Star Constellations

Crater (“the cup”) is one of the original constellations first recorded by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in his astronomical treatise called Almagest around 150 AD. This southern constellation is rather faint with its brightest star, Labrum, …

Puppis (“the stern”) is one of 14 southern hemisphere constellations created by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille during his South African expedition of 1751–52. Its brightest star is Naos, a blue supergiant found …

Pyxis is a faint southern constellation that was one of 14 created by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille during his 1751-52 stay in South Africa. It depicts a mariner’s magnetic compass, but this small …

Mensa (“the table”) is a small constellation that is the second southernmost in the night sky, meaning that it is not visible from the northern hemisphere. Being so far south means that it is also …

Crux is the smallest constellations in the night sky, and is located in the southern celestial hemisphere where it remains visible throughout the year (circumpolar). Despite its small size, Crux is also one of the …

Equuleus (“little horse”) is a faint northern sky constellation that was included by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in his astronomy treatise called Almagest around 150 AD. It is the second smallest of the night sky’s …

Dorado is one of 12 southern constellations included by Petrus Plancius in his celestial globe of 1598 that were based upon the observations of Dutch explorers Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman. These new …

Volans (“flying fish”) is a small, faint constellation that belongs to the southern celestial skies. Based upon the observations of 16th century Dutch explorer Pieter Keyzer, Volans is one of 12 new constellations included by …

Musca (“the fly”) is a small southern sky constellation which was created by Petrus Plancius in the late 16th century, with the astronomer having based it upon the observations made by Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon …

Aquila is a northern sky constellation that is found close to the celestial equator, and is therefore rich in galaxies, star clusters and nebulae. Meaning “the eagle” in Latin, the constellation was recorded by Greek …