New Constellation Symbols

Calligraphic version | Fixed-width version

There are symbols for the twelve classical constellations of the zodiac, which are primarily used for astrological purposes. Two symbols have been proposed for Ophiuchus, the thirteenth constellation of the zodiac - one in general use in Japanese astrology and the other based on the rod of Aesclepius.

For the book One Hundred Year Star-Diary, I created symbols for a number of meteor showers. My symbols for the showers that emanate from zodiacal constellations were based on the symbols for those constellations. For the other ones, I created new constellation symbols - representing Lyra, Orion, Perseus, Ursa Minor, and the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis.

Having created symbols for those constellations, I wondered - could I make symbols for the rest of them? Over the course of two years, I have done exactly that. In some cases a diagram of the star pattern made a good symbol - in other cases, I've illustrated the object, creature, or myth represented by the constellation. For the more recent constellations I have sometimes taken inspiration from the diagrams and drawings provided by the constellation's creator.

The constellations of the zodiac



Aries

Ram

Taurus

Bull

Gemini

Twins

Cancer

Crab

Leo

Lion

Virgo

Maiden

Libra

Scales

Scorpio (Scorpius)

Scorpion

Ophiuchus

Snake-Holder

Sagittarius

Archer

Capricorn (Capricornus)

Mer-Goat

Aquarius

Water-Bearer

Pisces

Fish

New constellation symbols



Andromeda

Princess

Antlia

Air Pump

Apus

Bird of Paradise

Aquila

Eagle

Ara

Altar

Auriga

Charioteer

Boötes

Herdsman

Caelum

Chisel

Camelopardalis

Giraffe

Canes Venatici

Hunting Dogs

Canis Major

Great Dog

Canis Minor

Little Dog

Carina

Keel

Cassiopeia

Queen

Centaurus

Centaur

Cepheus

King

Cetus

Sea-Monster

Chamaeleon

Chameleon

Circinus

(Drafting) Compass

Columba

Dove

Coma Berenices

Berenice's Hair

Corona Australis

Southern Crown

Corona Borealis

Northern Crown

Corvus

Crow

Crater

Cup

Crux

Southern Cross

Cygnus

Swan

Delphinus

Dolphin

Dorado

Dolphinfish

Draco

Dragon

Equuleus

Little Horse

Eridanus

River

Fornax

Furnace

Grus

Crane

Hercules

Hero

Horologium

Clock

Hydra

Female Water-Snake

Hydrus

Male Water-Snake

Indus

Indian

Lacerta

Lizard

Leo Minor

Little Lion

Lepus

Rabbit

Lupus

Wolf

Lynx

Lynx

Lyra

Lyre

Mensa

Table Mountain

Microscopium

Microscope

Monoceros

Unicorn

Musca

Fly

Norma

Carpenter's Square

Octans

Octant

Orion

Hunter

Pavo

Peacock

Pegasus

Winged Horse

Perseus

Hero

Phoenix

Phoenix

Pictor

Easel

Piscis Austrinus

Southern Fish

Puppis

Poop Deck

Pyxis

Compass-Box

Reticulum

Reticle

Sagitta

Arrow



Sculptor

Sculptor's Tools

Scutum

Shield

Serpens

Snake

Sextans

Sextant

Telescopium

Telescope

Triangulum

Triangle

Triangulum Australe

Southern Triangle

Tucana

Toucan

Ursa Major

Great Bear

Ursa Minor

Little Bear

Vela

Sail

Volans

Flying Fish

Vulpecula

Fox

Obsolete Constellations and Sub-Constellations



Quadrans Muralis

Mural Quadrant

Serpens Caput

Snake's Head

Serpens Cauda

Snake's Tail

Notes for selected constellations:

Aquila , Cassiopeia , Delphinus , Orion , Sagitta , Triangulum , Triangulum Australe , Ursa Major , and Ursa Minor all contain very distinctive star patterns. I've taken a few liberties with their shapes, especially with Triangulum Australe, to create symbols that are simple enough to be learnable and different from other astronomical and astrological symbols. (Triangulum Australe also contains the letter A.)

, , , , , , , , and all contain very distinctive star patterns. I've taken a few liberties with their shapes, especially with Triangulum Australe, to create symbols that are simple enough to be learnable and different from other astronomical and astrological symbols. (Triangulum Australe also contains the letter A.) Carina , Puppis , and Vela are the 3 parts of the obsolete constellation Argo Navis , the ship Argo. Their symbols fit together to make a picture of the Argo.

, , and are the 3 parts of the obsolete constellation , the ship Argo. Their symbols fit together to make a picture of the Argo. Antlia , the Air Pump, was named by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille. Its symbol is based on Lacaille's original drawing of it in his Planisphere , published in 1756. Fornax , Reticulum , and Sculptor are also based on Lacaille's depictions.

, the Air Pump, was named by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille. Its symbol is based on Lacaille's original drawing of it in his , published in 1756. , , and are also based on Lacaille's depictions. Cepheus was a possibly mythical king of the Phoenician kingdom of Aethiopia. His Greek name, Kepheus, means "gardener". His symbol combines a crown, a tree or flower, and the Phoenician letter for the "k" sound.

was a possibly mythical king of the Phoenician kingdom of Aethiopia. His Greek name, Kepheus, means "gardener". His symbol combines a crown, a tree or flower, and the Phoenician letter for the "k" sound. Coma Berenices commemorates Queen Berenice of Egypt sacrificing her hair to Aphrodite. The symbol depicts a severed lock of hair.

commemorates Queen Berenice of Egypt sacrificing her hair to Aphrodite. The symbol depicts a severed lock of hair. The symbols for Corona Australis and Corona Borealis , the Northern and Southern Crowns, are simply crowns containing the letters A and B respectively.

and , the Northern and Southern Crowns, are simply crowns containing the letters A and B respectively. Crux is a cross-shaped constellation visible in the southern hemisphere. It points toward the south pole, which is why its symbol has combined a cross and an arrow.

is a cross-shaped constellation visible in the southern hemisphere. It points toward the south pole, which is why its symbol has combined a cross and an arrow. Draco has a number of interpretations, many based on a dragon or serpent guarding a tree or other object.

has a number of interpretations, many based on a dragon or serpent guarding a tree or other object. Hercules 's symbol is based on the story of the "Pillars of Hercules".

's symbol is based on the story of the "Pillars of Hercules". Horologium 's right ascension is about 3 hours, so it's appropriate for its symbol to be showing 3:00.

's right ascension is about 3 hours, so it's appropriate for its symbol to be showing 3:00. Hydra and Hydrus are female and male water-snakes in the north and south of the southern hemisphere, respectively. Their symbols have their heads facing north and south, and also slightly resemble the feminine Venus and masculine Mars symbols.

and are female and male water-snakes in the north and south of the southern hemisphere, respectively. Their symbols have their heads facing north and south, and also slightly resemble the feminine Venus and masculine Mars symbols. Indus , the "Indian", was intended to represent a native of the Americas. In illustrations it has often been depicted as a man with a handful of arrows, so I've used those arrows as its symbol.

, the "Indian", was intended to represent a native of the Americas. In illustrations it has often been depicted as a man with a handful of arrows, so I've used those arrows as its symbol. Leo Minor 's symbol is a simplification of Leo 's symbol. Likewise, the symbol for Canis Minor is a simplification of Canis Major 's symbol, with Canes Venatici being a further simplification. Vulpecula is a long-eared variant. Lupus is a larger "dog" with a tail, or maybe just a single ear.

's symbol is a simplification of 's symbol. Likewise, the symbol for is a simplification of 's symbol, with being a further simplification. is a long-eared variant. is a larger "dog" with a tail, or maybe just a single ear. Lynx is so-named because it is faint and one would need "the eyesight of a lynx" to see it. The symbol is an eye with a feline vertical pupil.

is so-named because it is faint and one would need "the eyesight of a lynx" to see it. The symbol is an eye with a feline vertical pupil. Mensa , which borders the Large Magellanic Cloud, is named for South Africa's often-cloud-covered Table Mountain.

, which borders the Large Magellanic Cloud, is named for South Africa's often-cloud-covered Table Mountain. Piscis Austrinus , the Southern Fish, also contains an A.

, the Southern Fish, also contains an A. Quadrans Muralis is an obsolete constellation which depicts the astronomical instrument called a Mural Quadrant. It's included because it gives its name to the Quadrantids meteor shower.

Sightings

"Emoji" versions

Constellations in context



Northern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

PDF: hemispheres.pdf

Full-sky map:



PDF: rect_edges.pdf