Andromeda

Abbreviation: And
Genitive: Andromedae
Translation: Princess of Ethiopia or the Chained Lady
Sky Chart
Peoria Astronomical Society Andromeda Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)

Position in the Sky

Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 1 hour
Declination: 40 degrees
Visible between latitudes 90 and -40 degrees
Best seen in November (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars
ALPHERATZ (Alpha And)
MIRACH (Beta And)
ALMAAK (Gamma 1 And)
Adhil (Xi And)
Messier Objects
M31 The Andromeda Galaxy (spiral galaxy)
M32 Satellite galaxy of Andromeda (elliptical galaxy)
M110 Satellite galaxy of Andromeda (elliptical galaxy)

Aquarius
Abbreviation: Aqr
Genitive: Aquarii
Translation: The Water Bearer
Sky Chart
Peoria Astronomical Society Aquarius Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 23 hours
Declination: -15 degrees
Visible between latitudes 65 and -90 degrees
Best seen in October (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars
SADALMELIK (Alpha Aqr)
Sadalsuud (Beta Aqr)
Sadalachbia (Gamma Aqr)
Skat (Delta Aqr)
Albali (Epsilon Aqr)
Ancha (Theta Aqr)
Situla (Kappa Aqr)
Messier Objects
M2 (globular cluster)
M72 (globular cluster)

M73 (system or astrerism of 4 stars)

This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.
Aquarius is a rather faint constellation which would not be famous if it
weren't part of the Zodiac. Aquarius, as its name suggests is
universally associated with water. In most cultures, it is drawn as a
man pouring water from a bucket. This may arise from the fact that the
Sun enters Aquarius in early winter when the rainy season begins in
many parts of the world.

Aries
Abbreviation: Ari
Genitive: Arietis
Translation: The Ram
Peoria Astronomical Society Aries Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 3 hours
Declination: 20 degrees
Visible between latitudes 90 and -60 degrees
Best seen in December (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars
HAMAL (Alpha Ari)
Sharatan (Beta Ari)
Mesarthim (Gamma 2 Ari)
Botein (Delta Ari)
This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.

The Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Persians all agreed
on this constellaton's name of the Ram. In Greek mythology, the story
of the Ram begins in Thessaly. The King of Thessaly had two children
named Phrixus and Helle who were beaten by their stepmother. The
god Hermes beame angered by this and sent a ram to carry the two
children to safety. Tragically, Helle lost her grip and tumbled from the
ram into the narrow strip of water between Europe and Asia, now
called Hellespont in her honor. Phrixus, on the other hand, arrived
safely to the shores of the Black Sea where he sacrificed the ram and
gave its fleece to a sleepless dragon for safe-keeping. Later, Jason and
his intrepid Argonauts recovered the prized fleece and returned it to
Thessaly (see the Argo Navis Page).

Capricornus
Abbreviation: Cap
Genitive: Capricorni
Translation: The Sea Goat
Peoria Astronomical Society Capricornus Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 21 hours
Declination: -20 degrees
Visible between latitudes 60 and -90 degrees
Best seen in September (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars

Prima Giedi (Alpha 1 Cap)

Secunda Giedi (Alpha 2 Cap)
Dabih (Beta Cap)
Nashira (Gamma Cap)
Deneb Algedi (Delta Cap)
Alshat (Nu Cap)
Messier Objects
M30 (globular cluster)
This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.
Capricornus has been recognized as a goat since Babylonian and
Chaldean times. Usually, it is depicted as a goat with a fish tail, which
might relate to a story about the god Pan. Pan, fleeing a monster called
Typhon, jumed into the river Nile. The part of him that was below water
turned into a fish, while the rest of him above water, stayed as a goat.

Columba

Abbreviation: Col
Genitive: Columbae
Translation: The Dove
Peoria Astronomical Society Columba Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)

Position in the Sky

Explanation of the following information

Right Ascension: 6 hours
Declination: -35 degrees
Visible between latitudes 45 and -90 degrees
Best seen in February (at 9:00 PM)

Named Stars
Phaet (Alpha Col)
Wezn (Beta Col)
Pam Eastlick has contributed a great description of Argo Navis and its
associated constellations as seen from Guam.

Hercules

Abbreviation: Her
Genitive: Herculis
Translation: Hercules
Sky Chart
Peoria Astronomical Society Hercules Page

Interactive star chart (Java applet)

Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 17 hours
Declination: 30 degrees
Visible between latitudes 90 and -50 degrees
Best seen in July (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars
RASALGETHI (Alpha 1 Her)
Kornephoros (Beta Her)
Sarin (Delta Her)
Marfik (Kappa Her)
Maasym (Lambda Her)
Kajam (Omega Her)
Messier Objects
M13 The Great Hercules Globular Cluster (globular cluster)
M92 (globular cluster)
Among his famous Twelve Labors, Hercules defeated the Nemean Lion
(otherwise known as Leo) and the many-headed beast called Hydra.
While fighting Hydra, Hercules also killed the little crab, Cancer.

Leo

Abbreviation: Leo

Genitive: Leonis
Translation: The Lion
Sky Chart
Peoria Astronomical Society Leo Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 11 hours
Declination: 15 degrees
Visible between latitudes 90 and -65 degrees
Best seen in April (at 9:00 PM)
Messier Objects
M65 (spiral galaxy)
M66 (spiral galaxy)
M95 (spiral galaxy)
M96 (spiral galaxy)
M105 (elliptical galaxy)
This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.
Leo is the Nemean Lion which was killed by Hercules on one of his
great quests. Legend says that the lion had a hide that could not
punctured by iron, bronze or stone. Since he couldn't reason with the
ferocious beast, Hercules strangled it to death and the local people
were very grateful.
The Chaldeans associated Leo with the sun since it is in the sky during
the summer solstice (although this is no longer true, due to the
precession of the Earth's axis). Since Nile floods around this time, the
ancient Egyptians worshipped the celestial lion.

Orion

Abbreviation: Ori
Genitive: Orionis
Translation: The Great Hunter
Sky Chart
Peoria Astronomical Society Orion Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 5 hours
Declination: 5 degrees
Visible between latitudes 85 and -75 degrees
Best seen in January (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars
BETELGEUSE (Alpha Ori)
RIGEL (Beta Ori)
BELLATRIX (Gamma Ori)
MINTAKA (Delta Ori)
ALNILAM (Epsilon Ori)
ALNITAK (Zeta Ori)
Nair al Saif (Iota Ori)
SAIPH (Kappa Ori)
Meissa (Lambda Ori)
Tabit (Pi 3 Ori)
Tabit (Pi 2 Ori)
Tabit (Pi 4 Ori)
Tabit (Pi 1 Ori)
Thabit (Upsilon Ori)
Messier Objects
M42 The Great Orion Nebula (diffuse nebula)
M43 part of the Orion Nebula, de Mairan's Nebula (diffuse
nebula)
M78 (diffuse nebula)
There are several pictures of Orion on the What Are
Constellations? Page

Pegasus
Abbreviation: Peg
Genitive: Pegasi
Translation: The Winged Horse
Sky Chart
Peoria Astronomical Society Pegasus Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 22 hours
Declination: 20 degrees
Visible between latitudes 90 and -60 degrees
Best seen in October (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars
MARKAB (Alpha Peg)
SCHEAT (Beta Peg)
ALGENIB (Gamma Peg)
ENIF (Epsilon Peg)
Homam (Zeta Peg)
Matar (Eta Peg)
Baham (Theta Peg)
Salm (Tau Peg)
Messier Objects
M15 (globular cluster)
The Story of Perseus
Take a look at the story of how Perseus slew Medusa, the mother
of Pegasus, and rescued Andromeda, the daughter
of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, from the sea monster Cetus.

Phoenix
Abbreviation: Phe
Genitive: Phoenicis
Translation: The Phoenix
Peoria Astronomical Society Phoenix Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 1 hour
Declination: -50 degrees
Visible between latitudes 30 and -90 degrees
Best seen in November (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars
ANKAA (Alpha Phe)
Phoenix was named by Johann Bayer. It lies
between Grus and Eridanus. According to mythology, the Phoenix was
a bird of incredible beauty who would live for 500 years. The bird would
build a nest of twigs and leaves that would be lit by the noon sun. The
Phoenix would then be consumed by the fire, but a small worm would
emerge from the fire and grow into another Phoenix.
This constellation, almost universally recognized as a bird, has also
been called The Griffin, The Eagle, The Young Ostriches (Arabic), and
The Fire Bird (Chinese).
From tppm@we.mediaone.net:
"Phoenix" is the Greek word for dark red or purple. The Phoenix bird
was given that name for its color. The region & culture of Phoenicia
were given that name because of their famous Tyrian purple dye made
out of rotted molluscs, altho' the Phoenicians were the direct
descendents of the Canaanites and "kenani" means dark red in
Canaanite & may have refered to sunburned complexions.

Scorpius
Abbreviation: Sco
Genitive: Scorpii
Translation: The Scorpion
Sky Chart
Peoria Astronomical Society Scorpius Page
Interactive star chart (Java applet)
Position in the Sky
Explanation of the following information
Right Ascension: 17 hours
Declination: -40 degrees
Visible between latitudes 40 and -90 degrees
Best seen in July (at 9:00 PM)
Named Stars
ANTARES (Alpha Sco)
Graffias (Beta 1 Sco)
Dschubba (Delta Sco)
Sargas (Theta Sco)
SHAULA (Lambda Sco)
Jabbah (Nu Sco)
Grafias (Xi Sco)
Alniyat (Sigma Sco)
Alniyat (Tau Sco)
Lesath (Upsilon Sco)
Messier Objects
M4 (globular cluster)
M6 The Butterfly Cluster (open cluster)
M7 Ptolemy's Cluster (open cluster)
M80 (globular cluster)
Check out the Scorpius page which is part of the Texas Astronomical
Society's Constellation of the Month Series.

Scorpius is the beast which finally killed the Great Hunter, Orion.
This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.