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Constellation Flashcards
Learn the night sky one card at a time: abbreviation, meaning, the best season to look and the star that gives it away. From Orion to the Southern Cross.
Keyboard: space to flip · 1 = again · 2 = got it
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About these cards
There are 88 official constellations, recognized by the International Astronomical Union. These 31 are the ones most people learn first. Seasons are for evening skies in the Northern Hemisphere; the Southern Hemisphere cards are marked.
All 31 cards
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| Orion | Ori · the Hunter · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Winter · Brightest/key star: Rigel (with red Betelgeuse at his shoulder) |
| Ursa Major | UMa · the Great Bear · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Spring (visible all year far north) · Brightest/key star: Alioth; its seven brightest stars form the Big Dipper |
| Ursa Minor | UMi · the Little Bear · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): All year (northern sky) · Brightest/key star: Polaris, the North Star |
| Cassiopeia | Cas · the Queen · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn (all year far north) · Brightest/key star: Schedar; look for a W shape |
| Taurus | Tau · the Bull · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Winter · Brightest/key star: Aldebaran; also holds the Pleiades star cluster |
| Gemini | Gem · the Twins · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Winter · Brightest/key star: Pollux, next to Castor |
| Canis Major | CMa · the Great Dog · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Winter · Brightest/key star: Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky |
| Canis Minor | CMi · the Little Dog · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Winter · Brightest/key star: Procyon |
| Auriga | Aur · the Charioteer · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Winter · Brightest/key star: Capella |
| Leo | Leo · the Lion · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Spring · Brightest/key star: Regulus; the 'Sickle' marks the lion's head |
| Virgo | Vir · the Maiden · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Spring · Brightest/key star: Spica |
| Boötes | Boo · the Herdsman · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Spring and early summer · Brightest/key star: Arcturus; follow the arc of the Big Dipper's handle |
| Corona Borealis | CrB · the Northern Crown · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Early summer · Brightest/key star: Alphecca |
| Hercules | Her · the Hero · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Summer · Brightest/key star: Kornephoros; contains the bright cluster M13 |
| Lyra | Lyr · the Lyre · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Summer · Brightest/key star: Vega, one corner of the Summer Triangle |
| Cygnus | Cyg · the Swan · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Summer · Brightest/key star: Deneb; also called the Northern Cross |
| Aquila | Aql · the Eagle · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Summer · Brightest/key star: Altair |
| Scorpius | Sco · the Scorpion · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Summer · Brightest/key star: Antares, a red supergiant |
| Sagittarius | Sgr · the Archer · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Summer · Brightest/key star: Kaus Australis; its stars form a 'Teapot' |
| Pegasus | Peg · the Winged Horse · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn · Brightest/key star: Enif; look for the Great Square |
| Andromeda | And · the Princess · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn · Brightest/key star: Alpheratz; home of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) |
| Perseus | Per · the Hero · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn and winter · Brightest/key star: Mirfak; the Perseid meteors seem to come from here in August |
| Aries | Ari · the Ram · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn and winter · Brightest/key star: Hamal |
| Pisces | Psc · the Fishes · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn · Brightest/key star: Alpherg; a faint zodiac constellation |
| Aquarius | Aqr · the Water-Bearer · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn · Brightest/key star: Sadalsuud |
| Capricornus | Cap · the Sea-Goat · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Late summer and autumn · Brightest/key star: Deneb Algedi |
| Draco | Dra · the Dragon · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): All year (northern sky) · Brightest/key star: Eltanin |
| Piscis Austrinus | PsA · the Southern Fish · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Autumn (low in the south) · Brightest/key star: Fomalhaut |
| Crux | Cru · the Southern Cross · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Southern Hemisphere (best in autumn there, our spring) · Brightest/key star: Acrux; the smallest of the 88 constellations |
| Centaurus | Cen · the Centaur · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Southern Hemisphere · Brightest/key star: Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Sun |
| Carina | Car · the Keel · Best evening season (Northern Hemisphere): Southern Hemisphere · Brightest/key star: Canopus, the second-brightest star in the night sky |
How to import into Anki or Quizlet
Anki: download the .txt file, then in Anki choose File › Import. It is tab-separated; the first field becomes the front and the second the back.
Quizlet: create a set, choose Import, and paste the contents of the .txt file. Set “Between term and definition” to Tab and “Between rows” to New line.
Questions
How many constellations are there?
88, as defined by the International Astronomical Union in 1922.
What is the easiest constellation to find?
Orion in winter (look for three stars in a row, his belt) and the Big Dipper, part of Ursa Major.
What is the brightest star in the night sky?
Sirius, in Canis Major.