All 88 figures, and how far apart their stars really are.
- Ursa MajorUrsa Major, the Great Bear, is the northern constellation that holds the Plough, or Big Dipper, the most recognised star pattern of the northern sky.
- OrionOrion, the Hunter, is the brilliant constellation of the winter evening sky in the north, marked by red Betelgeuse, blue-white Rigel and a belt of three stars.
- CassiopeiaCassiopeia, the Seated Queen, is the W-shaped constellation of the northern sky, standing opposite the Plough across the pole and never setting for most of Europe.
- CygnusCygnus, the Swan, flies down the summer Milky Way in the north; its bright stars form the Northern Cross, with Deneb at the tail and Albireo at the beak.
- ScorpiusScorpius, the Scorpion, is a zodiac constellation of the northern summer sky, its curved tail ending in a sting and its heart the red supergiant Antares.
- CruxCrux, the Southern Cross, is the smallest constellation in the sky and the most famous of the far south, four bright stars that point the way to the southern pole.
- LeoLeo, the Lion, is a zodiac constellation of the northern spring sky, its mane traced by a backward question mark of stars called the Sickle, with Regulus at the base.
- TaurusTaurus, the Bull, is a zodiac constellation of the northern winter sky, with the orange giant Aldebaran for its eye and the Hyades and Pleiades clusters in its head.
- GeminiGemini, the Twins, is a zodiac constellation of the northern winter sky, two lines of stars headed by the bright pair Castor and Pollux, the heads of the twins.
- SagittariusSagittarius, the Archer, is a zodiac constellation shaped like a teapot that lies towards the centre of the Milky Way, where the galaxy’s glow is brightest.
- BootesBoötes, the Herdsman, is a kite-shaped constellation of the northern spring and summer sky, anchored by Arcturus, the brightest star north of the celestial equator.
- LyraLyra, the Lyre, is a small northern constellation of the summer sky, a parallelogram of faint stars hanging from Vega, a brilliant white star of the Summer Triangle.
- AquilaAquila, the Eagle, is a constellation on the summer Milky Way, its bright star Altair flanked by two fainter stars and forming a corner of the Summer Triangle.
- PegasusPegasus, the Winged Horse, is a large northern constellation of the autumn sky, known for the Great Square, four stars that frame an empty-looking patch of sky.
- AndromedaAndromeda, the Chained Maiden, is a northern autumn constellation best known for the Andromeda Galaxy, the most distant thing most people can see with the naked eye.
- PerseusPerseus, the Hero, is a northern constellation of the autumn and winter sky, holding the eclipsing star Algol, the Double Cluster and the radiant of the Perseids.
- Canis MajorCanis Major, the Great Dog, is the constellation of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, following Orion across the winter sky in the northern hemisphere.
- VirgoVirgo, the Maiden, is the largest constellation of the zodiac, a sprawling figure of the northern spring sky whose brightest star is the blue-white Spica.
- Ursa MinorUrsa Minor, the Little Bear, is the northern constellation that contains Polaris, the pole star, at the end of the handle of the faint Little Dipper.
- AurigaAuriga, the Charioteer, is a pentagon of stars in the northern winter sky, led by golden Capella and crossed by the Milky Way with its rich open clusters.
- CentaurusCentaurus, the Centaur, is a large southern constellation holding Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Sun, and Omega Centauri, the greatest globular cluster.
- CarinaCarina, the Keel, is a southern constellation carved from the old ship Argo, home of Canopus, the brightest star after Sirius, and of the great Carina Nebula.
- DelphinusDelphinus, the Dolphin, is a small, neat constellation of the northern summer sky, a diamond of stars with a short tail leaping just east of Altair.
- CepheusCepheus, the King, is a faint house-shaped constellation near the north celestial pole, holding Delta Cephei, the star that gave its name to the Cepheid variables.
- DracoDraco, the Dragon, is a long northern constellation that winds between the Great and Little Bears, its head a lozenge of stars near the bright star Vega.
- HerculesHercules is a large northern constellation of the summer sky, a kneeling hero drawn upside down, with the Keystone at its centre and the great globular cluster M13.
- OphiuchusOphiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, is a large constellation on the celestial equator that the ecliptic crosses although it is not one of the traditional zodiac signs.
- Corona BorealisCorona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is a small, perfect semicircle of stars between Boötes and Hercules, its brightest jewel the white star Alphecca.
- AriesAries, the Ram, is a small zodiac constellation of the northern autumn sky, a short bent line of stars led by the orange giant Hamal.
- CancerCancer, the Crab, is the faintest constellation of the zodiac, a dim figure between Gemini and Leo whose treasure is the Beehive, a cluster seen by eye.
- AntliaAntlia, the Air Pump, is a faint southern constellation named for a laboratory instrument, a handful of dim stars that hardly hold together as a figure.
- ApusApus, the Bird of Paradise, is a small, faint constellation close to the south celestial pole, never seen from most of the northern hemisphere.
- AquariusAquarius, the Water Bearer, is an ancient zodiac constellation of faint stars, the figure of a man pouring water across a dim stretch of the autumn sky.
- AraAra, the Altar, is an ancient southern constellation lying in the Milky Way just south of the tail of Scorpius, its stars rich in distant giants.
- CaelumCaelum, the Engraving Tool, is one of the faintest and smallest constellations, a few dim stars wedged between Columba and the river Eridanus.
- CamelopardalisCamelopardalis, the Giraffe, is a large but faint northern constellation that fills the empty sky between the Plough, Cassiopeia and Perseus.
- Canes VenaticiCanes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs, is a small northern constellation of just two named stars, held on a leash by Boötes beneath the handle of the Plough.
- Canis MinorCanis Minor, the Lesser Dog, is a tiny ancient constellation of two stars, made bright by Procyon, one of the Sun’s nearest bright neighbours.
- CapricornusCapricornus, the Sea Goat, is an ancient zodiac constellation of faint stars forming a broad triangle, a goat with the tail of a fish.
- CetusCetus, the Sea Monster, is a large ancient constellation of the autumn sky, home to the variable star Mira and to Tau Ceti, a nearby Sun-like star.
- ChamaeleonChamaeleon is a small, faint constellation near the south celestial pole, best known for the dark clouds behind it where new stars are forming.
- CircinusCircinus, the Drafting Compass, is a small, faint southern constellation squeezed in beside Alpha Centauri, at the edge of the Milky Way.
- ColumbaColumba, the Dove, is a small southern constellation below Orion and Lepus, the dove that Noah sent out from the ark to find dry land.
- Coma BerenicesComa Berenices, Berenice’s Hair, is a faint northern constellation of the spring sky, the shimmering hair of an Egyptian queen made into stars.
- Corona AustralisCorona Australis, the Southern Crown, is a small ancient constellation, an arc of faint stars beneath Sagittarius that hides a nearby nursery of stars.
- CorvusCorvus, the Crow, is a small ancient constellation of the spring sky, a compact four-sided figure of stars that is easy to spot south of Virgo.
- CraterCrater, the Cup, is a faint ancient constellation of the spring sky, a goblet of stars resting on the back of Hydra beside Corvus, the crow.
- DoradoDorado is a southern constellation that holds most of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way visible to the naked eye.
- EquuleusEquuleus, the Little Horse, is a tiny ancient constellation of faint stars next to Pegasus; of all the constellations, only Crux is smaller.
- EridanusEridanus, the River, is an ancient constellation that winds from the foot of Orion deep into the southern sky, ending at the bright star Achernar.
- FornaxFornax, the Furnace, is a faint southern constellation named for a chemist’s furnace, a window onto a dwarf galaxy and some of the deepest images ever taken.
- GrusGrus, the Crane, is a southern constellation of the spring sky, a long-necked bird marked by a bright blue-white star and a red giant side by side.
- HorologiumHorologium, the Clock, is a long, faint southern constellation named for a pendulum clock, stretching beside the river Eridanus towards Achernar.
- HydraHydra, the Water Snake, is the largest constellation in the sky, an ancient serpent of faint stars that crawls a long way across the spring sky.
- HydrusHydrus, the Male Water Snake, is a far southern constellation lying between the two Magellanic Clouds, home to Beta Hydri, a nearby star like the Sun.
- IndusIndus, the Indian, is a faint southern constellation of the spring sky, and the direction of Epsilon Indi, one of the Sun’s nearest neighbours.
- LacertaLacerta, the Lizard, is a small northern constellation of faint stars in the Milky Way between Cygnus and Andromeda, its figure a zigzag like a little Cassiopeia.
- Leo MinorLeo Minor, the Lesser Lion, is a faint northern constellation squeezed between Leo and the Great Bear, so faint that it has no star labelled Alpha.
- LepusLepus, the Hare, is an ancient constellation crouching at the feet of Orion, a compact winter figure whose stars lie at very different distances.
- LibraLibra, the Scales, is a zodiac constellation between Virgo and Scorpius, the only sign of the zodiac that is an object rather than a living creature.
- LupusLupus, the Wolf, is an ancient southern constellation beside Centaurus and Scorpius, a loose spray of blue-white stars set in the edge of the Milky Way.
- LynxLynx is a faint northern constellation between Ursa Major and Auriga, named, its inventor said, because only the lynx-eyed could make it out at all.
- MensaMensa, the Table, is the faintest of all the constellations, a small patch near the south celestial pole named after Table Mountain above Cape Town.
- MicroscopiumMicroscopium, the Microscope, is a small, faint southern constellation below Capricornus, one of the scientific instruments added to the sky by Lacaille.
- MonocerosMonoceros, the Unicorn, is a faint constellation on the celestial equator inside the Winter Triangle, rich in nebulae, star clusters and young stars.
- MuscaMusca, the Fly, is a compact southern constellation just below the Southern Cross, one of the figures the Dutch navigators brought back from southern seas.
- NormaNorma, the Carpenter’s Square, is a small southern constellation in the Milky Way between Lupus and Ara, and it lends its name to an arm of the Galaxy.
- OctansOctans, the Octant, is the faint constellation that holds the south celestial pole, the point around which the whole southern sky turns each night.
- PavoPavo, the Peacock, is a southern constellation led by the bright blue-white star Peacock, and home to Delta Pavonis, one of the nearest Sun-like stars.
- PhoenixPhoenix is a southern constellation of the mythical firebird, led by the orange giant Ankaa and lying near Achernar at the mouth of the river Eridanus.
- PictorPictor, the Painter’s Easel, is a faint southern constellation beside Canopus, home to Beta Pictoris, a young star with a dusty disc and giant planets.
- PiscesPisces, the Fishes, is a large, faint zodiac constellation of autumn skies, two fish tied by a cord, and the place where the Sun crosses the equator in March.
- Piscis AustrinusPiscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, is an ancient constellation dominated by Fomalhaut, a bright white star that stands alone in a dim autumn sky.
- PuppisPuppis, the Stern, is the largest surviving piece of the ancient ship Argo, a rich southern constellation in the Milky Way, home to the blazing star Naos.
- PyxisPyxis, the Magnetic Compass, is a small, faint southern constellation set beside the old ship Argo, added to the sky by Lacaille as a mariner’s compass.
- ReticulumReticulum, the Reticle, is a small southern constellation near the Large Magellanic Cloud, named after the crosshairs in an astronomer’s eyepiece.
- SagittaSagitta, the Arrow, is one of the smallest constellations, a short, sharp line of stars flying through the Summer Triangle between Aquila and Cygnus.
- SculptorSculptor is a faint southern constellation that holds the south galactic pole, the direction straight out of the Milky Way’s disc, and a dwarf galaxy.
- ScutumScutum, the Shield, is a small constellation over one of the brightest patches of the Milky Way, the Scutum Star Cloud, and home to the Wild Duck Cluster.
- SerpensSerpens, the Serpent, is the only constellation split in two, its head and tail held apart by Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer who grips it in both hands.
- SextansSextans, the Sextant, is a faint constellation on the celestial equator south of Leo, named by Hevelius after the instrument he measured the stars with.
- TelescopiumTelescopium, the Telescope, is a faint southern constellation south of Sagittarius, one of the scientific instruments Lacaille placed in the southern sky.
- TriangulumTriangulum, the Triangle, is a small ancient constellation between Andromeda and Aries, and the direction of the Triangulum Galaxy, a spiral of the Local Group.
- Triangulum AustraleTriangulum Australe, the Southern Triangle, is a small bright triangle near Alpha Centauri, led by the orange giant Atria, set at the edge of the Milky Way.
- TucanaTucana, the Toucan, is a southern constellation that holds the Small Magellanic Cloud and, beside it, the great globular cluster 47 Tucanae.
- VelaVela, the Sails, is the part of the ancient ship Argo that carried its sails, a southern Milky Way constellation home to the Vela pulsar and its remnant.
- VolansVolans, the Flying Fish, is a small southern constellation beside the keel of Carina, a reminder of the fish Dutch sailors saw leaping from tropical seas.
- VulpeculaVulpecula, the Little Fox, is a faint constellation in the Summer Triangle, home to the Dumbbell Nebula and the place where the first pulsar was found.