Southern Sky
47 constellations
Scorpius
The Scorpion. Antares is a red supergiant so large that if placed at the Suns position it ...
Canis Major
The Greater Dog. Contains Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky at magnitude -1.46. ...
Crux
The smallest of the 88 constellations but the most famous in the Southern Hemisphere. Appe...
Centaurus
The Centaur. Contains Alpha Centauri, the closest star system at 4.37 light-years. Alpha C...
Sagittarius
The Archer. Points toward the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The Teapot asterism is its m...
Carina
The Keel of the ship Argo. Canopus is the second brightest star in the night sky. Canopus ...
Corvus
The Crow. A compact quadrilateral of stars easily spotted below Virgo. Associated with the...
Pavo
The Peacock. Alpha Pavonis is simply called Peacock. One of twelve constellations introduc...
Phoenix
The Phoenix. Named after the mythical bird that rises from its own ashes. Introduced by Ke...
Capricornus
The Sea Goat. The smallest zodiac constellation. Despite its faintness, one of the oldest ...
Crater
The Cup. A faint constellation associated with Corvus the Crow. Represents the cup of Apol...
Vela
The Sails of the ship Argo. Contains the Vela Pulsar, a neutron star rotating 11 times per...
Antlia
The Air Pump. Introduced by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 1750s t...
Apus
The Bird of Paradise. One of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius from observa...
Ara
The Altar. One of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the second century. In Greek ...
Caelum
The Chisel, or engraving tool. Introduced by Lacaille in the 1750s, one of several constel...
Chamaeleon
The Chameleon. Created by Petrus Plancius from observations made by Keyser and de Houtman ...
Circinus
The Compass, the drawing tool rather than the navigational instrument. Introduced by Lacai...
Columba
The Dove. Introduced by Petrus Plancius in 1592, often linked to the dove Noah released fr...
Corona Australis
The Southern Crown. One of Ptolemys 48 constellations, a small arc of stars below Sagittar...
Dorado
The Swordfish, though the name actually refers to the dolphinfish or mahi-mahi. Created by...
Fornax
The Furnace. Introduced by Lacaille as the chemical furnace. Contains the Fornax Cluster, ...
Grus
The Crane. Introduced by Petrus Plancius from Keyser and de Houtman observations in the 15...
Horologium
The Pendulum Clock. Introduced by Lacaille in the 1750s to honor the pendulum clock invent...
Hydrus
The Lesser Water Snake, not to be confused with the much larger Hydra. Created by Plancius...
Indus
The Indian. Created by Plancius from observations by Keyser and de Houtman, likely represe...
Lepus
The Hare. One of Ptolemys 48 constellations, crouching beneath the feet of Orion. In myth ...
Lupus
The Wolf. One of Ptolemys 48 constellations, lying between Centaurus and Scorpius. The Gre...
Mensa
Table Mountain. Introduced by Lacaille and named after a real landmark, Table Mountain abo...
Microscopium
The Microscope. Introduced by Lacaille in the 1750s, one of his many constellations honori...
Musca
The Fly. Created by Plancius from Keyser and de Houtman observations and the only insect a...
Norma
The Carpenters Square. Introduced by Lacaille in the 1750s. Lies in the Milky Way between ...
Octans
The Octant. Introduced by Lacaille in the 1750s to honor the octant, a navigational instru...
Pictor
The Painters Easel. Introduced by Lacaille in the 1750s. A faint constellation next to Can...
Piscis Austrinus
The Southern Fish. One of Ptolemys 48 constellations, depicted drinking water poured from ...
Puppis
The Stern of the ship Argo. Puppis was once part of the huge constellation Argo Navis, whi...
Pyxis
The Mariners Compass. Introduced by Lacaille in the 1750s, lying near the old ship Argo Na...
Reticulum
The Reticle. Introduced by Lacaille to honor the crosshair reticle in the eyepiece of his ...
Sculptor
The Sculptor. Introduced by Lacaille as the Sculptors Studio. A faint constellation that c...
Telescopium
The Telescope. Introduced by Lacaille in the 1750s, originally drawn as a large aerial tel...
Triangulum Australe
The Southern Triangle. Created by Plancius from Keyser and de Houtman observations, though...
Tucana
The Toucan. Created by Plancius from Keyser and de Houtman observations. Contains the Smal...
Volans
The Flying Fish. Created by Plancius from Keyser and de Houtman observations in the 1590s....
The Teapot
Eight stars of Sagittarius outline a stout little teapot with spout, lid, and handle. The ...
False Cross
A diamond of four stars borrowed from Carina and Vela that mimics the Southern Cross but i...
Southern Pointers
The line through Alpha and Beta Centauri, the brightest stars of Centaurus, points toward ...
Argo Navis
The great ship of the Argonauts, described by Ptolemy as a single vast constellation and b...