Haggart Observatory - Constellation list

Haggart Astronomical Observatory
Clackamas Community College
Oregon City, OR

503-657-6958 x5665 ("LOOK")

http://depts.clackamas.edu/haggart

lookup@clackamas.edu

What's Up?

...the 88 Constellations

Constellations in bold type are relatively bright and easy; others are challenging, especially in urban skies.

Ecliptic: the orbital plane of our solar system. To an observer on Earth, it is the the path that the Sun, Moon, and planets appear to take across the sky. It's also a convenient boundary for dividing up the night sky.

CIRCUMPOLAR CONSTELLATIONS these 6 constallations, the closest to the North Star (Polaris), can be seen year-round.
Camelopardis: the Giraffe Cassiopeia: the Queen Cepheus: the King	Draco: the Dragon Ursa Major: the Great Bear (incl."Big Dipper") Ursa Minor: the Little Bear (incl."Little Dipper")

NORTH OF THE ECLIPTIC

these 23 constellations lie "above" the orbital plane of our solar system. We get our largest views of this part of the sky in summer, when Earth's axis tilts towards the sun and the ecliptic appears to be far to the south.

Spring

Summer

Bootes (the Herdsman)
Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair)
Canes Venatici (Hunting Dogs)
Leo Minor (Little Lion)

Aquila (Eagle)
Corona Borealis (N. Crown)
Cygnus (Swan)
Delphinus (Dolphin)
Hercules
Lyra (Lyre)

Ophiuchus (Serpent Holder)
Sagitta (Arrow)
Scutum (Shield)
Serpens (Serpent)
Vulpecula (Little Fox)

Fall

Winter

Andromeda (Princess)
Pegasus (the Winged Horse)
Lacerta (Lizard)
Equuleus (Little Horse)
Triangulum (Triangle)

Lynx
Auriga (the Charioteer)
Perseus (the Hero)

CONSTELLATIONS ON THE ECLIPTIC ("THE ZODIAC") these 12 constellations form the background against which the Sun, Moon and planets appear to travel. They are listed here with the season when they are highest in the evening sky
Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Gemini (the Twins) Cancer (the Crab) *Leo* (the Lion)	Virgo (the Virgin) Libra (the Scales) Scorpio (the Scorpion)	Sagittarius (the Archer) Capricorn (the Sea-Goat) Aquarius (the Water-Carrier)	Pisces (the Fishes) Ares (the Ram) Taurus (the Bull)

SOUTH OF THE ECLIPTIC these 14 constellations lie below the orbital plane of our solar system. We get our best view of this section of sky in winter, when the ecliptic is as far north as it gets. At our latitude, we can't see any constellations below the ecliptic in summer, when it is nearly on the southern horizon.
Spring	Fall	Winter
Antlia (Pump) Corvus (Crow) Crater (Cup) Hydra (female Water Snake)	Cetus (Whale) Piscis Austrinus (S. Fish) Sculptor	Canis Minor (Little Dog) Canis Major (Big Dog) Monoceros (Unicorn) Columba (Dove) *Orion* (Hunter) Lepus (Hare) Eridanus (River)

DOWN UNDER These 33 constellations are so far south they never rise above the horizon at our latitude.
Apus (Bird of Paradise) Ara (Altar) Caelum (Chisel) Carina (Ship's Keel) Centaurus (Centaur) Chamaeleon (Chameleon) Circinus (Dividers) Corona Australis (Southern Crown) Crux (Southern Cross) Dorado (Swordfish) Fornax (Furnace)	Grus (Crane) Horologium (Clock) Hydrus (male Water Snake) Indus (Indian) Lupus (Wolf) Mensa (Table Mountain) Microscopium (Microscope) Musca (Fly) Norma (Square) Octans (Octant) Pavo (Peacock)	Phoenix Pictor (Easel) Puppis (Ship's Stern) Pyxis (Ship's Compass) Reticulum (Net) Sextans (Sextant) Telescopium (Telescope) Triangulum Australe (S.Triangle) Tucana (Toucan) Vela (Ship's Sail) Volans (Flying Fish)

klh7/12/03