People have imagined pictures in the stars for thousands of years. They created stories about how these pictures, or constellations came to be. Many of the constellations in the northern sky were found and named by the Greeks during the Greek Empire (about 50 BC to 480 AD).
The other constellations in the southern sky were observed and named in the 17-1800's by scientific expeditions to the Southern Hemisphere. Many of these constellations had modern names, which were mostly mechanical devices.
In 1930, the International Astronomical Union decided that the sky should be divided into 88 regions. This lessened the confusion about which constellation a star was located in, and the location of the constellations themselves. It also made sure that each star only belonged to one constellation.
Here is a list of all 88 constellations and their descriptions:
Andromeda, daughter of Cepheus and
Cassiopeia
Antlia, the Pump
Apus, the Bird of Paradise
Aquarius, the Water Bearer
Aquila, the Eagle
Ara, the Altar
Aries, the Ram
Auriga, the Charioteer
Boötes, the Herdsman
Caelum, the Chisel
Camelopardalis, the Giraffe
Cancer, the Crab
Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs
Canis Major, the Big Dog
Canis Minor, the Little Dog
Capricornus, the Goat
Carina, the Ship's Keel
Cassiopeia, the Queen
Centaurus, Centaur
Cepheus, the King
Cetus, the Whale
Chamaeleon, the Chamaeleon
Circinus, the Compass
Columba, the Dove
Coma Berenices, Berenice's Hair
Corona Australis, the Southern Crown
Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown
Corvus, the Crow
Crater, the Cup
Crux, the Southern Cross
Cygnus, the Swan
Delphinus, the Dolphin
Dorado, the Swordfish
Draco, the Dragon
Equuleus, the Little Horse
Eridanus, the River
Fornax, the Furnace
Gemini, the Twins
Grus, the Crane
Hercules, the Son of Zeus
Horologium, the Clock
Hydra, the Water Snake
Hydrus, the Water Snake
Indus, the Indian
Lacerta, the Lizard
Leo, the Lion
Leo Minor, the Little Lion
Lepus, the Rabbit
Libra, the Scales
Lupus, the Wolf
Lynx, the Lynx
Lyra, the Harp
Mensa, the Table
Microscopium, the Microscope
Monoceros, the Unicorn
Musca, the Fly
Norma, the Surveyor's Level
Octans, the Octant
Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer
Orion, the Hunter
Pavo, the Peacock
Pegasus, the Winged Horse
Perseus, the Rescuer of Andromeda
Phoenix, the Pheonix
Pictor, the Easel
Pisces, the Fish
Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish
Puppis, the Ship's Stern
Pyxis, the Ship's Compass
Reticulum, the Net
Sagitta, the Arrow
Sagittarius, the Archer
Scorpius, the Scorpion
Sculptor, the Sculptor
Scutum, the Shield
Serpens, the Serpent
Sextans, the Sextant
Taurus, the Bull
Telescopium, the Telescope
Triangulum, the Triangle
Triangulum Australe, the Southern Triangle
Tucana, the Toucan
Ursa Major, the Big Bear
Ursa Minor, the Little Bear
Vela, the Ship's Sails
Virgo, the Virgin
Volans, the Flying Fish
Vulpecula, the Little Fox
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