SafekipediaIAU designated constellations by geographical visibility
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is a group of scientists who study the stars and space. They have named 88 special areas in the sky, called constellations. These help us organize the stars into patterns. People have used these patterns for thousands of years to tell stories, find their way, and learn about the night sky.
In this article, we list these 88 constellations based on where you can see them from on Earth. This depends on your latitude, which is your position north or south on the planet. For example, some constellations are easier to see if you live near the North Pole, while others are best seen closer to the equator.
Each constellation also has a special time of year when it looks its brightest at night. The table below shows the best months to look for each constellation when the sky is dark, usually around 9 p.m. Learning about these constellations helps us enjoy the beauty of the stars and understand how ancient people saw the world.
List
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially named 88 constellations in the night sky. These constellations can be seen from different parts of the world, depending on where you are and what time of year it is. The table below shows which constellations are best seen from various latitudes and during which months they are most visible at 9 p.m.
This list helps stargazers know when and where to look for these ancient patterns in the sky. Each constellation has a special set of stars that form its shape, making the night sky a beautiful and fascinating place to explore.
Main article: List of modern constellations
| Geographical visibility | Celestial coordinates | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbrev. | Constellation | Northern- most latitude | Southern- most latitude | Month for best visibility at 21:00 (9 p.m.) | Right ascension (hours & mins) | Declination (degs & mins) | Quad |
| UMi | Ursa Minor | 90 | -10 | June | +15 00.00 | +77 41.99 | NQ3 |
| Cep | Cepheus | 90 | -10 | November | +02 32.64 | +71 00.51 | NQ4 |
| Cam | Camelopardalis | 90 | -10 | February | +08 51.37 | +69 22.89 | NQ2 |
| Dra | Draco | 90 | -15 | July | +15 08.64 | +67 00.40 | NQ3 |
| Cas | Cassiopeia | 90 | -20 | November | +01 19.16 | +62 11.04 | NQ1 |
| UMa | Ursa Major | 90 | -30 | April | +11 18.76 | +50 43.27 | NQ2 |
| Lyn | Lynx | 90 | -55 | February | +07 59.53 | +47 28.00 | NQ2 |
| Lac | Lacerta | 90 | -40 | October | +22 27.68 | +46 02.51 | NQ4 |
| Per | Perseus | 90 | -35 | December | +03 10.50 | +45 00.79 | NQ1 |
| Cyg | Cygnus | 90 | -40 | September | +20 35.28 | +44 32.70 | NQ4 |
| Aur | Auriga | 90 | -40 | February | +06 04.42 | +42 01.68 | NQ2 |
| CVn | Canes Venatici | 90 | -40 | May | +13 06.96 | +40 06.11 | NQ3 |
| And | Andromeda | 90 | -40 | November | +00 48.46 | +37 25.91 | NQ1 |
| Lyr | Lyra | 90 | -40 | August | +18 51.17 | +36 41.36 | NQ4 |
| CrB | Corona Borealis | 90 | -50 | June | +15 50.59 | +32 37.49 | NQ3 |
| LMi | Leo Minor | 90 | -45 | April | +10 14.72 | +32 08.08 | NQ2 |
| Tri | Triangulum | 90 | -60 | December | +02 11.07 | +31 28.56 | NQ1 |
| Boo | Boötes | 90 | -50 | June | +14 42.64 | +31 12.16 | NQ3 |
| Her | Hercules | 90 | -50 | July | +17 23.16 | +27 29.93 | NQ3 |
| Vul | Vulpecula | 90 | -55 | September | +20 13.88 | +24 26.56 | NQ4 |
| Com | Coma Berenices | 90 | -70 | May | +12 47.27 | +23 18.34 | NQ3 |
| Gem | Gemini | 90 | -60 | February | +07 04.24 | +22 36.01 | NQ2 |
| Ari | Aries | 90 | -60 | December | +02 38.16 | +20 47.54 | NQ1 |
| Cnc | Cancer | 90 | -60 | March | +08 38.96 | +19 48.35 | NQ2 |
| Peg | Pegasus | 90 | -60 | October | +22 41.84 | +19 27.98 | NQ4 |
| Sge | Sagitta | 90 | -70 | August | +19 39.05 | +18 51.68 | NQ4 |
| Tau | Taurus | 90 | -65 | January | +04 42.13 | +14 52.63 | NQ1 |
| Psc | Pisces | 90 | -65 | November | +00 28.97 | +13 41.23 | NQ1 |
| Leo | Leo | 90 | -65 | April | +10 40.03 | +13 08.32 | NQ2 |
| Del | Delphinus | 90 | -69 | September | +20 41.61 | +11 40.26 | NQ4 |
| Equ | Equuleus | 90 | -80 | September | +21 11.26 | +07 45.49 | NQ4 |
| CMi | Canis Minor | 90 | -75 | February | +07 39.17 | +06 25.63 | NQ2 |
| Ser | Serpens | 80 | -80 | July | +16 57.04 | +06 07.32 | NQ3 |
| Ori | Orion | 85 | -75 | January | +05 34.59 | +05 56.94 | NQ1 |
| Aql | Aquila | 90 | -75 | August | +19 40.02 | +03 24.65 | NQ4 |
| Mon | Monoceros | 75 | -90 | February | +07 03.63 | +00 16.93 | NQ2 |
| Sex | Sextans | 80 | -90 | April | +10 16.29 | −02 36.88 | SQ2 |
| Vir | Virgo | 80 | -80 | May | +13 24.39 | −04 09.51 | SQ3 |
| Cet | Cetus | 70 | -90 | November | +01 40.10 | −07 10.76 | SQ1 |
| Oph | Ophiuchus | 80 | -80 | July | +17 23.69 | −07 54.74 | SQ3 |
| Sct | Scutum | 80 | -90 | August | +18 40.39 | −09 53.32 | SQ4 |
| Aqr | Aquarius | 65 | -90 | October | +22 17.38 | −10 47.35 | SQ4 |
| Hya | Hydra | 54 | -83 | April | +11 36.73 | −14 31.91 | SQ2 |
| Lib | Libra | 65 | -90 | June | +15 11.96 | −15 14.08 | SQ3 |
| Crt | Crater | 65 | -90 | April | +11 23.75 | −15 55.74 | SQ2 |
| Cap | Capricornus | 60 | -90 | September | +21 02.93 | −18 01.39 | SQ4 |
| Crv | Corvus | 60 | -90 | May | +12 26.52 | −18 26.20 | SQ3 |
| Lep | Lepus | 63 | -90 | January | +05 33.95 | −19 02.78 | SQ1 |
| CMa | Canis Major | 60 | -90 | February | +06 49.74 | −22 08.42 | SQ2 |
| Sco | Scorpius | 40 | -90 | July | +16 53.24 | −27 01.89 | SQ3 |
| Pyx | Pyxis | 50 | -90 | March | +08 57.16 | −27 21.10 | SQ2 |
| Sgr | Sagittarius | 55 | -90 | August | +19 05.94 | −28 28.61 | SQ4 |
| Eri | Eridanus | 32 | -90 | December | +03 18.02 | −28 45.37 | SQ1 |
| PsA | Piscis Austrinus | 55 | -90 | October | +22 17.07 | −30 38.53 | SQ4 |
| Pup | Puppis | 40 | -90 | February | +07 15.48 | −31 10.64 | SQ2 |
| For | Fornax | 50 | -90 | December | +02 47.88 | −31 38.07 | SQ1 |
| Scl | Sculptor | 50 | -90 | November | +00 26.28 | −32 05.30 | SQ1 |
| Ant | Antlia | 45 | -90 | April | +10 16.43 | −32 29.01 | SQ2 |
| Col | Columba | 45 | -90 | January | +05 51.76 | −35 05.67 | SQ1 |
| Mic | Microscopium | 45 | -90 | September | +20 57.88 | −36 16.49 | SQ4 |
| Cae | Caelum | 40 | -90 | January | +04 42.27 | −37 52.90 | SQ1 |
| CrA | Corona Australis | 40 | -90 | August | +18 38.79 | −41 08.85 | SQ4 |
| Lup | Lupus | 35 | -90 | June | +15 13.21 | −42 42.53 | SQ3 |
| Gru | Grus | 34 | -90 | October | +22 27.39 | −46 21.11 | SQ4 |
| Vel | Vela | 30 | -90 | March | +09 34.64 | −47 10.03 | SQ2 |
| Cen | Centaurus | 25 | -90 | May | +13 04.27 | −47 20.72 | SQ3 |
| Phe | Phoenix | 32 | -90 | November | +00 55.91 | −48 34.84 | SQ1 |
| Tel | Telescopium | 40 | -90 | August | +19 19.54 | −51 02.21 | SQ4 |
| Nor | Norma | 30 | -90 | June | +15 54.18 | −51 21.09 | SQ3 |
| Hor | Horologium | 30 | -90 | December | +03 16.56 | −53 20.18 | SQ1 |
| Pic | Pictor | 26 | -90 | January | +05 42.46 | −53 28.45 | SQ1 |
| Ara | Ara | 25 | -90 | July | +17 22.49 | −56 35.30 | SQ3 |
| Dor | Dorado | 20 | -90 | January | +05 14.51 | −59 23.22 | SQ1 |
| Ind | Indus | 15 | -90 | September | +21 58.33 | −59 42.40 | SQ4 |
| Ret | Reticulum | 23 | -90 | December | +03 55.27 | −59 59.85 | SQ1 |
| Cru | Crux | 20 | -90 | May | +12 26.99 | −60 11.19 | SQ3 |
| Cir | Circinus | 30 | -90 | June | +14 34.54 | −63 01.82 | SQ3 |
| Car | Carina | 20 | -90 | March | +08 41.70 | −63 13.16 | SQ2 |
| TrA | Triangulum Australe | 25 | -90 | July | +16 04.95 | −65 23.28 | SQ3 |
| Pav | Pavo | 30 | -90 | August | +19 36.71 | −65 46.89 | SQ4 |
| Tuc | Tucana | 25 | -90 | October | +23 46.64 | −65 49.80 | SQ4 |
| Vol | Volans | 15 | -90 | February | +07 47.73 | −69 48.07 | SQ2 |
| Hyi | Hydrus | 8 | -90 | December | +02 20.65 | −69 57.39 | SQ1 |
| Mus | Musca | 10 | -90 | May | +12 35.28 | −70 09.66 | SQ3 |
| Aps | Apus | 5 | -90 | July | +16 08.65 | −75 18.00 | SQ3 |
| Men | Mensa | 4 | -90 | January | +05 24.90 | −77 30.24 | SQ1 |
| Cha | Chamaeleon | 5 | -90 | April | +10 41.53 | −79 12.30 | SQ2 |
| Oct | Octans | 0 | -90 | October | +23 00.00 | −82 09.12 | SQ4 |
Notes and references
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on IAU designated constellations by geographical visibility, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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