IAU designated 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. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. 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)