Animal constellations in the night sky. How many are there?

There are 42 animal constellations in the night sky.

That is almost half of the official 88 constellations!

Here are the other types of constellations you will find in the celestial sphere. This is a fun activity for kids astronomy!

There are 42 animal constellations, 28 objects, 14 humans, 2 chimeras (a mix of human and animal), and 2 natural features (a river and a mesa).

Constellations are of many types. There are 42 animal constellations, 28 objects, 14 human constellations, 2 chimeras, and 2 natural features
88 official constellations broken down into 5 groups: 42 animals, 28 objects, 14 humans, 2 chimeras, and 2 natural features.

The 88 constellations listed by type:

Animal Apus Bird of Paradise
Aquila Eagle
Aries Ram
Camelopardus Giraffe
Cancer Crab
Canes Venatici Hunting dogs
Canis Major Big dog
Canis Minor Little dog
Capricornus Sea goat
Cetus Sea monster (whale)
Chamaeleon Chameleon
Columba Dove
Corvus Crow
Cygnus Swan
Delphinus Porpoise
Dorado Swordfish
Draco Dragon
Equuleus Little horse
Grus Crane
Hydra Sea serpent
Hydrus Water snake
Lacerta Lizard
Leo Lion
Leo Minor Little lion
Lepus Hare
Lupus Wolf
Lynx Lynx
Monoceros Unicorn
Musca Fly
Pavo Peacock
Pegasus Pegasus, the winged horse
Phoenix Phoenix
Pisces Fishes
Piscis Austrinis Southern fish
Scorpius Scorpion
Serpens Serpent
Taurus Bull
Tucana Toucan
Ursa Major Big bear
Ursa Minor Little bear
Volans Flying fish
Vulpecula Fox
Chimera Centaurus Centaur
Sagittarius Archer
Human Andromeda Princess of Ethiopia
Aquarius Water bearer
Auriga Charioteer
Bootes Herdsman
Cassiopeia Queen of Ethiopia
Cephus King of Ethiopia
Coma Berenices Berenice’s hair
Gemini Twins
Hercules Hercules, son of Zeus
Indus Indian
Ophiuchus Holder of serpent
Orion Orion, the hunter
Perseus
Perseus, hero who saved Andromeda
Virgo Virgin
Natural Feature Eridanus River
Mensa Table mountain
Object Antlia Air pump
Ara Altar
Caelum Graving tool
Carina Keel of Argonauts’ ship
Circinus Compasses
Corona Australis Southern crown
Corona Borealis Northern crown
Crater Cup
Crux Cross (southern)
Fornax Furnace
Horologium Clock
Libra Balance
Lyra Lyre or harp
Microscopium Microscope
Norma Carpenter’s Level
Octans Octant
Pictor Easel
Puppis Stern of the Argonauts’ ship
Pyxis (=Malus) Compass on the Argonauts’ ship
Reticulum Net
Sagitta Arrow
Sculptor Sculptor’s tools
Scutum Shield
Sextans Sextant
Telescopium Telescope
Triangulum Triangle
Triangulum Australe Southern triangle
Vela Sail of the Argonauts’ ship

 

5 Replies to “Animal constellations in the night sky. How many are there?”

  1. Learned something new today, didn’t know there were 88 constellations. Thanks Dan!

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