No bright stars	Double star 17-18 Sextantis Galaxy NGC 3115, the Spindle Galaxy
Telescopium	The Telescope	No bright stars	Double star delta1 delta2 Telescopii
Triangulum Australe	The Southern Triangle	alpha, beta and gamma Trianguli Australis, the corners of the triangle are of mags 2 and 3	Open cluster NGC 6025
Tucana	The Toucan	Few bright stars	Double stars delta Tucanae and kappa Tucanae Multiple star beta Tucanae Globular clusters 47 Tucanae (NGC 104), one of the best in the sky, and NGC 362 Galaxy, the Small Magellanic Cloud
Vela	The Sails	gamma Velorum, a multiple star, the brightest of which is 2nd mag and delta Velorum, a double star of mags 2 and 5	Open clusters IC 2391 and NGC 2547
Volans	The Flying Fish	Brightest stars of 4th mag	Double stars gamma Volantis and epsilon Volantis

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