hydra
  • Meaning: Swift SeizerSymbolism: The Sea Serpent
  • Constellation family: Hercule
  • Number of main stars: 17
  • Abbreviation: Hya
  • Location: Second quadrant of the southern hemisphere (SQ2)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Antlia, Cancer, Canis Minor, Centaurus, Corvus, Crater, Leo, Libra, Lupus, Monoceros, Puppis, Pyxis, Sextans and Virgo
  • Best viewed: April
  • Named Stars: Alphard, Ashlesha, Felis, Lerna, Minchir, Ukdah, and Zhang
  • Area: 1,303 sq. deg
  • 1st largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Maiden
  • Constellation family: Zodiac
  • Number of main stars: 9, 15 
  • Abbreviation: Vir
  • Location: Third quadrant of the southern hemisphere (SQ3)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Boötes, Coma Berenices, Corvus, Crater, Hydra, Leo, Libra and Serpens Caput
  • Best viewed: March through July
  • Named Stars: Elgafar, Flegetonte, Heze, Kang, Khambalia, Lich, Malmok, Minelauva, Mönch, Porrima, Spica, Syrma, Vindemiatrix, Zaniah, and Zavijava
  • Area: 1,294 sq. deg. 
  • 2nd largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Great Bear
  • Constellation family: Ursa Major
  • Number of stars: 7, 20
  • Abbreviation: Uma
  • Location: Northern sky; second quadrant of northern hemisphere (NQ2)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Boötes, Camelopardalis, Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices, Draco, Leo, Leo Minor and Lynx
  • Best viewed: March through June
  • Named Stars: Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, Alkaid
  • Area: 1280 sq. deg. 
  • 3rd largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Whale
  • Constellation family: Perseus
  • Number of main stars: 14 
  • Abbreviation: Cet
  • Location: First quadrant of the southern hemisphere (SQ1)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Aquarius, Aries, Eridanus, Fornax, Pisces, Sculptor, and Taurus
  • Best viewed: October through January
  • Named Stars: Axólotl, Baten Kaitos, Diphda, Kaffaljidhma, Menkar, Mira, Mpingo, and Felixvarela
  • Area: 1231 sq. deg. 
  • 4th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Greek Hero Heracles
  • Constellation family: Hercules
  • Number of main stars: 14, 22
  • Abbreviation: Her
  • Location: Third quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ3)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Aquila, Boötes, Corona Borealis, Draco, Lyra, Ophiuchus, Sagitta, Serpens Caput and Vulpecula
  • Best viewed: July
  • Number of main stars: 14, 22 Abbreviation: Her
  • Named Stars: Cujam, Franz, Hunor, Irena, Kornephoros, Maasym, Marsic, Ogma, Pipoltr, Rasalgethi, and Sarin
  • Area: 1,225 sq. deg. 
  • 5th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Winged Horse
  • Constellation family: Perseus
  • Number of main stars: 9, 17 
  • Abbreviation: Peg
  • Location: Forth quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ4)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Andromeda, Aquarius, Cygnus, Delphinus, Equuleus, Lacerta, Pisces and Vulpecula.
  • Best viewed: October
  • Named Stars: Algenib, Alkarab, Anadolu, Biham, Enif, Helvetios, Homam, Markab, Matar, Morava, Sadalbari, Salm, Scheat, Solaris, and Tangra
  • Area: 1,121 sq. deg.
  • 7th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Dragon
  • Constellation family: Ursa Major
  • Number of main stars: 14
  • Abbreviation: Dra
  • Location: Third quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ3)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Boötes, Camelopardalis, Cepheus, Cygnus, Hercules, Lyra, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor
  • Best viewed: July
  • Named Stars: Aldhibah, Alrakis, Alruba, Alsafi, Altais, Athebyne, Dziban, Edasich, Eltanin, Fafnir, Funi, Giausar, Grumium, Rastaban, Taiyi, Thuban, and Tianyi
  • Area: 1,083 sq. deg. 
  • 8th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Lion
  • Constellation family: Zodiac
  • Number of main stars: 9, 15  
  • Abbreviation: Leo
  • Location: Second quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ2)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Cancer, Coma Berenices, Crater, Hydra, Leo Minor, Lynx, Sextans, Ursa Major and Virgo
  • Best viewed: April
  • Named Stars: Adhafera, Algieba, Alterf, Chertan, Denebola, Dingolay, Formosa, Moriah, Rasalas, Regulus, Sagarmatha, Subra, and Zosm
  • Area: 947 sq. deg. 
  • 12th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Greek hero Perseus
  • Constellation family: Perseus
  • Number of main stars: 19 
  • Abbreviation: Per
  • Location: First quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ1)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Andromeda, Aries, Auriga, Camelopardalis, Cassiopeia, Taurus and Triangulum
  • Best viewed: December
  • Named Stars: Algol, Atik, Berehinya, Menkib, Miram, Mirfak, Misam, Muspelheim
  • Area: 615 sq. deg. 
  • 24th largest constellation in size 
  • Symbolism: Andromeda, the Chained Woman
  • Constellation family: Perseus
  • Number of main stars: 16
  • Abbreviation: And
  • Location: First quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ1)
  • Between Cassiopeia’s W asterism and the Great Square of Pegasus
  • Neighboring Constellations: Cassiopeia, Lacerta, Pegasus, Perseus, Pisces and Triangulum
  • Best viewed: September through November
  • Named Stars: Adhil, Almach, Alpheratz, Buna, Mirach, Nembus, Sterrennacht, Titawin, and Veritate 
  • Area: 722 sq. deg. 
  • 19th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: Orion, the Hunter
  • Constellation family: Orion
  • Number of main stars: 7
  • Abbreviation: Ori
  • Location: First quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ1)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Eridanus, Gemini, Lepus, Monoceros and Taurus
  • Best viewed: December through March
  • Named Stars: Alnilam, Alnitak, Bellatrix, Betelgeuse, Hatysa, Meissa, Mintaka, Rigel, Saiph, and Tabit
  • Area: 594 sq. deg. 
  • 26th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The King Cepheus
  • Constellation family: Perseus
  • Number of main stars: 7
  • Abbreviation: Cep
  • Location: Fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ4)
  • Neighboring Constellations: amelopardalis, Cassiopeia, Cygnus, Draco, Lacerta, and Ursa Minor
  • Best viewed: November
  • Named Stars: Alderamin, Alfirk, Errai, and Kurhah
  • Area: 588 sq. deg. 
  • 27th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: the Twins, Castor and Pollux
  • Constellation family: Zodiac
  • Number of main stars: 8, 17
  • Abbreviation: Gem
  • Location: Second quadrant of the northern celestial hemisphere (NQ2)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Auriga, Cancer, Canis Minor, Lynx, Monoceros, Orion and Taurus
  • Best viewed: February
  • Named Stars: Castor, Pollux, Alhena, Wasat, mebsuta, Mekbuda, Propus, Tejat 
  • Area: 514 sq. deg.
  • 30th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Little Bear
  • Constellation family: Ursa Major
  • Number of main stars: 7
  • Abbreviation: Umi
  • Location: Northern sky; third quadrant of the norther hemisphere (NQ3)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Camelopardalis, Cepheus and Draco
  • Best viewed: June
  • Named Stars: Polaris, Kochab, Perkhad, Yildun 
  • Area: 256 sq. deg. 
  • 56th largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Hare
  • Constellation family: Orion
  • Number of main stars: 8
  • Abbreviation: Lep
  • Location: Northern sky; second quadrant of the northern celestial hemisphere (NQ2
  • Just under the feet of Orion
  • Neighboring Constellations: Caelum, Canis Major, Columba, Eridanus, Monoceros and Orion
  • Best viewed: January
  • Named Stars: Alpha Leporis, Beta Leporis, Gamma Leporis, R Leporis,
  • Area: 290 sq. deg.
  • 51st largest constellation in size
  • Symbolism: The Dolphin
  • Constellation family: Heavenly Waters
  • Number of main stars: 5
  • Abbreviation: Del
  • Location: Fourth quadrant of the northern hemisphere (NQ4)
  • Neighboring Constellations: Aquarius, Aquila, Equuleus, Pegasus, Sagitta, and Vulpecula
  • Best viewed: September
  • Named Stars: Aldulfin, Musica, Rotanev, Shama, Sualocin 
  • Area: 189 sq. deg. 
  • 69th largest constellation in size