Constellation names and abbreviations

The list below shows the International Astronomical Union (IAU) conventions for constellation names. Given for each constellation is the Latin name, nominative and genitive, as well as the approved three-letter abbreviation. The abbreviation is what is generally used in AAVSO applications.

AAVSO finder charts for some of these constellations may be found here.

 

Nominative Genitive Abbreviation
Andromeda Andromedae And  
Antlia Antliae Ant
Apus Apodis Aps
Aquarius Aquarii Aqr
Aquila Aquilae Aql
Ara Arae Ara
Aries Arietis Ari
Auriga Aurigae Aur
Bootes Bootis Boo
Caelum Caeli Cae
Camelopardalis Camelopardalis Cam
Cancer Cancri Cnc
Canes Venatici Canum Venaticorum CVn
Canis Major Canis Majoris CMa
Canis Minor Canis Minoris CMi
Capricornus Capricorni Cap
Carina Carinae Car
Cassiopeia Cassiopeiae Cas
Centaurus Centauri Cen
Cepheus Cephei Cep
Cetus Ceti Cet
Chamaeleon Chamaeleontis Cha
Circinus Circini Cir
Columba Columbae Col
Coma Berenices Comae Berenices Com
Corona Australis Coronae Australis CrA
Corona Borealis Coronae Borealis CrB
Corvus Corvi Crv
Crater Crateris Crt
Crux Crucis Cru
Cygnus Cygni Cyg
Delphinus Delphini Del
Dorado Doradus Dor
Draco Draconis Dra
Equuleus Equulei Equ
Eridanus Eridani Eri
Fornax Fornacis For
Gemini Geminorum Gem
Grus Gruis Gru
Hercules Herculis Her
Horologium Horologii Hor
Hydra Hydrae Hya
Hydrus Hydri Hyi
Indus Indi Ind
Lacerta Lacertae Lac
Leo Leonis Leo
Leo Minor Leonis Minoris LMi
Lepus Leporis Lep
Libra Librae Lib
Lupus Lupi Lup
Lynx Lyncis Lyn
Lyra Lyrae Lyr
Mensa Mensae Men
Microscopium Microscopii Mic
Monoceros Monocerotis Mon
Musca Muscae Mus
Norma Normae Nor
Octans Octantis Oct
Ophiuchus Ophiuchi Oph
Orion Orionis Ori
Pavo Pavonis Pav
Pegasus Pegasi Peg
Perseus Persei Per
Phoenix Phoenicis Phe
Pictor Pictoris Pic
Pisces Piscium Psc
Piscis Austrinus Piscis Austrini PsA
Puppis Puppis Pup
Pyxis Pyxidis Pyx
Reticulum Reticuli Ret
Sagitta Sagittae Sge
Sagittarius Sagittarii Sgr
Scorpius Scorpii Sco
Sculptor Sculptoris Scl
Scutum Scuti Sct
Serpens Serpentis Ser
Sextans Sextantis Sex
Taurus Tauri Tau
Telescopium Telescopii Tel
Triangulum Trianguli Tri
Triangulum Australe Trianguli Australis TrA
Tucana Tucanae Tuc
Ursa Major Ursae Majoris UMa
Ursa Minor Ursae Minoris UMi
Vela Velorum Vel
Virgo Virginis Vir
Volans Volantis Vol
Vulpecula Vulpeculae Vul