Fornax

    The name Fornax means "The Laboratory Furnace" in Latin. The one, and only named star in this constellation is the star Fornacis, which has no meaning. The star was named by Abbe Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, who named the star after Antoine Lavoisier who was guillotined in the French Revolution in 1794. He created the constellation out of stars in the constellation Eridanus.

Eridanus

    The name Eridanus in Latin means "The River." The named stars in this constellation are Achernar "end of the river," Cursa "chair or footstool of Orion," Zaurak "boat," Rana "frog," Zibal, Azha "hatching place," Acamar "end of the river," Beid "eggs (of an ostrich)," Keid "broken eggshell," Angetenar "curve of the river," Theemim, and Sceptrum. You may have noticed that I had two stars that had the same meaning. The star named Acamar was actually named before the star Achernar.  

Equuleus

    The name "Equuleus" in Latin is translated to "The Foal." The one and only named star in this constellation is Kitalpha or "part of the horse."

Draco

   The constellation Draco is translated into "The Dragon." Did you know as the year goes by, the constellation Draco appears to turn upside down? During winter evenings, it has appeared to be flipped upside down. This is because of our viewpoint here on Earth. Draco from our point of view rotates around the North Star. The named stars in this constellation are Thuban "snake," Rastaban "head of the snake," Etamin "sea monster," Nodus Secundus "second knot" or "he goat," Tyl, Aldhibah, Ed Asich "hyena," Gianfar "dragon," Arrakis "dancer," Kuma "at last," Grumium "jaw," Alsafi "cooking tripods," and Dsiban "the two jackals." 

    Interesting fact, the star Thuban in this constellation about 4,000 years ago was the North Star. Since then, the earth's precession of its axis has caused the star Polaris to be the North Star. In about 10,000 years or so, the North Star will be the star Vega. 

Dorado

   The name Dorado is tricky to translate, some translations lead to the name "goldfish" as in the Hawaiian fish mahi-mahi, rather than a pet goldfish. Some other old star atlases call it the swordfish. The constellation Dorado was named by Johann Bayer, a German lawyer and a celestial cartographer who lived from 1572-1592. The constellations he named are Apus, Chamaeleon, Dorado, Grus, Hydrus, Indus, Musca (or as Bayer called it, "Apis") Pavo, Phoenix Triangulum Austsrale, Tucana, and Volans. 

Above is the Hawaiian mahi-mahi fish I talked of in my post.

Delphinus

    The name Delphinus in Latin means "The Dolphin." The named stars in this constellation include Sualocin "Nicolaus" backwards, Rotanev "Venator" backwards, and Deneb Dulfim " tail of the dolphin."

Cygnus

    The name Cygnus in Latin means "The Swan," or "Northern Cross." *INTERESTING FACT ALERT* This constellation contains a black hole candidate (Cygnus X-1). The named stars in this constellation are Deneb "tail of the hen," Albireo "beak of the hen," Sadr "breast," Gienah Cygni "wing," Azelfafage, and Ruchba. The more messier sky objects included in this are M29, and M39. 

Crux

    The name Crux is Latin for "The Southern Cross." Interesting fact, this constellation is only visible from farther that 27 degrees north latitude. Though, at the time of Christ, it was visible from the latitude of Jerusalem (approximately 32 degrees North). The named stars in this constellation are Acrux "alpha of Crux," Becrux "(possibly mime, or mimosas the type of plant.)," and Gacrux "gamma of Crux."

Crater

    The name Crater is translated in Latin to "The Cup." The only named star in this constellation (interestingly enough) is Alkes which means (get ready!) cup.

In the picture above (squint your eyes) you can see the constellation Crater in the left-hand side.

Corvus

Corvus in Latin means "the crow." The named stars in this constellation are Alchiba "tent," Kraz, Gienah Ghurab "wing," Algorab "raven," and Minkar "nostril." This constellation is depicted as a crow, as shown in the picture below.

Corona Borealis

    Corona Borealis is the neighbor, or "twin" of the constellation Corona Austrina. This constellation's name in Latin means "The Northern Crown." The named stars in this constellation are Alphekka (which means "gem" or "the broken."), and Nusakan (which means Nusakan or "the two series").

In the above picture, near the middle is the constellation Corona Borealis, though hard to see.

Corona Austrina

    The name Corona Austrina in Latin means "The Southern Crown." This constellation (interestingly) has no major legends or myths, but it has a long history in the Ptolemaic constellation in the beginning of AD. This constellation, with its absence in any major myth or legend, has only one star which is Alfecca Meridiana.

Coma Berenices

    The name "Coma Berenices" is named in Latin as Berenice's hair. The named stars in this constellation are Diadem. This constellation doesn't have many stars, but a lot of messier sky objects. The objects are M53, M64, M85, M88, M91, M98, M99, and M100. 

Columba

    The name Columba is the Latin meaning for "The Dove." The named stars in this constellation are "Phaet" (dove), and "Wezn" (weight).

Circinus

    Circinus translated in latin is called "The Compasses." The constellation Circinus was named by Abbe Nicolas Louis de Lacaille. Who was an astronomer who named 15 of the known 88 constellations. He named the constellations Antlia, Caelum, Circinus, Fornax, Horologium, Mensa, Microscopium, Norma, Octans, Pictor, Pyxis, Reticulum, Sculptor, and Telescopium. 

Chamaeleon

    The word chamaeleon (shockingly) means "The Chamaeleon" in Latin. The constellation Chamaeleon was named by Johann Bayer. The constellations that neighbor this one are Dorado, Octans, Carina, and Musca. 

Cetus

     Cetus is translated in latin to "The Sea Monster." Cetus is related to the story in Greek mythology where perseus slew Medusa and saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus. The named stars in this constellation are Menkar "nostril," Diphda "tail of Cetus," Kaffaljidhma "cut-short hand," Baten Kaitos "belly of Cetus," Dheneb, Deneb Kaitos Shemali, Menkar, and Mira "wonderful."

Cepheus

     Cepheus is translated in Latin to "King Ethiopia (or Andromeda's Father)." Cepheus is related to the story of Perseus rescuing Andromeda from Cetus the sea monster, and the story of Perseus slaying Medusa the mother of Pegasus. The included stars in this constellation are ALDERAMIN "right forearm," Alfirk "flock," Alrai "shepherd," Herschel's Garnet Star, Alkurhah, and Al Kalb al Rai. 

Centaurus

     Centaurus is translated as "The Centaur" in latin. The named stars in this constellation are Rigel Kentaurus or "foot of the centaur," AGENA "The settled land (Hadar)," and Menkent "shoulder of the centaur." This constellation symbolizes the half-horse half-man centaur. Chiron was said to be wise, and he was also said to have tutored Hercules, and Jason.

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is translated into latin to "Andromeda's mother." The named constellations include Shedir ("breast"), Caph ("palm"), Ruchbah ("knee"), Segin, Achird, Marfak, and Marfak. In Rome, they described her chained to her throne as a punishment for being too boastful. As the sky rotates, she looks as if she is suffering hanging upside down. 

(In the above picture, cassiopeia is depicted as chained to her throne.)

Carina

Carina in latin has the meaning "The keel" referring to the keel of a boat or ship.

(the bottom of the boat above is labelled keel.)

The named stars in this constellation are Canopus (Menelaus's helmsman), Miaplacidus ("placid waters"), Avior, and Turais ("little shield"). Carina was once part of the constellation Argo Navis, but the International Astronomical Union defined the constellation as four separate constellations.

 

(The above constellation is Carina.)

Capricornus

Capricornus was created in the 2nd century by the astronomer Ptolemy. Capricornus is Latin for  "The Sea Goat." The named stars in this constellation are Prima Giedi ("goat"), Secunda Giedi ("goat"), Dabih ("slaughterer"), Nashira ("field"), Deneb Algedi ("tail of the goat"), and Alshat. Capricornus is usually shown in mythology as a goat with a fish tail.

 

(In Greek mythology, the goat is depicted as the god Pan, fleeing a monster, it jumped into the Nile, and as the lower half of it touched the water, it turned into a fish tail.) 

Canis Minor

Canis Minor was created in the 2nd century by an astronomer named Ptolemy. Its name is Latin for "The Lesser Dog". The included stars in this constellation are Procyon ("before the dog"), and Gomeisa ("the bleary eyed"). The hunting dogs of the Greek god Orion (Canis Major, and Canis Minor) have no relation to the constellation Bootes' dogs Canes Venatici. 

(In the picture above, I don't really see how these two dots in the sky can look like a "dog". Also in astronomy, notice there is no constellation depicting a domesticated cat.)

Canis Major

Canis Major was discovered in the 2nd century by the astronomer named Ptolemy. In Latin, its name is "The Greater Dog." Its named stars include Sirius ("scorching"), Murzim ("the roarer"), Muliphen ("star to swear by"), Wezen ("weight"), Adara ("maidens"), Furud ("apes"), and Aludra ("Maidenhead"). 

Canes Venatici

Canes Venatici was created by Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century. Its name is Latin for "The Hunting Dogs," and it is also known as the hunting dogs of the neighboring constellation Bootes. Its named stars include Cor Caroli ("heart of Charles"), and Chara or "dear."

 

(In the picture above, you can see the two "dogs" on the leash  near the constellation Bootes left of the constellation.)

Cancer

    Cancer is one of the zodiac constellations. The name cancer is translated into "the crab." The named stars in this constellation are Acubens "claw," Altarf "tip," Asellus Borealis "northern donkey," Asellus Australis "southern donkey," and Tegmen "cover." Cancer is known as "the Northern Gate of the Sun

Camelopardalis

    This constellation was created by Peterus Plancius around 1612-1613. The word Camelopoardalis came from the languages of Greek which translates into "giraffe," "camel," and "leopard" due to its long neck like a camel, and a giraffe, and spots like a leopard. The named stars in this constellation include Beta Camelopardalis, CS Camelopardalis, OE 67 Camelopardalis, 19 Camelopardalis, E 64 Camelopardalis, U Camelopardalis, VZ Camelopardalis, T Camelopardalis, X Camelopardalis, and R Camelopardalis. Camelopardalis was such a faint constellation in the time of the ancient Greeks, that they believed that this area of the sky was empty. Since Camelopardalis wasn't discovered until the 1600's, so there is no relation with mythology.

Caelum

     Caelum is translated into "the sculptor's chisel". Caelum was first discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille.

Boötes

    Bootes' history is uncertain, by even the ancient Greeks. The name Bootes is translated into "The Bear Driver" indeed it is, as the constellation chases the other constellations Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor. Bootes is also called "the Hunter", as he with his hounds hunts the bears. Another name for him is the herdsman, he is called that because of his journey around the pole as his task of keeping the celestial beasts together. The named stars in this constellation are Alpha Bootes ("bear-guard"), Beta Bootes ("cattleman"), Gamma Bootes, Epsilon Bootes ("lions"), Eta Bootes ("the solitary"), Theta Bootes, Iota Bootes, Kappa 2 Bootes, Mu 1 Bootes ("shepherds crook"), and 38 Bootes. 

Auriga

Auriga is translated into "The Charioteer". The named stars in the constellation are Alpha Auriga, Beta Auriga, Epsilon Auriga, Zeta Auriga, and Iota Auriga.