List of constellations by geographical visibility
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) designates 88 constellations.[1] In the table below, they are listed by geographical visibility according to latitude as seen from Earth, as well as the best months for viewing the constellations at 21:00 (9 p.m.).
List
|
|
Geographical visibility
|
|
Celestial coordinates
|
|
Abbrev.
|
Constellation
|
Northern- most latitude
|
Southern- most latitude
|
Month for best visibility at 21:00 (9 p.m.)
|
Right ascension (hours & mins)[2]
|
Declination (degs & mins)[3]
|
Quad [4]
|
UMi |
Ursa Minor |
90 |
-10 |
June |
+15 00.00 |
+77 41.99 |
NQ3
|
Cep |
Cepheus |
90 |
-10 |
November |
+02 32.64 |
+71 00.51 |
NQ4
|
Cam |
Camelopardalis |
90 |
-10 |
February |
+08 51.37 |
+69 22.89 |
NQ2
|
Dra |
Draco |
90 |
-15 |
July |
+15 08.64 |
+67 00.40 |
NQ3
|
Cas |
Cassiopeia |
90 |
-20 |
November |
+01 19.16 |
+62 11.04 |
NQ1
|
UMa |
Ursa Major |
90 |
-30 |
April |
+11 18.76 |
+50 43.27 |
NQ2
|
Lyn |
Lynx |
90 |
-55 |
February |
+07 59.53 |
+47 28.00 |
NQ2
|
Lac |
Lacerta |
90 |
-40 |
October |
+22 27.68 |
+46 02.51 |
NQ4
|
Per |
Perseus |
90 |
-35 |
December |
+03 10.50 |
+45 00.79 |
NQ1
|
Cyg |
Cygnus |
90 |
-40 |
September |
+20 35.28 |
+44 32.70 |
NQ4
|
Aur |
Auriga |
90 |
-40 |
February |
+06 04.42 |
+42 01.68 |
NQ2
|
CVn |
Canes Venatici |
90 |
-40 |
May |
+13 06.96 |
+40 06.11 |
NQ3
|
And |
Andromeda |
90 |
-40 |
November |
+00 48.46 |
+37 25.91 |
NQ1
|
Lyr |
Lyra |
90 |
-40 |
August |
+18 51.17 |
+36 41.36 |
NQ4
|
CrB |
Corona Borealis |
90 |
-50 |
June |
+15 50.59 |
+32 37.49 |
NQ3
|
LMi |
Leo Minor |
90 |
-45 |
April |
+10 14.72 |
+32 08.08 |
NQ2
|
Tri |
Triangulum |
90 |
-60 |
December |
+02 11.07 |
+31 28.56 |
NQ1
|
Boo |
Boötes |
90 |
-50 |
June |
+14 42.64 |
+31 12.16 |
NQ3
|
Her |
Hercules |
90 |
-50 |
July |
+17 23.16 |
+27 29.93 |
NQ3
|
Vul |
Vulpecula |
90 |
-55 |
September |
+20 13.88 |
+24 26.56 |
NQ4
|
Com |
Coma Berenices |
90 |
-70 |
May |
+12 47.27 |
+23 18.34 |
NQ3
|
Gem |
Gemini |
90 |
-60 |
February |
+07 04.24 |
+22 36.01 |
NQ2
|
Ari |
Aries |
90 |
-60 |
December |
+02 38.16 |
+20 47.54 |
NQ1
|
Cnc |
Cancer |
90 |
-60 |
March |
+08 38.96 |
+19 48.35 |
NQ2
|
Peg |
Pegasus |
90 |
-60 |
October |
+22 41.84 |
+19 27.98 |
NQ4
|
Sge |
Sagitta |
90 |
-70 |
August |
+19 39.05 |
+18 51.68 |
NQ4
|
Tau |
Taurus |
90 |
-65 |
January |
+04 42.13 |
+14 52.63 |
NQ1
|
Psc |
Pisces |
90 |
-65 |
November |
+00 28.97 |
+13 41.23 |
NQ1
|
Leo |
Leo |
90 |
-65 |
April |
+10 40.03 |
+13 08.32 |
NQ2
|
Del |
Delphinus |
90 |
-69 |
September |
+20 41.61 |
+11 40.26 |
NQ4
|
Equ |
Equuleus |
90 |
-80 |
September |
+21 11.26 |
+07 45.49 |
NQ4
|
CMi |
Canis Minor |
90 |
-75 |
February |
+07 39.17 |
+06 25.63 |
NQ2
|
Ser |
Serpens[5] |
80 |
-80 |
July |
+16 57.04 |
+06 07.32 |
NQ3
|
Ori |
Orion |
85 |
-75 |
January |
+05 34.59 |
+05 56.94 |
NQ1
|
Aql |
Aquila |
90 |
-75 |
August |
+19 40.02 |
+03 24.65 |
NQ4
|
Mon |
Monoceros |
75 |
-90 |
February |
+07 03.63 |
+00 16.93 |
NQ2
|
Sex |
Sextans |
80 |
-90 |
April |
+10 16.29 |
−02 36.88 |
SQ2
|
Vir |
Virgo |
80 |
-80 |
May |
+13 24.39 |
−04 09.51 |
SQ3
|
Cet |
Cetus |
70 |
-90 |
November |
+01 40.10 |
−07 10.76 |
SQ1
|
Oph |
Ophiuchus |
80 |
-80 |
July |
+17 23.69 |
−07 54.74 |
SQ3
|
Sct |
Scutum |
80 |
-90 |
August |
+18 40.39 |
−09 53.32 |
SQ4
|
Aqr |
Aquarius |
65 |
-90 |
October |
+22 17.38 |
−10 47.35 |
SQ4
|
Hya |
Hydra |
54 |
-83 |
April |
+11 36.73 |
−14 31.91 |
SQ2
|
Lib |
Libra |
65 |
-90 |
June |
+15 11.96 |
−15 14.08 |
SQ3
|
Crt |
Crater |
65 |
-90 |
April |
+11 23.75 |
−15 55.74 |
SQ2
|
Cap |
Capricornus |
60 |
-90 |
September |
+21 02.93 |
−18 01.39 |
SQ4
|
Crv |
Corvus |
60 |
-90 |
May |
+12 26.52 |
−18 26.20 |
SQ3
|
Lep |
Lepus |
63 |
-90 |
January |
+05 33.95 |
−19 02.78 |
SQ1
|
CMa |
Canis Major |
60 |
-90 |
February |
+06 49.74 |
−22 08.42 |
SQ2
|
Sco |
Scorpius |
40 |
-90 |
July |
+16 53.24 |
−27 01.89 |
SQ3
|
Pyx |
Pyxis |
50 |
-90 |
March |
+08 57.16 |
−27 21.10 |
SQ2
|
Sgr |
Sagittarius |
55 |
-90 |
August |
+19 05.94 |
−28 28.61 |
SQ4
|
Eri |
Eridanus |
32 |
-90 |
December |
+03 18.02 |
−28 45.37 |
SQ1
|
PsA |
Piscis Austrinus |
55 |
-90 |
October |
+22 17.07 |
−30 38.53 |
SQ4
|
Pup |
Puppis |
40 |
-90 |
February |
+07 15.48 |
−31 10.64 |
SQ2
|
For |
Fornax |
50 |
-90 |
December |
+02 47.88 |
−31 38.07 |
SQ1
|
Scl |
Sculptor |
50 |
-90 |
November |
+00 26.28 |
−32 05.30 |
SQ1
|
Ant |
Antlia |
45 |
-90 |
April |
+10 16.43 |
−32 29.01 |
SQ2
|
Col |
Columba |
45 |
-90 |
January |
+05 51.76 |
−35 05.67 |
SQ1
|
Mic |
Microscopium |
45 |
-90 |
September |
+20 57.88 |
−36 16.49 |
SQ4
|
Cae |
Caelum |
40 |
-90 |
January |
+04 42.27 |
−37 52.90 |
SQ1
|
CrA |
Corona Australis |
40 |
-90 |
August |
+18 38.79 |
−41 08.85 |
SQ4
|
Lup |
Lupus |
35 |
-90 |
June |
+15 13.21 |
−42 42.53 |
SQ3
|
Gru |
Grus |
34 |
-90 |
October |
+22 27.39 |
−46 21.11 |
SQ4
|
Vel |
Vela |
30 |
-90 |
March |
+09 34.64 |
−47 10.03 |
SQ2
|
Cen |
Centaurus |
25 |
-90 |
May |
+13 04.27 |
−47 20.72 |
SQ3
|
Phe |
Phoenix |
32 |
-90 |
November |
+00 55.91 |
−48 34.84 |
SQ1
|
Tel |
Telescopium |
40 |
-90 |
August |
+19 19.54 |
−51 02.21 |
SQ4
|
Nor |
Norma |
30 |
-90 |
June |
+15 54.18 |
−51 21.09 |
SQ3
|
Hor |
Horologium |
30 |
-90 |
December |
+03 16.56 |
−53 20.18 |
SQ1
|
Pic |
Pictor |
26 |
-90 |
January |
+05 42.46 |
−53 28.45 |
SQ1
|
Ara |
Ara |
25 |
-90 |
July |
+17 22.49 |
−56 35.30 |
SQ3
|
Dor |
Dorado |
20 |
-90 |
January |
+05 14.51 |
−59 23.22 |
SQ1
|
Ind |
Indus |
15 |
-90 |
September |
+21 58.33 |
−59 42.40 |
SQ4
|
Ret |
Reticulum |
23 |
-90 |
December |
+03 55.27 |
−59 59.85 |
SQ1
|
Cru |
Crux |
20 |
-90 |
May |
+12 26.99 |
−60 11.19 |
SQ3
|
Cir |
Circinus |
30 |
-90 |
June |
+14 34.54 |
−63 01.82 |
SQ3
|
Car |
Carina |
20 |
-90 |
March |
+08 41.70 |
−63 13.16 |
SQ2
|
TrA |
Triangulum Australe |
25 |
-90 |
July |
+16 04.95 |
−65 23.28 |
SQ3
|
Pav |
Pavo |
30 |
-90 |
August |
+19 36.71 |
−65 46.89 |
SQ4
|
Tuc |
Tucana |
25 |
-90 |
October |
+23 46.64 |
−65 49.80 |
SQ4
|
Vol |
Volans |
15 |
-90 |
February |
+07 47.73 |
−69 48.07 |
SQ2
|
Hyi |
Hydrus |
8 |
-90 |
December |
+02 20.65 |
−69 57.39 |
SQ1
|
Mus |
Musca |
10 |
-90 |
May |
+12 35.28 |
−70 09.66 |
SQ3
|
Aps |
Apus |
5 |
-90 |
July |
+16 08.65 |
−75 18.00 |
SQ3
|
Men |
Mensa |
4 |
-90 |
January |
+05 24.90 |
−77 30.24 |
SQ1
|
Cha |
Chamaeleon |
5 |
-90 |
April |
+10 41.53 |
−79 12.30 |
SQ2
|
Oct |
Octans |
0 |
-90 |
October |
+23 00.00 |
−82 09.12 |
SQ4
|
Notes and references
- ^ "The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ Average of the most eastward and most westward RA.
- ^ Average of the most northern and most southern declination.
- ^ "Quad" designates the quadrant of the sky as N for North or S for South, Quadrants 1 (0h –6h ), 2 (6h –12h ), 3 (12h –18h ), or 4 (18h –0h ).
- ^ Serpens is divided into two parts:
Serpens Caput ("Serpent's Head"; 428.484 sq. deg.; midpoint: RA: 15 46.49, Dec: +10 58.20), and
Serpens Cauda ("Serpent's Tail"; 208.444 sq. deg.; midpoint: RA: 18 07.60, Dec: -04 51.73)
See also