Constellations Pronunciations and Abbreviations
The International Astronomical Union designated 88 bounded areas of the sky known as constellations. The constellation names, genitive terms and abbreviations are International Astronomical Union standards. However pronunciations do vary.
The following recommendations are widely used even though there are other valid interpretations, particularly as to the meanings. If you use these you will understand and be understood.
Constellations Pronunciations and Abbreviations |
CONSTELLATION | PRONUNCIATION | SIGNIFYING | GENITIVE | PRONUNCIATION | ABBREVIATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andromeda | an-DRAH-mih-duh | the Chained Maiden | Andromedae | an-DRAH-mih-dee | And |
| Antlia | ANT-lee-uh | the Air Pump | Antlae | ANT-lee-ee | Ant |
| Apus | APP-us | the Bird of Paradise | Apodis | APP-oh-diss | Aps |
| Aquarius | uh-QUAIR-ee-us | the Water Bearer | Aquarii | uh-QUAIR-ee-eye | Aqr |
| Aquila | uh-QUILL-uh | the Eagle | Aquilae | uh-QUILL-ee | Aql |
| Ara | AIR-uh, AR-uh | the Altar | Arae | AIR-ee, AR-ee | Ara |
| Aries | AIR-eez | the Ram | Arietis | uh-RYE-ih-tiss | Ari |
| Auriga | aw-RYE-guh | the Charioteer | Aurigae | aw-RYE-ghee | Aur |
| Boötes | bo-OH-teez | the Herdsman | Boötis | bo-OH-tiss | Boo |
| Caelum | SEE-lum | the Engraving Tool | Caeli | SEE-lye | Cae |
| Camelopardalis | cuh-MEL-oh- PAR-duh-liss | the Giraffe | Camelopardalis | cuh-MEL-oh- PAR-duh-liss | Cam |
| Cancer | CAN-ser | the Crab | Cancri | CANG-cry | Cnc |
| Canes Venatici | CANE-eez ve-NAT-iss-eye | the Hunting Dogs | Canum Venaticorum | CANE-um ve-NAT-eye-COR-um | CVn |
| Canis Major | CAN-iss MAY-jer | the Great Dog | Canis Majoris | CAN-iss muh-JOR-iss | CMa |
| Canis Minor | CAN-iss MY-ner | the Lesser Dog | Canis Minoris | CAN-iss mih-NOR-iss | CMi |
| Capricornus | CAP-rih-CORN-us | the Sea Goat | Capricorni | CAP-rih-CORN-eye | Cap |
| Carina | cuh-REE-nuh | the Keel | Carinae | cuh-REE-nee | Car |
| Cassiopeia | CASS-ee-uh-PEE-uh | the Seated Queen | Cassiopeiae | CASS-ee-uh-PEE-ye | Cas |
| Centaurus | sen-TOR-us | the Centaur | Centauri | sen-TOR-eye | Cen |
| Cepheus | SEE-fee-us | the King | Cephei | SEE-fee-eye | Cep |
| Cetus | SEE-tus | the Sea Monster | Ceti | SEE-tie | Cet |
| Chamaeleon | cuh-MEAL-ee-un | the Chameleon | Chamaeleontis | cuh-MEAL-ee-ON-tiss | Cha |
| Circinus | SER-sin-us | the Compass | Circini | SER-sin-eye | Cir |
| Columba | cuh-LUM-buh | the Dove | Columbae | cuh-LUM-bee | Col |
| Coma Berenices | COE-muh BER-uh-NICE-eez | the Bernice's Hair | Comae Berenices | COE-mee BER-uh-NICE-eez | Com |
| Corona Australis | cuh-ROE-nuh aw-STRAL-iss | the Southern Crown | Coronae Australis | cuh-ROE-nee aw-STRAL-iss | CrA |
| Corona Borealis | cuh-ROE-nuh bor-ee-AL-iss | the Northern Crown | Coronae Borealis | cuh-ROE-nee bor-ee-AL-iss | CrB |
| Corvus | COR-vus | the Crow | Corvi | COR-vye | Crv |
| Crater | CRAY-ter | the Cup | Crateris | cruh-TEE-riss | Crt |
| Crux | CRUCKS, CROOKS | the Southern Cross | Crucis | CROO-siss | Cru |
| Cygnus | SIG-nus | the Swan | Cygni | SIG-nye | Cyg |
| Delphinus | del-FIN-us | the Dolphin | Delphini | del-FIN-eye | Del |
| Dorado | duh-RAH-do | the Swordfish | Doradus | duh-RAH-dus | Dor |
| Draco | DRAY-co | the Dragon | Draconis | druh-CONE-iss | Dra |
| Equuleus | eh-QUOO-lee-us | the Little Horse | Equulei | eh-QUOO-lee-eye | Equ |
| Eridanus | ih-RID-un-us | the River | Eridani | ih-RID-un-eye | Eri |
| Fornax | FOR-naks | the Furnace | Fornacis | for-NAY-siss | For |
| Gemini | JEM-uh-nye | the Twins | Geminorum | JEM-uh-NOR-um | Gem |
| Grus | GRUSS | the Crane | Gruis | GROO-iss | Gru |
| Hercules | HER-kyuh-leez | the Hercules | Herculis | HER-kyuh-liss | Her |
| Horologium | hor-uh-LOE-jee-um | the Clock | Horologii | hor-uh-LOE-jee-eye | Hor |
| Hydra | HIGH-druh | the Female Water Snake | Hydrae | HIGH-dree | Hya |
| Hydrus | HIGH-drus | the Male Water Snake | Hydri | HIGH-dry | Hyi |
| Indus | IN-dus | the Indian | Indi | IN-dye | Ind |
| Lacerta | luh-SER-tuh | the Lizard | Lacertae | luh-SER-tee | Lac |
| Leo | LEE-oh | the Lion | Leonis | lee-OH-niss | Leo |
| Leo Minor | LEE-oh MY-ner | the Lesser Lion | Leonis Minoris | lee-OH-niss mih-NOR-iss | LMi |
| Lepus | LEP-us | the Hare | Leporis | LEP-or-iss | Lep |
| Libra | LEE-bruh | the Scales | Librae | LYE-bree | Lib |
| Lupus | LOOP-us | the Wolf | Lupi | LOOP-eye | Lup |
| Lynx | LINKS | the Lynx | Lyncis | LIN-siss | Lyn |
| Lyra | LYE-ruh | the Lyre | Lyrae | LYE-ree | Lyr |
| Mensa | MEN-suh | the Table Mountain | Mensae | MEN-see | Men |
| Microscopium | my-cruh-SCOPE-ee-um | the Microscope | Microscopii | my-cruh-SCOPE-ee-eye | Mic |
| Monoceros | muh-NAH-ser-us | the Unicorn | Monocerotis | muh-NAH-ser-OH-tiss | Mon |
| Musca | MUSS-cuh | the Fly | Muscae | MUSS-see, MUSS-kee | Mus |
| Norma | NOR-muh | the Carpenter's Square | Normae | NOR-mee | Nor |
| Octans | OCK-tanz | the Octant | Octantis | ock-TAN-tiss | Oct |
| Ophiuchus | OAF-ee-YOO-kus | the Serpent Bearer | Ophiuchi | OAF-ee-YOO-kye | Oph |
| Orion | oh-RYE-un | the Hunter | Orionis | or-eye-OH-niss | Ori |
| Pavo | PAY-vo | the Peacock | Pavonis | puh-VOE-niss | Pav |
| Pegasus | PEG-us-us | the Winged Horse | Pegasi | PEG-us-eye | Peg |
| Perseus | PER-see-us | the Hero | Persei | PER-see-eye | Per |
| Phoenix | FEE-nix | the Phoenix | Phoenicis | fuh-NICE-iss | Phe |
| Pictor | PICK-ter | the Painter's Easel | Pictoris | pick-TOR-iss | Pic |
| Pisces | PICE-eez | the Fishes | Piscium | PICE-ee-um | Psc |
| Piscis Austrinus | PICE-iss aw-STRY-nus | the Southern Fish | Piscis Austrini | PICE-iss aw-STRY-nye | PsA |
| Puppis | PUP-iss | the Stern | Puppis | PUP-iss | Pup |
| Pyxis | PIX-iss | the Compass | Pyxidis | PIX-ih-diss | Pyx |
| Reticulum | rih-TICK-yuh-lum | the Reticule | Reticuli | rih-TICK-yuh-lye | Ret |
| Sagitta | suh-JIT-uh | the Arrow | Sagittae | suh-JIT-ee | Sge |
| Sagittarius | SAJ-ih-TARE-ee-us | the Archer | Sagittarii | SAJ-ih-TARE-ee-eye | Sgr |
| Scorpius | SCOR-pee-us | the Scorpion | Scorpii | SCOR-pee-eye | Sco |
| Sculptor | SCULP-ter | the Sculptor | Sculptoris | sculp-TOR-iss | Scl |
| Scutum | SCOOT-um | the Shield | Scuti | SCOOT-eye | Sct |
| Serpens | SER-punz | the Serpent | Serpentis | ser-PEN-tiss | Ser |
| Sextans | SEX-tunz | the Sextant | Sextantis | sex-TAN-tiss | Sex |
| Taurus | TOR-us | the Bull | Tauri | TOR-eye | Tau |
| Telescopium | TEL-ah-SKOH-pee-um | the Telescope | Telescopii | TEL-ah-SKOH-pee-eye | Tel |
| Triangulum | try-ANG-gyuh-lum | the Triangle | Trianguli | try-ANG-gyuh-lye | Tri |
| Triangulum Australe | try-ANG-gyuh-lum aw-STRAL-ee | the Southern Triangle | Trianguli Australis | try-ANG-gyuh-lye aw-STRAL-iss | TrA |
| Tucana | too-KAH-nuh | the Toucan | Tucanae | too-KAH-nee | Tuc |
| Ursa Major | ER-suh MAY-jur | the Great Bear | Ursae Majoris | ER-suh muh-JOR-iss | Uma |
| Ursa Minor | ER-suh MY-ner | the Little Bear | Ursae Minoris | ER-suh mih-NOR-iss | UMi |
| Vela | VAY-luh | the Sails | Velorum | vuh-LOR-um | Vel |
| Virgo | VER-go | the Maiden | Virginis | VER-jin-iss | Vir |
| Volans | VOH-lanz | the Flying Fish | Volantis | vo-LAN-tiss | Vol |
| Vulpecula | vul-PECK-yuh-luh | the Fox | Vulpeculae | vul-PECK-yuh-lee | Vul |
D.Thomas FRAS
