Star Constellations

Chamaeleon (“the chameleon”) is a small, dim southern constellation that like its namesake is difficult to find. It was devised by astronomer Petrus Plancius based upon the observations of Dutch navigators, with its brightest star, …

Microscopium (“microscope”) is a small southern hemisphere constellation that was created by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 1750s after visiting South Africa. Its brightest star, Gamma Microscopii, is a yellow giant situated …

Telescopium (“telescope”) is a small, faint southern sky constellation that was devised by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille following his expedition to South Africa (1751-53). He named it in honor of the scientific instrument that …

Triangulum Australe (“the southern triangle”) is a small southern sky constellation that was one of 12 invented by astronomer Petrus Plancius around 1597 based upon the observations of Dutch explorer Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser. Its three …

Norma is a small, faint southern sky constellation that was one of 14 introduced by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille following his expedition to South Africa from 1751-53. It represents a draughtsman’s level or …

Scutum (“the shield”) is an extremely small, faint southern sky constellation that was devised by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in 1684 to commemorate King John III Sobieski’s victory at the Battle of Vienna against the …

Pavo (“the peacock”) is one of 12 southern sky constellations devised by Petrus Plancius in the 16th century based upon the observations of Dutch explorers visiting the East Indies . Fortunately, it is neither as …

Horologium (“the clock”) is a small, dim southern constellation that is one of fourteen invented by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the mid-18th century. The brightest star in this pendulum clock-shaped constellation is …

Caelum (“the chisel”) is one of the smallest, faintest constellations in the night sky, and is one of 14 southern constellations invented by French astronomer Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the mid-18th century. Its …

Lacerta (“the lizard”) is a small, faint constellation of the northern skies that was created by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in 1687. Its brightest star is Alpha Lacertae, a blue dwarf situated 102 light years …