The night sky’s twenty-two brightest 1st magnitude stars are shown above, while the following table provides information on the 88 recognized constellations, together with details on their location, size, and brightest star.
| Constellation | Location | Description | 1st Mag Star | Brightest Star (mag) | Area Deg² (Rank) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andromeda | N | Chained Maiden | None | Alpheratz (2.1) | 722 (19th) |
| Antlia | S | Air Pump | None | Alpha Antliae (4.3) | 239 (62nd) |
| Apus | S | Bird of Paradise | None | Alpha Apodis (3.8) | 206 (67nd) |
| Aquarius | S/Eq | Water Carrier | None | Sadalmelik (3.0) | 980 (10th) |
| Aquila | Eq | Eagle | Altair (0.77) | 652 (22nd) | |
| Ara | S | Altar | None | Beta Arae (2.9) | 237 (63rd) |
| Aries | N | Ram | None | Hamal (2.0) | 441 (39th) |
| Auriga | N | Charioteer | Capella (0.08), Capella B (0.96) | 657 (21st) | |
| Boötes | N | Bootes | Arcturus (−0.04 var) | 907 (13th) | |
| Caelum | S | Chisel | None | Alpha Caeli (4.5) | 125 (81st) |
| Camelopardalis | N | Giraffe | None | Beta Camelopardalis (4.0) | 757 (18th) |
| Cancer | N | Crab | None | Al Tarf (3.5) | 506 (31st) |
| Canes Venatici | N | Hunting Dogs | None | Cor Caroli (2.8) | 465 (38th) |
| Canis Major | S | Great Dog | Sirius (−1.46) | 380 (43rd) | |
| Canis Minor | N/Eq | Little Dog | Procyon (0.34) | 183 (71st) | |
| Capricornus | S | Sea Goat | None | Deneb Algedi (2.9) | 414 (40th) |
| Carina | S | Keel | Canopus (−0.72) | 494 (34th) | |
| Cassiopeia | N | Cassiopeia | None | Schedar (2.2) | 598 (25th) |
| Centaurus | S | Centaur | Rigil Kent (-0.27), Hadar (0.60) | 1060 (9th) | |
| Cepheus | S | Cepheus | None | Alderamin (2.4) | 588 (27th) |
| Cetus | Eq | Whale | None | Deneb Kaitos (2.0) | 1231 (4th) |
| Chamaeleon | S | Chameleon | None | Alpha Chamaeleontis (4.1) | 132 (78th) |
| Circinus | S | Compasses | None | Alpha Circini (3.2) | 93 (85th) |
| Columba | S | Dove | None | Phakt (2.6) | 270 (54th) |
| Coma Berenices | N | Berenice's Hair | None | Beta Comae Berenices (4.3) | 386 (42nd) |
| Corona Australis | S | Southern Crown | None | Alpha Coronae Australis (4.1) | 128 (80th) |
| Corona Borealis | N | Northern Crown | None | Alphekka (2.2) | 179 (72nd) |
| Corvus | S | Crow | None | Gienah (2.6) | 184 (70th) |
| Crater | S | Cup | None | Delta Crateris (3.6) | 282 (53rd) |
| Crux | S | Southern Cross | Acrux (0.77), Mimosa (1.30) | 168 (88th) | |
| Cygnus | N | Swan | Deneb (1.25) | 804 (16th) | |
| Delphinus | N | Dolphin | None | Rotanev (3.6) | 189 (69th) |
| Dorado | S | Swordfish | None | Alpha Doradus (3.3) | 179 (73rd) |
| Draco | N | Dragon | None | Thuban (3.7) | 1083 (8th) |
| Equuleus | N | Foal | None | Kitalpha (3.9) | 72 (87th) |
| Eridanus | S/Eq | River Eridanus | Achernar (0.50) | 1138 (6th) | |
| Fornax | S | Furnace | None | Alpha Fornacis (3.9) | 398 (41st) |
| Gemini | N | Twins | Pollux (1.15) | 514 (30th) | |
| Grus | S | Crane | None | Alnair (1.7) | 366 (45th) |
| Hercules | N | Hercules | None | Ras Algethi (2.6) | 1225 (5th) |
| Horologium | S | Clock | None | Alpha Horologii (3.9) | 249 (58th) |
| Hydra | S/Eq | Water Snake (female) | None | Alphard (2.0) | 1303 (1st) |
| Hydrus | S | Water Snake (male) | None | Beta Hydri (2.8) | 243 (61st) |
| Indus | S | Indian | None | Alpha Indi (3.1) | 294 (49th) |
| Lacerta | N | Lizard | None | Alpha Lacartae (3.8) | 201 (68th) |
| Leo | N/Eq | Lion | Regulus (1.35) | 947 (12th) | |
| Leo Minor | N | Little Lion | None | Praecipua (3.8) | 232 (64th) |
| Lepus | S | Hare | None | Arneb (2.6) | 290 (51st) |
| Libra | S | Scales | None | Zubeneschemali (2.6) | 538 (29th) |
| Lupus | S | Wolf | None | Alpha Lupus (2.3) | 334 (46th) |
| Lynx | N | Lynx | None | Alpha Lyncis (3.1) | 545 (28th) |
| Lyra | N | Lyre | Vega (0.03) | 286 (52nd) | |
| Mensa | S | Table Mountain | None | Alpha Mensae (5.1) | 153 (75th) |
| Microscopium | S | Microscope | None | Gamma Microscopii (4.7) | 210 (66th) |
| Monoceros | Eq | Unicorn | None | Beta Monocerotis (3.7) | 482 (35th) |
| Musca | S | Fly | None | Alpha Muscae (2.7) | 138 (77th) |
| Norma | S | Level | None | Gamma Normae (4.0) | 165 (74th) |
| Octans | S | Octant | None | Nu Octanis (3.8) | 291 (50th) |
| Ophiuchus | Eq | Serpent Bearer | None | Rasalhague (2.1) | 948 (11th) |
| Orion | Eq | Orion | Rigel (0.12), Betelgeuse (0.42 var) | 594 (26th) | |
| Pavo | S | Peacock | None | Alpha Pavonis (1.9) | 378 (44th) |
| Pegasus | N | Pegasus | None | Enif (2.4) | 1121 (7th) |
| Perseus | N | Perseus | None | Mirphak (1.8) | 615 (24th) |
| Phoenix | S | Phoenix | None | Ankaa (2.4) | 469 (37th) |
| Pictor | S | Painter's Easel | None | Alpha Pictoris (3.2) | 247 (59th) |
| Pisces | N/Eq | Fishes | None | Eta Piscium (3.6) | 889 (14th) |
| Piscis Austrinus | S | Southern Fish | Fomalhaut (1.16) | 245 (60th) | |
| Puppis | S | Stern | None | Naos (2.21) | 673 (20th) |
| Pyxis | S | Mariner's Compass | None | Alpha Pyxidis (3.68) | 221 (65th) |
| Reticulum | S | Net | None | Alpha Reticuli (3.33) | 114 (82nd) |
| Sagitta | N | Arrow | None | Gamma Sagittae (3.51) | 80 (86th) |
| Sagittarius | S | Archer | None | Kaus Australis (1.79) | 867 (15th) |
| Scorpius | S | Scorpion | Antares (1.09 var) | 497 (33rd) | |
| Sculptor | S | Sculptor | None | Alpha Sculptoris (4.3) | 479 (36th) |
| Scutum | S | Shield | None | Ionnina (3.85) | 109 (84th) |
| Serpens | Eq | Serpent | None | Unukalhai (2.62) | 637 (23rd) |
| Sextans | Eq | Sextant | None | Alpha Sextantis (4.48) | 314 (47th) |
| Taurus | N/Eq | Bull | Aldebaran (0.85 var) | 797 (17th) | |
| Telescopium | S | Telescope | None | Alpha Telescopii (3.51) | 252 (57th) |
| Triangulum | N | Triangle | None | Beta Trianguli (3.0) | 132 (79th) |
| Triangulum Australe | S | Southern Triangle | None | Atria (1.91) | 110 (83rd) |
| Tucana | S | Toucan | None | Alpha Tucanae (2.86) | 295 (48th) |
| Ursa Major | N | Great Bear | None | Alioth (1.76) | 1280 (3rd) |
| Ursa Minor | N | Little Bear | None | Polaris (1.985) | 256 (56th) |
| Vela | S | Sails | None | Suhail (1.7) | 500 (32nd) |
| Virgo | Eq | Virgin | Spica (1.04) | 1294 (2nd) | |
| Volans | S | Flying Fish | None | Beta Volantis (3.77) | 141 (76th) |
| Vulpecula | N | Fox | None | Anser (4.44) | 268 (55th) |
| Constellation | Location | Description | 1st Mag Star | Brightest Star (mag) | Area Deg² (Rank) |