View source for IAU designated constellations by solid angle

{{short description|List of constellations by area}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{ILC|date=August 2018}}
[[File:Hydra constellation map.svg|thumb|250px|[[Hydra (constellation)|Hydra]] is the largest constellation, covering more than {{frac|32}} of the night sky and 19 times the area of [[Crux (constellation)|Crux]], the smallest constellation.]]

The [[International Astronomical Union]] (IAU) designates [[IAU designated constellations|88 constellations]] of stars. In the table below, they are ranked by the [[solid angle]] that they subtend in the sky, measured in [[square degree]]s and [[Steradian#SI multiples|millisteradians]].

These solid angles depend on arbitrary boundaries between the [[constellation]]s: the list below is based on constellation boundaries drawn up by [[Eugène Delporte]] in 1930 on behalf of the IAU and published in ''Délimitation scientifique des constellations'' (Cambridge University Press). Before Delporte's work, there was no standard list of the boundaries of each constellation.

Delporte drew the boundaries along vertical and horizontal lines of [[right ascension]] and [[declination]]; however, he did so for the [[epoch (astronomy)|epoch]] [[B1875.0]], which means that due to [[Precession (astronomy)|precession]] of the equinoxes, the borders on a modern star map (e.g., for epoch [[J2000]]) are already somewhat skewed and no longer perfectly vertical or horizontal.  This skew will increase over the centuries to come.  However, this does not change the solid angle of any constellation.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Rank
!Abbrev.
![[IAU designated constellations|Constellation]]
!Solid angle<br>("Area")<br>(sq. deg.) <ref>The total solid angle of all constellations is the total solid angle of the sky, which is exactly 4π [[steradian]]s, or 4π × (180/π)<sup>2</sup> = 129,600/π square degrees, or approximately 41,252.961 square degrees. The figures in the table do not sum precisely to this number due to rounding errors, which vanish when the areas are rounded instead to ''one'' decimal place.</ref>
!Solid angle<br>(millisteradians)
!Per&shy;cent&shy;age
![[Right ascension]]<br>(hours & mins) <ref>Average of the most eastward and most westward RA.</ref>
![[Declination|Decli&shy;nation]]<br>(degs & mins) <ref>Average of the most northern and most southern declination.</ref>
!Quad <ref>"Quad" designates the quadrant of the sky as N for North or S for South, Quadrants 1 ({{RA|0}}–{{RA|6}}), 2 ({{RA|6}}–{{RA|12}}), 3 ({{RA|12}}–{{RA|18}}), or 4 ({{RA|18}}–{{RA|0}}).</ref>
|-
|01||Hya||[[Hydra (constellation)|Hydra]]            ||1302.844||396.869||3.16%||+11 36.73||−14 31.91||SQ2
|-
|02||Vir||[[Virgo (constellation)|Virgo]]            ||1294.428||394.305||3.14%||+13 24.39||−04 09.51||SQ3
|-
|03||UMa||[[Ursa Major]]                             ||1279.660||389.807||3.10%||+11 18.76||+50 43.27||NQ2
|-
|04||Cet||[[Cetus (constellation)|Cetus]]                                  ||1231.411||375.109||2.99%||+01 40.10||−07 10.76||SQ1
|-
|05||Her||[[Hercules (constellation)|Hercules]]      ||1225.148||373.201||2.97%||+17 23.16||+27 29.93||NQ3
|-
|06||Eri||[[Eridanus (constellation)|Eridanus]]      ||1137.919||346.630||2.76%||+03 18.02||−28 45.37||SQ1
|-
|07||Peg||[[Pegasus (constellation)|Pegasus]]        ||1120.794||341.413||2.72%||+22 41.84||+19 27.98||NQ4
|-
|08||Dra||[[Draco (constellation)|Draco]]            ||1082.952||329.886||2.63%||+15 08.64||+67 00.40||NQ3
|-
|09||Cen||[[Centaurus]]                              ||1060.422||323.023||2.57%||+13 04.27||−47 20.72||SQ3
|-
|10||Aqr||[[Aquarius (constellation)|Aquarius]]      || 979.854||298.481||2.38%||+22 17.38||−10 47.35||SQ4
|-
|11||Oph||[[Ophiuchus]]                              || 948.340||288.881||2.30%||+17 23.69||−07 54.74||SQ3
|-
|12||Leo||[[Leo (constellation)|Leo]]                || 946.964||288.462||2.30%||+10 40.03||+13 08.32||NQ2
|-
|13||Boo||[[Boötes]]                                 || 906.831||276.237||2.20%||+14 42.64||+31 12.16||NQ3
|-
|14||Psc||[[Pisces (constellation)|Pisces]]          || 889.417||270.932||2.16%||+00 28.97||+13 41.23||NQ1
|-
|15||Sgr||[[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]]|| 867.432||264.235||2.10%||+19 05.94||−28 28.61||SQ4
|-
|16||Cyg||[[Cygnus (constellation)|Cygnus]]          || 803.983||244.907||1.95%||+20 35.28||+44 32.70||NQ4
|-
|17||Tau||[[Taurus (constellation)|Taurus]]          || 797.249||242.856||1.93%||+04 42.13||+14 52.63||NQ1
|-
|18||Cam||[[Camelopardalis]]                         || 756.828||230.543||1.83%||+08 51.37||+69 22.89||NQ2
|-
|19||And||[[Andromeda (constellation)|Andromeda]]    || 722.278||220.018||1.75%||+00 48.46||+37 25.91||NQ1
|-
|20||Pup||[[Puppis]]                                 || 673.434||205.140||1.63%||+07 15.48||−31 10.64||SQ2
|-
|21||Aur||[[Auriga (constellation)|Auriga]]          || 657.438||200.267||1.59%||+06 04.42||+42 01.68||NQ2
|-
|22||Aql||[[Aquila (constellation)|Aquila]]          || 652.473||198.755||1.58%||+19 40.02||+03 24.65||NQ4
|-
|23||Ser||[[Serpens]]<ref>Serpens is divided into two parts: <br /> Serpens Caput ("Serpent's Head"; 428.484 sq. deg.; midpoint: RA: 15 46.49, Dec: +10 58.20), and <br /> Serpens Cauda ("Serpent's Tail"; 208.444 sq. deg.; midpoint: RA: 18 07.60, Dec: -04 51.73)</ref>
|                                                            636.928||194.019||1.54%||+16 57.04||+06 07.32||NQ3
|-
|24||Per||[[Perseus (constellation)|Perseus]]        || 614.997||187.339||1.49%||+03 10.50||+45 00.79||NQ1
|-
|25||Cas||[[Cassiopeia (constellation)|Cassiopeia]]  || 598.407||182.285||1.45%||+01 19.16||+62 11.04||NQ1
|-
|26||Ori||[[Orion (constellation)|Orion]]            || 594.120||180.979||1.44%||+05 34.59||+05 56.94||NQ1
|-
|27||Cep||[[Cepheus (constellation)|Cepheus]]        || 587.787||179.050||1.42%||+02 32.64||+71 00.51||NQ4
|-
|28||Lyn||[[Lynx (constellation)|Lynx]]              || 545.386||166.134||1.32%||+07 59.53||+47 28.00||NQ2
|-
|29||Lib||[[Libra (constellation)|Libra]]            || 538.052||163.900||1.30%||+15 11.96||−15 14.08||SQ3
|-
|30||Gem||[[Gemini (constellation)|Gemini]]          || 513.761||156.501||1.25%||+07 04.24||+22 36.01||NQ2
|-
|31||Cnc||[[Cancer (constellation)|Cancer]]          || 505.872||154.097||1.23%||+08 38.96||+19 48.35||NQ2
|-
|32||Vel||[[Vela (constellation)|Vela]]              || 499.649||152.202||1.21%||+09 34.64||−47 10.03||SQ2
|-
|33||Sco||[[Scorpius]]                               || 496.783||151.329||1.20%||+16 53.24||−27 01.89||SQ3
|-
|34||Car||[[Carina (constellation)|Carina]]          || 494.184||150.537||1.20%||+08 41.70||−63 13.16||SQ2
|-
|35||Mon||[[Monoceros (constellation)|Monoceros]]                              || 481.569||146.694||1.17%||+07 03.63||+00 16.93||NQ2
|-
|36||Scl||[[Sculptor (constellation)|Sculptor]]      || 474.764||144.621||1.15%||+00 26.28||−32 05.30||SQ1
|-
|37||Phe||[[Phoenix (constellation)|Phoenix]]        || 469.319||142.963||1.14%||+00 55.91||−48 34.84||SQ1
|-
|38||CVn||[[Canes Venatici]]                         || 465.194||141.706||1.13%||+13 06.96||+40 06.11||NQ3
|-
|39||Ari||[[Aries (constellation)|Aries]]            || 441.395||134.457||1.07%||+02 38.16||+20 47.54||NQ1
|-
|40||Cap||[[Capricornus]]                            || 413.947||126.095||1.00%||+21 02.93||−18 01.39||SQ4
|-
|41||For||[[Fornax]]                                 || 397.502||121.086||0.96%||+02 47.88||−31 38.07||SQ1
|-
|42||Com||[[Coma Berenices]]                         || 386.475||117.727||0.94%||+12 47.27||+23 18.34||NQ3
|-
|43||CMa||[[Canis Major]]                            || 380.118||115.791||0.92%||+06 49.74||−22 08.42||SQ2
|-
|44||Pav||[[Pavo (constellation)|Pavo]]              || 377.666||115.044||0.92%||+19 36.71||−65 46.89||SQ4
|-
|45||Gru||[[Grus (constellation)|Grus]]              || 365.513||111.342||0.89%||+22 27.39||−46 21.11||SQ4
|-
|46||Lup||[[Lupus (constellation)|Lupus]]            || 333.683||101.646||0.81%||+15 13.21||−42 42.53||SQ3
|-
|47||Sex||[[Sextans]]                                || 313.515|| 95.502||0.76%||+10 16.29||−02 36.88||SQ2
|-
|48||Tuc||[[Tucana]]                                 || 294.557|| 89.727||0.71%||+23 46.64||−65 49.80||SQ4
|-
|49||Ind||[[Indus (constellation)|Indus]]            || 294.006|| 89.559||0.71%||+21 58.33||−59 42.40||SQ4
|-
|50||Oct||[[Octans]]                                 || 291.045|| 88.657||0.71%||+23 00.00||−82 09.12||SQ4
|-
|51||Lep||[[Lepus (constellation)|Lepus]]            || 290.291|| 88.428||0.70%||+05 33.95||−19 02.78||SQ1
|-
|52||Lyr||[[Lyra]]                                   || 286.476|| 87.266||0.69%||+18 51.17||+36 41.36||NQ4
|-
|53||Crt||[[Crater (constellation)|Crater]]          || 282.398|| 86.023||0.68%||+11 23.75||−15 55.74||SQ2
|-
|54||Col||[[Columba (constellation)|Columba]]        || 270.184|| 82.303||0.65%||+05 51.76||−35 05.67||SQ1
|-
|55||Vul||[[Vulpecula]]                              || 268.165|| 81.688||0.65%||+20 13.88||+24 26.56||NQ4
|-
|56||UMi||[[Ursa Minor]]                             || 255.864|| 77.941||0.62%||+15 00.00||+77 41.99||NQ3
|-
|57||Tel||[[Telescopium]]                            || 251.512|| 76.615||0.61%||+19 19.54||−51 02.21||SQ4
|-
|58||Hor||[[Horologium (constellation)|Horologium]]                             || 248.885|| 75.815||0.60%||+03 16.56||−53 20.18||SQ1
|-
|59||Pic||[[Pictor]]                                 || 246.739|| 75.161||0.60%||+05 42.46||−53 28.45||SQ1
|-
|60||PsA||[[Piscis Austrinus]]                       || 245.375|| 74.745||0.59%||+22 17.07||−30 38.53||SQ4
|-
|61||Hyi||[[Hydrus]]                                 || 243.035|| 74.033||0.59%||+02 20.65||−69 57.39||SQ1
|-
|62||Ant||[[Antlia]]                                 || 238.901|| 72.773||0.58%||+10 16.43||−32 29.01||SQ2
|-
|63||Ara||[[Ara (constellation)|Ara]]                || 237.057|| 72.212||0.57%||+17 22.49||−56 35.30||SQ3
|-
|64||LMi||[[Leo Minor]]                              || 231.956|| 70.658||0.56%||+10 14.72||+32 08.08||NQ2
|-
|65||Pyx||[[Pyxis]]                                  || 220.833|| 67.270||0.54%||+08 57.16||−27 21.10||SQ2
|-
|66||Mic||[[Microscopium]]                           || 209.513|| 63.821||0.51%||+20 57.88||−36 16.49||SQ4
|-
|67||Aps||[[Apus]]                                   || 206.327|| 62.851||0.50%||+16 08.65||−75 18.00||SQ3
|-
|68||Lac||[[Lacerta]]                                || 200.688|| 61.133||0.49%||+22 27.68||+46 02.51||NQ4
|-
|69||Del||[[Delphinus]]                              || 188.549|| 57.435||0.46%||+20 41.61||+11 40.26||NQ4
|-
|70||Crv||[[Corvus (constellation)|Corvus]]          || 183.801|| 55.989||0.45%||+12 26.52||−18 26.20||SQ3
|-
|71||CMi||[[Canis Minor]]                            || 183.367|| 55.857||0.44%||+07 39.17||+06 25.63||NQ2
|-
|72||Dor||[[Dorado]]                                 || 179.173|| 54.579||0.43%||+05 14.51||−59 23.22||SQ1
|-
|73||CrB||[[Corona Borealis]]                        || 178.710|| 54.438||0.43%||+15 50.59||+32 37.49||NQ3
|-
|74||Nor||[[Norma (constellation)|Norma]]            || 165.290|| 50.350||0.40%||+15 54.18||−51 21.09||SQ3
|-
|75||Men||[[Mensa (constellation)|Mensa]]            || 153.484|| 46.754||0.37%||+05 24.90||−77 30.24||SQ1
|-
|76||Vol||[[Volans]]                                 || 141.354|| 43.059||0.34%||+07 47.73||−69 48.07||SQ2
|-
|77||Mus||[[Musca]]                                  || 138.355|| 42.145||0.34%||+12 35.28||−70 09.66||SQ3
|-
|78||Tri||[[Triangulum]]                             || 131.847|| 40.163||0.32%||+02 11.07||+31 28.56||NQ1
|-
|79||Cha||[[Chamaeleon]]                             || 131.592|| 40.085||0.32%||+10 41.53||−79 12.30||SQ2
|-
|80||CrA||[[Corona Australis]]                       || 127.696|| 38.898||0.31%||+18 38.79||−41 08.85||SQ4
|-
|81||Cae||[[Caelum]]                                 || 124.865|| 38.036||0.30%||+04 42.27||−37 52.90||SQ1
|-
|82||Ret||[[Reticulum]]                              || 113.936|| 34.707||0.28%||+03 55.27||−59 59.85||SQ1
|-
|83||TrA||[[Triangulum Australe]]                    || 109.978|| 33.501||0.27%||+16 04.95||−65 23.28||SQ3
|-
|84||Sct||[[Scutum (constellation)|Scutum]]                                 || 109.114|| 33.238||0.26%||+18 40.39||−09 53.32||SQ4
|-
|85||Cir||[[Circinus (constellation)|Circinus]]      ||  93.353|| 28.437||0.23%||+14 34.54||−63 01.82||SQ3
|-
|86||Sge||[[Sagitta]]                                ||  79.932|| 24.349||0.19%||+19 39.05||+18 51.68||NQ4
|-
|87||Equ||[[Equuleus]]                               ||  71.641|| 21.823||0.17%||+21 11.26||+07 45.49||NQ4
|-
|88||Cru||[[Crux]]                                   ||  68.447|| 20.850||0.17%||+12 26.99||−60 11.19||SQ3
|}

;Notes:

{{Reflist}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Star}}
* [[IAU designated constellations by geographical visibility]]
* [[Lists of astronomical objects]]
* [[Lists of stars by constellation]]

==Sources==
*[http://www.ianridpath.com/constellations1.html Constellations – Ian Ridpath]
*[https://calgary.rasc.ca/constellation.htm#list Constellations – RASC Calgary Centre]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Constellations By Area}}
[[Category:Lists of constellations|Area]]
[[Category:Constellations|*]]
[[Category:IAU constellations]]