Constellation names (used for Bayer and Flamsteed designations of bright stars: alf Lyr, for variable stars: RS CVn, for novae: Nova Her 1991, etc.) must be written using the following abbreviations:
And | Ant | Aps | Aqr | Aql | Ara | Ari | Aur | Boo | Cae | Cam | Cnc |
| CVn | CMa | CMi | Cap | Car | Cas | Cen | Cep | Cet | Cha | Cir | Col |
| Com | CrA | CrB | Crv | Crt | Cru | Cyg | Del | Dor | Dra | Equ | Eri |
| For | Gem | Gru | Her | Hor | Hya | Hyi | Ind | Lac | Leo | LMi | Lep |
| Lib | Lup | Lyn | Lyr | Men | Mic | Mon | Mus | Nor | Oct | Oph | Ori |
| Pav | Peg | Per | Phe | Pic | Psc | PsA | Pup | Pyx | Ret | Sge | Sgr |
| Sco | Scl | Sct | Ser | Sex | Tau | Tel | Tri | TrA | Tuc | UMa | UMi |
| Vel | Vir | Vol | Vul | LMC | SMC | ||||||
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Constellation limits are given by the catalogue VI/42. This query page gives also access to a function allowing to derive the name of a constellation from a position on the sky.