The Names of the Constellations and their Meanings

Did you guess correctly? Many of the constellations were changed in shape over the years, and bear little resemblence to the creatures and figures their names refer to. For more information about the constellations and how to locate them in the sky, go to Jim Kaler's 'Constellations' website.

Constellation Name	meaning	Constellation Name	meaning
Andromeda	Chained Lady	Lacerta	Lizard
Antlia	Air Pump	Leo	Lion
Apus	Bird of Paradise	Leo Minor	Smaller Lion
Aquarius	Water Bearer	Lepus	Hare
Aquila	Eagle	Libra	Scales
Ara	Altar	Lupus	Wolf
Aries	Ram	Lynx	Lynx (wildcat)
Auriga	Charioteer	Lyra	Lyre (harp)
Bootes	Herdsman	Mensa	Table
Caelum	Engraving Tool	Microscopium	Microscope
Camelopardalis	Giraffe	Monoceros	Unicorn
Cancer	Crab	Musca	Fly
Canes Venatici	Hunting Dogs	Norma	Square
Canis Major	Larger Dog	Octans	Octant
Canis Minor	Smaller Dog	Ophiuchus	Serpent Bearer
Capricornus	Water Goat	Orion	Hunter
Carina	Keel	Pavo	Peacock
Cassiopeia	Queen	Pegasus	Winged Horse
Centaurus	Centaur	Perseus	Greek hero
Cepheus	King	Phoenix	Phoenix
Cetus	Whale	Pictor	Easel
Chamaeleon	Chameleon	Pisces	Fishes
Circinus	Compasses	Piscis Austrinus	Southern Fish
Columba	Dove	Puppis	Stern
Coma Berenices	Berenices' Hair	Phyxis	Compass
Corona Australis	Southern Crown	Reticulum	Net
Corona Borealis	Northern Crown	Sagitta	Arrow
Corvus	Raven	Sagittarius	Archer
Crater	Cup	Scorpius	Scorpion
Crux	Southern Cross	Sculptor	Sculptor's Studio
Cygnus	Swan	Scutum	Sheild
Delphinus	Dolphin	Serpens	Serpent
Dorado	Swordfish	Sextans	Sextant
Draco	Dragon	Taurus	Bull
Equuleus	Little Horse	Telescopium	Telescope
Eridanus	River	Triangulum	Triangle
Fornax	Furnace	Triangulum Australe	Southern Triangle
Gemini	Twins	Tucana	Toucan
Grus	Crane	Ursa Major	Greater Bear
Hercules	Hero; Hercules	Ursa Minor	Lesser Bear
Horologium	Clock	Vela	Sails
Hydra	Water Serpent	Virgo	Maiden
Hydrus	Water Snake	Volans	Flying Fish
Indus	Indian	Vulpecula	Fox