Top 10 largest constellations in the sky

Even professional astronomers sometimes admit that it is difficult for them to recognize all 88 modern constellations, since most of the constellations are marked by some stars that are not very visible to the naked eye.

Regardless of the difficulty, recognizing the shining constellations can fill you with both satisfaction and humility, and so to help you along your path, here is a list of the ten biggest constellations in the night sky.

10 Aquarius, 979, 854 sq. degrees

In Greek mythology Aquarius represented Ganymede, a very handsome young man. Zeus recognized the guy’s appearance and invited Ganymede to Mount Olympus, which was the haven of the gods. For his service, Ganymede received eternal youth, as well as a place in the night sky.

Despite its prominence and large size, you can see that Aquarius doesn’t really have defining features and doesn’t contain bright stars.

9. Centaurus, 1060,422 sq. degrees

The constellation represents the centaur, half man, half horse, in Greek mythology. Sources tend to differ on which centaur the constellation represents, but he is usually mistaken for Chiron, who taught the Greek heroes Hercules, Peleus, Achilles, Theseus, and Perseus.

Centaurus contains two of the ten brightest stars in the sky: Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri. It is also home to Centaurus A, one of the brightest galaxies in the night sky, and the globular cluster Omega Centauri. The famous Blue Planetary Nebula, also known as the Southerner, and the Boomerang Nebula are also found in Centaurus.

8. Dragon, 1082,952 sq. degrees

The Dragon is one of the Greek constellations. It was first cataloged by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. This is a circumpolar constellation; it never sets below the horizon for many northern hemisphere observers.

The constellation Draco is associated with several myths, most commonly the myth of the 12 Labors of Hercules, represented by the neighboring constellation Hercules. In myth, the constellation represents Ladon, the dragon who guarded the golden apples in the gardens of the Hesperides.

7. Pegasus, 1120,794 sq. degrees

Pegasus is one of the 48 constellations listed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. It represents the famous winged horse in Greek mythology.

Curiously, the constellation Pegasus represents only the upper half of the horse. In some images, the horse is depicted rising from the water. Pegasus was a white winged horse born from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa after she was beheaded by Perseus. He served the god Zeus as the bearer of his lightning.

Pegasus contains one Messier object. M15, also known as Pegasus Major, is a globular star cluster that contains over 100 stars. It is one of the oldest known globular clusters.

6. Eridanus, 1137,919 sq. degrees

In ancient Greek mythology From Eri represents the Po River in modern Italy, and its winding path is prominently linked to two Greek myths.

Eridanus was once thought to be the water that flowed from Aquarius, the bearer of water. In other stories, Eridanus is associated with the unfortunate Phaethon, who smashed Apollo’s celestial chariot and died.

While there is no consensus on the origin of this constellation, one theory is that it takes its name from the Star of Eridu, which is named after an ancient Babylonian city in southern modern-day Iraq.

Located in the wetlands near the Euphrates River, this star was sacred to the god Enki-Ea, who presided over a mythical reservoir of fresh water that flowed under the earth’s surface.

5. Hercules, 1225,148 sq. degrees

Hercules contains about 245 stars, none of which are particularly luminous, including its brightest star, Kornephoros (Beta Herculis), a yellow star found 139 light-years away.

In mythology, the constellation Hercules is most often associated with the Twelve Labors of Hercules, the penultimate of which was the theft of the golden apples of Hera, which were guarded by the dragon Ladon in the Garden of the Hesperides.

Hercules is home to the brightest globular cluster in the northern hemisphere, the Great Globular Cluster (M13), which is 25 light-years away and contains over 200 stars.

4. Kit, 1231,411 sq. degrees

Whale visible from +70 to -90 latitudes and best seen in November. It is located in the celestial region known as “Water”, along with other constellations whose names also evoke watery imagery, such as Aquarius (the bearer of water), Pisces (a fish), and Eridanus (a river).

In mythology, Kit is associated with Princess Andromeda, who was to be sacrificed to a sea monster in retaliation for her mother, Queen Cassiopeia, who offended the god of the sea, Poseidon, with her boastful claims. Fortunately, she was saved by Perseus, who attacked the winged horse Pegasus just in time.

Cetus was also one of the constellations first cataloged by Ptolemy in the early 2nd century.

3. Ursa Major, 1279,660 sq. degrees

Big Dipper occupies 3,102% (nearly 1280 square degrees) of the northern firmament, and can be seen between latitudes from +90 to -30.

One of the most recognizable constellations in the sky, its seven brightest stars form an asterism known as Ursa Major, although the constellation itself actually contains about 209 stars, the brightest of which is Alioth, located 81 light-years from Earth.

Along with one of the most recognizable stars, Orion and the Southern Cross, Ursa Major is also one of the oldest constellations known to the ancients and figures prominently in all major cultures and mythologies.

2. Virgo, 1294,428 sq. degrees

Virgo – one of the largest zodiac constellations, occupying 3,138% (1294 square degrees) of the southern sky. It can be observed at latitudes from + 80 to – 80, although it can be best seen in May.

Virgo also currently contains the autumnal equinox where the Sun’s ecliptic crosses the celestial equator on September 23, marking the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

The constellation contains about 169 stars, of which only the blue-white giant Spica is of the first magnitude. In mythology, the constellation Virgo represents Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest and fertility.

1. Hydra, 1302,844 sq. degrees

Hydra (“Water snake”) occupies 3,158% (1302 square degrees) of the night sky, making it the largest star constellation in the night sky.

This southern hemisphere constellation can be seen between +54 and -83 latitude and is best seen in April. Its head is located south of Cancer, and the rest of its long, sinuous body extends to a point between Centaurus and Libra, where its tail ends.

Hydra contains about 238 stars, but consists mainly of an asterism of 17 stars, the brightest of which is Alphard, an orange giant located 177 light-years away. In Greek mythology, the Hydra is associated with the Lernaean Hydra from the Twelve Labors of Hercules.