Quiet Corners of the Sky: Sixteen Lesser Constellations

Camelopardalis, the Giraffe, covers about 757 square degrees and ranks 18th in size among the 88, yet its brightest star, Beta Camelopardalis, shines at only magnitude 4.03. It is a good first lesson that a large constellation can be a faint one, and it borders Lynx, Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia among others.

Lynx covers about 545 square degrees and ranks 28th, with its brightest star Alpha Lyncis at magnitude 3.14. It sits directly beside Camelopardalis and Leo Minor, so it carries you from the first stop to the next across the northern sky.

Leo Minor, the lesser Lion, was not regarded as a separate constellation by classical astronomers; Johannes Hevelius designated it in 1687. It covers only about 232 square degrees, ranks 64th, and its brightest star, Praecipua, is magnitude 3.83.

Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs, is a small northern constellation created by Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century. Its brightest star, Cor Caroli, reaches magnitude 2.90, and the constellation covers about 465 square degrees and ranks 38th.

Coma Berenices, Berenice's hair, is an ancient asterism that was later defined as one of the 88 modern constellations. It covers about 386 square degrees, ranks 42nd, and borders Canes Venatici, the previous stop, along with Ursa Major, Leo and Virgo.

Sextans, the Sextant, is a faint constellation on the celestial equator that Johannes Hevelius introduced in 1687. It covers about 314 square degrees, ranks 47th, and its brightest star, Alpha Sextantis, is only magnitude 4.49. It borders Leo, Hydra and Crater.

Monoceros, the Unicorn, belongs to the Orion family of constellations and covers about 482 square degrees, ranking 35th. Its brightest star, Beta Monocerotis, is magnitude 3.76, and it borders Canis Minor, Lepus and Puppis, which leads the path toward the southern ship figures.

Puppis, the Poop Deck, covers about 673 square degrees and ranks 20th, which the atlas source describes as the largest of the three ship constellations in square degrees. Its brightest star, Naos, reaches magnitude 2.25. It belongs to the Heavenly Waters family and borders Monoceros, Pyxis, Vela and Carina.

Pyxis, the compass box, is a small and faint southern constellation of about 221 square degrees, ranking 65th. Its brightest star, Alpha Pyxidis, is magnitude 3.68, and it sits among Puppis, Vela and Antlia.

Vela, the Sails, covers about 500 square degrees and ranks 32nd. Its brightest star, Gamma Velorum, shines at magnitude 1.75, and the constellation contains the Vela Supercluster. It borders Pyxis, Puppis, Carina and Centaurus.

Carina, the keel, covers about 494 square degrees and ranks 34th. It holds Canopus, which at magnitude -0.72 is the brightest star on this whole path. It borders Vela, Puppis and Centaurus, completing the ship set.

Columba, the dove, was designated in the late sixteenth century and remains in official use, with its rigid limits set in the 20th century. It covers about 270 square degrees, ranks 54th, and its brightest star, Phact, is magnitude 2.65. It borders Puppis, the earlier ship stop.

Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, covers about 245 square degrees and ranks 60th. Its brightest star, Fomalhaut, is magnitude 1.16, the second brightest on this path after Canopus. It borders Capricornus and Aquarius, and belongs to the Heavenly Waters family.

Scutum is a small constellation of about 109 square degrees, ranking 84th among the 88, and is traditionally shown as the Shield of John III Sobieski. Its brightest star, Tianbian, is magnitude 3.85, and it borders Aquila, Sagittarius and Serpens Cauda.

Vulpecula, the Fox, covers about 268 square degrees and ranks 55th. Its brightest star, Anser, is a faint magnitude 4.44. It borders Cygnus, Lyra, Hercules, Sagitta, Delphinus and Pegasus, so it fills a gap in a crowded summer sky.

Lacerta, the Lizard, was defined in 1687 by Johannes Hevelius. It is a small, faint constellation of about 201 square degrees, ranking 68th, with its brightest star, Stellio, at magnitude 3.76. By area it is the second smallest stop on this path, after Scutum.