Constellations

An inconspicuous constellation lying near the southern end of Eridanus representing the mythological bird that was regularly reborn from its own ashes. It was introduced by Johann Bayer in 1603.

Perseus was the hero of Greek mythology who rescued the chained Andromeda from the clutches of the sea monster Cetus. Previously Perseus had slain Medusa the Gorgan, whose head he is pictured holding in one hand.

The winged horse of Greek mythology, born from the blood of Medusa afetr she was slain was Perseus, who lies nearby in the sky.

A constellation introduced on the 1603 star map,the Uranometria produced by the German astronomer Johann Bayer. It is one of several celestial birds in this region of the sky.

Without doubt the brightest and grandest constellation in the sky, crammed with objects of interest. Orion's impressiveness stems in large measure from the fact that it is an area of star formation in a nearby arm of the Galaxy centred on the famous Orion Nebula.

An ancient constellation, representing a man encoiled by a serpent (the constellation of Serpens)

The constellation that contains the south pole star. Despite this privileged position, Octans is faint and unremarkable. There is no southern equivalent of Polaris, the North Pole Star. The nearest star to the south pole is the faint star Sigma Octantis.

A Superfluous constellation invented in the 1750s by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, who populated the southern skies with several consetllations representing scientific instruments, in this case the surveyor's level.

A small constellation lying at the foot of the Southern Cross invented by Johann Bayer in 1603. Although it was orginally called Apis the Bee it is known today Musca the Fly.

A faint but fascinating constellation between Orion and Canis Minor. The constellationn was added in the 17th century.

Another of the faint and obscure constellations added by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Laaille in the 1750s.

A faint constellation introduced by Lacaille to commemorate the Table Mountain at the Cape of Good Hope, from whixh he surveyed the southern skies in the 1750s.

A constellation datin g from ancient times, representing the stringed instrument invented by Hermes and given by his half brother Apollo to Orpheus.

A decidedly obscure constellation, it was introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the late 17th century to fill the gap between Ursa Major and Auriga.

Lupus is stocked with numerous interesting objects, although it is often overlooked in favour of its more spectacular neighbours Scorpius and Centaurus

A small faint constellation of the zodiac, through which the Sun passes in November. The ancient Greeks knew it as the 'Claws of the Scorpion', but the Romans made it into a seperate constellation.

Lepus is a constellation known since ancient Greek time. It represents a Hare, located at the feet of it's hunter,Orion.

Leo Minor lies between the brighter Leo and Ursa Major, Johannes Hevelius, the Polish astronomer, introduced this constellation inn the late 17th century. There is little of interest in Leo Minor.

One of the few constellations that looks like the figure it is supposed to represent- in this case a crouching lion.

An inconspicuous constellation sandwiched between Cygnus and Andromeda, introduced in the late 17th century by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius

A constellation representing an American native Indian, introduced in 1603 on the star atlas of Johan Bayer. Indus contains no bright stars.

Johann Bayer introduced the this constellation in 1603. Alas there are no bright stars.

The largest constellation in the sky, but by no means easy to identify on account of its faintness. The heart of the Water Snake is marked by Alphard the only bright star, which is sometimes known as the solitary one.

One of the constellations representing mechanical instruments introduced in the 1750s by the Frenchman Laaille. Axs with so many of his constellations, Horologium is faint and obscure.

Hercules represents a Greek mythological hero, famous for hs 12 labours. Despite being the 5th largest constellation Hercules is not one of the most prominent.