Stars are one of the numerous mysterious objects in the universe that have attracted man since the evolution of humankind. The bright, sparkling bodies in the sky have stirred man’s interest even before they were named. A mesmerizing view to witness and experience, constellations have always been an enthralling phenomenon for any avid stargazer. Considered to be holy to some and mythologically crucial to others, stars have always been a part of our life’s journey.
With the connection of stars to ancient Greek mythology and the works of renowned poets Aratus and Ptolemy, the history of stars dates back to medieval times. Stars have been found in numerous cave paintings created by our ancestors. These twinkling heavenly bodies have been linked with the birth of Christ and have been a part of our zodiac system for centuries, even though their origin remains unknown.
People have been looking up at the stars for centuries and found patterns in them. Photo Credit: Baldas1950/Shutterstock
History of Constellations
Deriving their name from the Latin word cōnstellātiō, which translates to “set of stars”, constellations were first used during prehistoric times. Constellations are nothing but a group of stars that are arranged together to create an imaginary outline that may resemble animals, mythological characters, or any object.
Shining zodiac signs constellations. Photo Credit: Vectorbum/Shutterstock
Initially, the constellations served as the backdrop of many stories and beliefs. They were thought to have mythological connections. Later on, they were widely used for navigation. Be it for sailing or exploring, travelers from all over the world and from all cultures adapted to the constellations and mapped them. This widely helped them to track the exact locations and navigate.
Did you know that the northern and southern hemispheres have very different constellations in their night skies? Photo Credit: nienora/Shutterstock
Constellations in the Sky
Today, there are about 88 constellations in the sky that are recognized officially by the International Astronomical Union. With these constellations spanning the entire sky, the stars appear near to one another but originally are located millions of light-years away from each other. Some stars are a part of a single constellation, while some are shared between two constellations.
Here is a list of 18 Constellations that everyone must know! You may know some of them, as some are common as Zodiac signs. Others you may have heard of, such as Pegasus or Orion, while others may be completely new.
Aquarius is one of the more popular constellations, despite not being one of the brightest. Photo Credit: LevanMose/Shutterstock
Aquarius
Known as one of the ancient constellations, Aquarius is one of the most famous constellations and is considered the 11th Zodiac sign. Derived from Latin, the word Aquarius roughly translates to “water carrier” or “cupbearer.” It is located in the portion of the sky known as “The Sea,” as it contains numerous constellations with aquatic associations. Though Aquarius is a vital constellation and is famous for its clarity, it does not have very bright stars. The two brightest stars of Aquarius are the Alpha and Beta Aquarii that has an approximate magnitude of 2.95mag. Spanning an area of about 980 square degrees, Aquarius is the 10th largest constellation. The Aquarius constellation is actually depicted as an image of a man carrying a vessel from which water is overflowing. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere, and it can be observed between the latitudes of +65 degrees and -90 degrees. Aquarius is best viewed in October. Several of the stars in this constellation have names that pertain to good fortune. Alpha Aquarii means ‘Luck of the Kings’ in Arabic, Beta Aquarii means “The Luck of lucks,” and Gamma Aquarii means “The Lucky Star of hidden things.”
Zodiac Sign Aquarius constellation lines. Photo Credit: Allexxandar/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythological beliefs, Aquarius is linked to Ganymede, who was a very handsome lad in Greece. Legends say, once the King of the Greek Gods, Zeus, came across Ganymede and was impressed with his looks. He invited Ganymede to Mount Olympus and made him the cupbearer for Gods and Goddesses. From then on, he served water and wine to the Greek Gods and soon impressed them. As a reward, he was a gifted youth for eternity, and a constellation was named after him.
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, starting in the spring. Photo Credit: YEVHENII KUCHYNSKYI/Shutterstock
Aries
One of the significant zodiac constellations, Aries, means “the ram” in Latin and represents the horns of a ram in the northern sky. Though an integral part of the Zodiac constellations, Aries contains only four to five visible stars. The brightest star among them is Hamal and is often referred to as the “orange giant.” Best observed during December, Aries is located between the latitude of +90 degrees and -60 degrees.
Aries (The Ram) constellation with the names of basic stars. Photo Credit: Jazziel/Shutterstock
Aries has its roots in Greek mythology since the time of Phirxus, and the ram is referred to as the golden fleece. According to the legend, Phrixus and Helle were the twin children of a Boeotian King, and their mother was a cloud nymph called Nephele. The children had a stepmother who was wicked and could not stand them. One day her evil intentions led to famine in the country, and she bribed the ministers into giving a false prophecy, which made the king believe that only sacrificing his children could save his country from the famine. Just when the king was about to sacrifice his children, a flying ram came from the heavens, sent by their mother to save the children. The children mounted the ram and flew over land and sea. However, on the way to the edge of the Black Sea, Helle fell off near the strait that connects Asia to Europe and drowned at sea. In honor of the ram that saved the children, Zeus placed a constellation in the sky and named it Aries.
Aquila is the form of an eagle bird of prey, a transporter for the Gods. Photo Credit: Pike-28/Shutterstock
Aquila
Spanning an area of about 652 square degrees of the northern hemisphere, Aquila belongs to the Hercules family of constellations. Its brightest star is Altair, which is also the 12th brightest star in the sky. The term Aquila is derived from Latin and translates to “eagle.” The Aquila constellation has the imaginary figure of an eagle, whose head and wings are appropriately represented by an inverted yet broad “V.” Some of the most notable stars in this constellation are Altair, Alschain, Tarazed, Zeta Aquilae, and Eta Aquilae. Although Aquila radiates two showers, they cannot be observed from our vantage point.
Astronomical symbol constellation Aquila. Photo Credit: Lauritta/Shutterstock
Aquila is deeply connected to Greek mythology and has many stories attached to it. One of the most popular stories says Aquila was the eagle of the Greek Gods. One day, Aquila was sent by the Gods to carry Ganymede from Earth to Heaven, to make him the cupbearer for the gods. Aquila also carried the thunderbolts of Zeus. In another folklore story, Aphrodite takes the form of an eagle so that she can pursue Zeus. As an eagle, she takes shelter under Nemesis, who was the love interest of Zeus. Another famous story believes that Aquila was the eagle who guarded the arrows of Eros when the arrows missed and hit Zeus, making him love-struck.
Considered the most beautiful, Cassiopeia was a very vain queen. Photo Credit: Pike-28/Shutterstock
Cassiopeia
Named after the famous and extremely vain Greek queen Cassiopeia, the constellation is located between the latitudes of +90 degrees and -20 degrees. Belonging to the Perseus family of stars, Cassiopeia is one of the most visible and easily recognizable constellations in the sky. The constellation has a definite “W” shape and is formed by five bright stars. Cassiopeia is one of the constellations that was listed by the renowned Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. It is the 25th largest constellation in the sky and spreads over a 598 square degrees area.
Astronomical symbol constellation Cassiopeia. Photo Credit: Lauritta/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythology, Cassiopeia was the queen of Ethiopia and married King Cepheus. She was proud of her beauty and was boastful. Cassiopeia always boasted that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs, who were considered to be the epitome of beauty then. The 50 sea nymphs later became enraged and asked the Sea King Poseidon to help them. Poseidon then sent Cetus, one of his sea monsters, to destroy the country of Cassiopeia. Frightened with this, the king and the queen sought help from a saint, who advised them to sacrifice their daughter Andromeda to the monster. Obliged to this, they tied Andromeda to a sea rock, but Perseus saved her. Perseus wanted to marry Andromeda, and during the wedding, he brought out the head of Medusa. When Cassiopeia and King Cepheus looked at her eyes, it turned them to stone. Cassiopeia was vanished by Poseidon and placed in heaven as a punishment for her pride.
A faithful dog was cursed by Zeus, just for doing his job. Photo Credit: Pike-28/Shutterstock
Canis Major
Derived from Latin, Canis Major means “the greater dog.” Spanning an area of more than 380 square degrees, the constellation is one of the brightest in the sky. The most shining star in the night sky, Sirius, is a part of this constellation, and thus it is clearly visible from the sky. Part of the Orion family, Canis Major, is one of the most prominent constellations. It is the 43rd largest constellation, and it has several notable sky objects such as the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy and the colliding spiral galaxies.
Bright star Sirius in the constellation Canis Major. Photo Credit: Iryna Shek/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythology, Canis Major is referred to as the dog Laelaps, who was considered the fastest dog who could catch anything it wanted to. It is said that Zeus gifted Laelaps along with a javelin that could not miss its aim to Europa. Cephalus, the husband of Europa, took the dog and the javelin for hunting. He started chasing a fox, who was blessed that he would never be caught. As a result, the chase became never-ending. Zeus had to interfere, and in a rage, he turned both of them into stones and placed Laelaps as a constellation in the sky.
Cygnus is another name for “swan,” which is easy to see once the right stars are connected. Photo Credit: Nikita Roytman/Shutterstock
Cygnus or the Northern Cross
Cygnus is a constellation that can be seen in the northern sky. It is found on the plane of the Milky Way and located along the latitudes of +90 degrees and -40 degrees. The Northern Cross or Cygnus is one of the significant and visible constellations in the night sky. Loosely translated to “swan” in Latin, Cygnus is one of the famous constellations that attract stargazers. The constellation is clearly visible as a swan who is looking at the Earth, with its wings spread out.
Cygnus star constellation. Photo Credit: Allexxandar/Shutterstock
According to mythology, Zeus took the form of a swan and seduced the Spartan queen Leda. Leda then gave birth to four children, Pollux, Helen, Castor, and Clytemnestra. Another story leads the swan to Orpheus, who was killed by the Maenads for not honoring Dionysus. After his tragic death, it is said that the Greek Gods honored him by placing him in the sky as the Cygnus constellation.
Also known as “The Twins,” Gemini is another symbol of the Western Zodiac. Photo Credit: Roman Voloshyn/Shutterstock
Gemini
One of the most popular constellations, another from the Zodiac family, Gemini, is translated from Latin and means “twins”. It is one of the brightest constellations and easy to locate in the sky. With two stars forming the head of the twins, Alpha and Beta Geminorium are the brightest stars of the constellation and are joined and create a “U” like image, which makes it easy to find. It is the 30th largest constellation and is located between +90 degrees and -60 degrees latitude.
Constellation Gemini in deep space. Photo Credit: Ad_hominem/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythology, when Zeus seduced Queen Leda of Sparta, she gave birth to two children, one from him and another from the king of Sparta, who was mortal. As a result, one of the children was mortal and the other immortal. The two brothers, Pollux and Castor, were inseparable and loved each other dearly. One day, while fighting in a contest, the mortal brother Castor was killed. Pollux then prayed to his father, Zeus, to help him save his brother. Zeus then intervened and saved Pollux’s life and placed the twin brothers in the night sky so that they could be together for eternity.
Leo is another symbol in the zodiac, and is represented by the great lion. Photo Credit: Allexxandar/Shutterstock
Leo
Translating to “lion,” Leo is the most distinctive yet popular constellation of the Zodiac family. It is located at a latitude between +90 and -65 degrees and is one of the most astronomical constellations. With the brightest star being Regulus, which forms the front leg of the lion, the constellation somewhat represents a lion. An inverted question mark-like line forms the head.
Leo horoscope star sign. Photo Credit: Michael C. Gray/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythology, a lion who was blessed with an impregnable coat of fur was creating a rampage by killing the local inhabitants on Earth. He lived in a cave in Nemea, and no one could hurt the beast as no weapons could be used on him. Legends say, Hercules, the famous Greek hero, tracked this deadly beast down and choked him by holding him by his neck and killing him. Later on, he tore the fur off of the lion with its claws and wore it like a coat. The Greek Gods then placed the lion as a constellation.
Not many people know of “Lyra,” but it is home to Vega, one of the brightest stars in the sky. Photo Credit: Robert P Horton/Shutterstock
Lyra
Lyra can be seen in the northern hemisphere, and it is named after the stringed musical instrument, lyre, which was used in ancient times. Lyra is home to Vega, which is the fifth brightest star in the sky. Vega was the first star to have been photographed and have its spectrum recorded. Other notable sky objects found in this constellation are the Ring Nebula, Messier 56, and NGC 6745. Lyra is a small constellation and ranks 52nd in size. It can be observed at latitudes between +90 and – 40 degrees.
Identified stick figure pattern of the Lyra constellation. Photo Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock
This constellation is linked to Orpheus in Greek mythology, who was a famous musician and poet. According to legends, Orpheus had the power to heal the souls of those who are hurt with his enchanting music, and no one in the universe could create such powerful music. It is said that after his wife Eurydice died, he used to wander in the forest playing his golden lyre. The Bacchantes killed him, and they threw his lyre in the river. Zeus then sent the eagle from the sky to save him and placed him with his lyre in the sky.
Orion is another of the brightest constellations in the sky and is more recognizable by the “belt” of stars in the middle. Photo Credit: Matipon/Shutterstock
Orion
One of the most famous constellations in the night sky is named after the Greek mythological hunter Orion. It is home to two of the brightest stars in the sky – Rigel, and Betelguese, making it one of the most visible constellations. Sometimes the head of the hunter and the bow can also be seen. Located at the latitude of +85 and – 75 degrees, it belongs to the Orion family of constellations. It is ranked 26th in size and covers an area of 594 square degrees. Orion is also a well-known constellation in many cultures across the globe and associated with many mythologies right from the Late Bronze Age.
Orion constellation stars in outer space. Photo Credit: Pike-28/Shutterstock
Greek lore often represents Orion as the son of the God of the Sea, Poseidon, and Euryale. He was considered to be one of the most handsome men and was immensely strong. According to one story, Orion had feelings for the Pleiades, who were seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. Zeus intervened and placed all of them in the night sky. Even today, the Orion constellation can be seen chasing the Pleiades cluster. Many theories have taken place about the death of Orion, most of which say he was killed by the scorpion. As a result, both of them were placed on opposite sides from each other, so that he could flee from the scorpion.
Pisces is known as “the fish” and is one of the last zodiacs in the list. Photo Credit: Pike-28/Shutterstock
Pisces
One of the most famous Zodiac constellations, Pisces, represents two fish. It is one of the most astronomical constellations and lies between +90 and -65 degrees latitudes. The constellation forms a large “V” in the night sky, representing the two fishes adjoining each other. One fish forms a little triangle at one end and the other, a small circle. Pisces lies between Aquarius in the west and Aries in the east.
Pisces (The Fishes) constellation. Photo Credit: Jazziel/Shutterstock
The Pisces constellation finds its origin in Roman mythology where Venus and Cupid are said to have taken the form of a pair of fish and tied themselves with a rope when the monster Typhon attacked them. In Greek mythology, Gaia sent Typhon, a monster with one hundred dragon’s heads, to destroy the Greek Gods. While seeing it coming, Aphrodite jumped into the water with her son Eros, and these two large fish came to their aid. Aphrodite and Eros each rode the two fish and were taken to safety. These two fish were later placed in the sky by Zeus to honor their efforts. One of the brightest stars, Alpha Piscium, forms the rope.
Not many people get to see Sagittarius, as it is only present in the southern hemisphere. Photo Credit: Taeya18/Shutterstock
Sagittarius
Another constellation from the Zodiac family, the Sagittarius represents an archer holding a bow and arrow. It is located in the plane of the Milky Way and is the 15th largest constellation in the sky, containing 32 stars. Having many stars with a high magnitude (more than 3), Sagittarius is a bright constellation and can be spotted easily. It is also the largest constellation in the southern hemisphere, and it occupies an area of 867 square degrees.
Sagittarius Constellation stars in outer space. Photo Credit: Pike-28/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythology, the constellation represents a centaur, which is a half-human that has the four legs of a horse and the torso of a man. It is imagined that the centaur points an arrow on its bow towards the nearest constellation, Scorpius. It is believed that Zeus placed the constellation in the sky to honor the Chiron, king of the Centaurs.
Scorpius takes on the shape of a scorpion and is present in the western sky during sunset in the summer. Photo Credit: PlanilAstro/Shutterstock
Scorpius
One of the brightest constellations in the night sky, the Scorpius, is related to the Orion constellation and is an integral part of the zodiac family. Located in the latitude between -90 degrees and +40 degrees, Scorpius is located at the center of the Milky Way. It has a bright star that resembles the planet Mars and forms the heart of the scorpion. Five stars form the head and an even line of stars that forms the body.
Constellation Scorpius and Milky Way galaxy. Photo Credit: sripfoto/Shutterstock
In Greek mythology, the scorpion is highly linked with Orion, who was said to be killed by the scorpion after he boasted about his strength and fearlessness. When the two constellations rise, it can be assumed that Orion is fleeing away from Scorpius as both of them lie on opposite sides of the sky.
The bull, Taurus is the second zodiac, running from April to May. Photo Credit: Taeya18/Shutterstock
Taurus
Translating to “bull” from Latin, Taurus is one of the most prominent clusters of stars in the night sky. Originating during the early Bronze age, the constellation is very easy to locate. The constellation is of a large “V” shape, which represents the horns of the bull along with the small head at the base. Taurus belongs to the Zodiac family and is often linked to Spring Equinox.
Taurus (The Bull) constellation with the names of basic stars. Photo Credit: Jazziel/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythology, Zeus took the form of a bull to seduce the daughter of Agenor, Europa. It is said that Zeus wanted to attract Europa’s attention and did so by attaining the image of a handsome bull. Once she came near him and sat on his back, he carried her to the island of Crete and took his original form. Impressing the princess with gifts, Zeus impressed her, and they had three sons together. After this, Zeus is said to have raised the bull as a constellation.
Ursa Major is also known as the big bear, but today, it’s called “The Big Dipper.” Photo Credit: isak55/Shutterstock
Ursa Major
One of the largest constellations of the sky, the Ursa Major means “the great bear,” and it occupies an area of about 1,280 square degrees. Located in the latitude between +90 and -30 degrees, Ursa Major is often spotted by the stargazers on a clear night. Ursa Major consists of the significant asterism, “The Big Dipper,” which is an essential star for navigation.
Ursa Major constellation or the Great Bear and the Big Dipper constellation. Photo Credit: Savvapanf Photo/Shutterstock
In Hindu mythology, the stars of the Ursa Major form the Saptarshi Constellation and the stars are named as Bhrigu, Atri, Angirasa, Vasishta, Kratu, Pulastya, and Pulalaha. According to Greek mythology, Ursa Major is linked to Callisto, who was a beautiful nymph and was seduced by Zeus. Later on, she bore him a son, and he was called Arcas. After Zeus’s wife Hera learned about this, she cursed Callisto and turned her into a bear. In this form of a bear, she lived in the forest and one day came across her son after 15 years. Arcas did not recognize his mother and was about to kill her when Zeus came to the scene and made both of them constellations, turning Callisto into Ursa Major and Arcas into Bootes ( Ursa Minor in some mythological versions).
Ursa Minor is the little bear, but is aptly named “The Little Dipper.” Photo Credit: isak55/Shutterstock
Ursa Minor
Located just near the Ursa Major constellation, Ursa Minor means “the smaller bear” or “little bear.” The most important fact about this constellation is the fact that it contains the North Star or the Polaris in the constellation. As a result, it can easily be located. The Polaris or the North Star forms the tail of the bear. Belonging to the Ursa Major family, the Ursa Minor is located between the latitudes of +90 and -10 degrees.
Little Dipper constellation in night sky. Photo Credit: Hollygraphic/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythology, Ursa Minor actually represents Arcas, who was the son of Zeus and Callisto, a nymph who was seduced by Zeus. After Zeus’s wife found out about them, she was furious and turned Callisto into a bear. For 15 years, Callisto lived in the forest, and one day she came across Arcas, who was scared by the bear and was just about to kill her when Zeus intervened and made them constellations in the sky.
People say that Virgo resembled a woman carrying a jug of water on her shoulder. Photo Credit: Taeya18/Shutterstock
Virgo
Virgo is another constellation that was first recorded by the Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century. Its name is in Latin, which means “the Virgin.” It is home to Spica, which is the brightest star in the night sky. It also has the autumn equinox point. Virgo contains 20 stars and is the second-largest constellation in the sky with a covered area of 1294 square degrees. It can be seen in the third quadrant of the southern hemisphere.
Virgo constellation stars in outer space. Photo Credit: Pike-28/Shutterstock
According to Greek mythology, Virgo is connected to Dike, the daughter of Zeus and Themis. She was the Goddess of justice and lived during the golden era of humankind as a mortal. After Zeus came into power, human beings slowly turned on each other, and this marked the silver era of humanity. It is said Dike then warned the mortal beings that worse would come if they did not go back to the old path of goodness and left the Earth and went to live in the mountains. After the Iron Age came, Dike left the mountains and went to heaven, taking the form of the Virgo constellation.
Pegasus is the winged horse that gained so much fame after being created by Athena to help Bellerophon kill the Chimaera. Photo Credit: pecorb/Shutterstock
Pegasus
Pegasus is one of the most astronomical constellations in the night sky, which can be seen in the northern hemisphere. It was named after the Greek-winged God, Pegasus. Ranked as the 7th largest, Pegasus occupies an area of 1121 square degrees. This constellation has acted as a multi-faceted guide not just for travelers but for astronomers as well.
Pegasus constellation with the names of basic stars. Photo Credit: Jazziel/Shutterstock
According to mythologies, Pegasus sprung from the head of the Medusa after Perseus beheaded her. Pegasus flew off into the sky, and when he returned to Earth, he was found and tamed by Minerva. Pegasus was part of several missions before he eventually reached Mount Olympus. In honor of his service, Zeus placed his constellation in the sky to shine forever like his bravery.
Constellations are products of the human mind finding patterns in the stars, but they have become essential tools for centuries, such as navigation. Photo Credit: Rubes.fotos/Shutterstock
Look Into the Starry Sky
For centuries, stars have always guided us. Be it literally through navigation or by serving as a peaceful means to calm our minds. Constellations have guided man in his journeys, be it at sea, land, or as astronomers. We have associated with these heavenly objects at almost every phase of our lives. Stars and constellations have been an integral part of our lives. We must nurture the thousand years old cultures and learn about the vibrant yet colorful mythologies related to these beautiful, sparkling constellations.
Equatorial Constellation Map. Photo Credit: shooarts/Shutterstock
With stars being linked to our lives since our birth, via the zodiac signs and astrology, it is highly probable that we must know a few if not all of the 88 constellations. These thousands of twinkling, bright stars that light up the vast expanse above us have been and will continue to be our guide for eternity.