Constellation

In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky. There are 88 standard constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) since 1922. The majority of these go back to the 48 constellations defined by Ptolemy in his Almagest (2nd century). The remaining ones were defined in the 17th and 18th century; the most recent ones are found on the southern sky, defined in Coelum australe stelliferum by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille (1763). There are also numerous historical constellations not recognized by the IAU, or constellations recognized in regional traditions of astronomy or astrology, such as Chinese, Hindu or Australian Aboriginal.
KINDS OF CONSTELLATIONS

Southern Cross, Crux, Crux Australis: a small conspicuous constellation the the southern hemisphere in the Milky Way near Centaurus Auriga: a conspicuous constellation in the northern hemisphere; between Great Bear and Orion at edge of Milk Way Perseus: a conspicuous constellation in the northern hemisphere; between Auriga and Cassiopeia and crossed by the Milky Way Cassiopeia: a W-shaped constellation near Polaris Gemini: a zodiacal constellation in the northern hemisphere between Taurus and Cancer on the ecliptic Bootes: a constellation in the northern hemisphere near Ursa Major Coma Berenices: a constellation in the northern hemisphere between Ursa Major and Bootes; contains a cluster of some 10,000 galaxies Corona Borealis: a small constellation in the northern hemisphere between Bootes and Hercules Hercules: a large constellation in the northern hemisphere between Lyra and Corona Borealis Hydrus: a constellation in the southern hemisphere near the south celestial pole Lyra: a small constellation in the northern hemisphere near Cygnus and Draco; contains the star Vega Cygnus: a constellation in the northern hemisphere between Pegasus and Draco in the Milky Way; contains a black hole Draco: a faint constellation twisting around the north celestial pole and lying between Ursa Major and Cepheus Cancer: a small zodiacal constellation in the northern hemisphere; between Leo and Gemini Leo: a zodiacal constellation in northern hemisphere between Cancer and Virgo Virgo: a large zodiacal constellation on the equator; between Leo and Libra

Corvus, Crow: a small quadrilateral constellation in the southern hemisphere near Virgo Crater: a faint constellation in the southern hemisphere near Virgo Hydra, Snake: a long faint constellation near the equator stretching between Virgo and Cancer Libra: a small faint zodiacal constellation in the southern hemisphere; between Virgo and Scorpius Scorpius, Scorpio: a large zodiacal constellation between Libra and Sagittarius Sagittarius: a large zodiacal constellation in the southern hemisphere; between Scorpius and Capricornus Capricornus, Capricorn: a faint zodiacal constellation in the southern hemisphere; between Sagittarius and Aquarius Aquarius: a zodiacal constellation in the southern hemisphere; between Capricornus and Pisces Pisces: a large faint zodiacal constellation; between Aquarius and Aries Aries: a small zodiacal constellation in the northern hemisphere; between Pisces and Taurus Centaurus, Centaur, The Centaur: a conspicuous constellation in the southern hemisphere near the Southern Cross Lupus: a constellation in the southern hemisphere near Centaurus Pegasus: a constellation in the northern hemisphere near Andromeda and Pisces Andromeda: a constellation in the northern hemisphere between Cassiopeia and Pegasus; contains the Andromeda Galaxy Cepheus: a faint constellation in the northern hemisphere near Cassiopeia and the Pole Star Orion, The Hunter: a constellation on the equator east of Taurus; contains Betelgeuse and Rigel Canis Major, Great Dog: a constellation southeast of Orion; contains Sirius Canis Minor, Little Dog: a constellation east of Orion; contains Procyon Great Bear, Ursa Major: a constellation outside the Zodiac that rotates around the North Star Little Bear, Ursa Minor: a constellation outside the Zodiac that rotates around the North Star Taurus: a zodiacal constellation in the northern hemisphere near Orion; between Aries and Gemini Tucana: a large faint constellation in the southern hemisphere containing most of the Small Magellanic Cloud