Lists of stars by constellation

All stars, except one, belong to a group called a constellation as decided by the IAU (International Astronomical Union). These constellations are special areas in the sky. There are 88 official constellations, but the sky is divided into 89 sections because the constellation Serpens is split into two parts: Serpens Caput (the snake’s head) and Serpens Cauda (the snake’s tail).

The only star that does not belong to a constellation is the Sun. The Sun moves through 13 constellations as it travels along a path in the sky called the ecliptic. These include the 12 constellations of the Zodiac and another one called Ophiuchus.

Some stars close to Earth move across the sky over time due to a motion called proper motion. Because of this, some stars may move from one constellation to another. In 1992, a star named Rho Aquilae was the first to change constellations. It moved from the constellation Aquila to become part of the neighboring constellation Delphinus, and its old name or Bayer designation is no longer used for it.

Stars can be grouped into special areas of the sky called constellations. There are 88 official constellations recognized by astronomers today. Each star belongs to one of these constellations, which helps us organize and study the night sky.

Here is a list of all the constellations, each with a link to learn more about the stars within them:

Criteria of inclusion

These lists include stars that have special names using Bayer, Flamsteed, HR, or Draper designations. They also feature stars that are extreme or very interesting in some way, such as changing brightness, being very close to Earth (less than 20 light-years away), having planets, or being unusual objects like neutron stars or black holes.

The lists are still being worked on, so there might be stars that fit these rules that are not yet included. If you find one, you can help by adding it.