YourStar.com Exclusive! All of our star packages allow you to choose which constellation you would like your star to reside in. We allow you to name stars in twenty-two constellations: all twelve zodiac signs, Ursa Major (Big Dipper), Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) and Orion!
Zodiac Signs
Other Constellations
Click on the constellation names above for more information.
The Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and Persians all called this constellation the Ram. In Greek mythology. Aries is protected by the goddess Athena, and is the Ram whose Golden Fleece was captured by Jason and the Argonauts.
In ancient times, the vernal equinox was in the constellation Aries. Today, the equinox takes place in Pisces. In 600 years, the equinox will again move, this time into the constellation Aquarius. Aries is generally visible in November.
Aries is the sign for people born between March 21 and April 19.
Learn more about Aries at Astrology.com.
Chinese called this constellation alternatively the "White Tiger" or the "Great Bridge". The Egyptians saw it as their god Osiris. The Greeks, however, saw it as a bull, which is how we think of it today. Taurus is generally visible in December.
The constellation primarily features the horns of the bull. The body and the legs are very spindly. One interpretation of the small body is that the bull is actually under water, as it is in the myth of Zeus and Europa.
The V-shaped group of stars that forms the nose of the bull is known as the Hyades. In Greek mythology, the Hyades were the daughters of Atlas (for whom one of the stars in this constellation is named). When their older brother, Hyas, was killed by a lioness while hunting, the sisters were inconsolable. Because of the depth of their grief, the gods placed them among the stars. The star cluster in the shoulder joint of the Bull is known as the Pleiades, or seven sisters, although only six stars are visible. In mythology the Pleiades are the half-sisters of the Hyades. In Japanese, they are known as Subaru, which is where the car manufacturer gets its logo.
Taurus appears to be always attacking Orion, the Hunter.
Taurus is the sign for people born between April 20 and May 20.
Learn more about Taurus at Astrology.com.
This constellation is named for Castor and Pollux, "twins" who were actually half brothers. Their mother, Leta, became pregnant with both of them on the same night. Castor’s father was Tyndareus, a king of Sparta. Pollux’s father was Zeus, who came and seduced Leta while in the form of a swan.
Castor and Pollux are, logically, the two brightest stars in the constellation. They are 4.5 degrees apart, which helps observers estimate separation distances between other stars. Gemini is generally visible in January.
Gemini is the sign for people born between May 21 and June 21.
Learn more about Gemini at Astrology.com.
This constellation's name comes from Latin; cancer means crab. Cancer, along with the constellation Hydra, plays a role in one of the Twelve Labors of Hercules. Cancer is easiest to see in February.
Cancer is protected by the Greek god Hermes. In ancient times, the sun would be in cancer at the time of the summer equinox, but now the summer equinox happens in Gemini. The constellation is located north of the head of the constellation Hydra, which whom it is associated in Greek mythology.
Cancer is the sign for people born between June 22 and July 22.
Learn more about Cancer at Astrology.com.
This constellation is named for the lion that Hercules killed during the first of his labors. The Chaldeans associated Leo with the summer solstice, since in ancient times Leo was visible in the sky at that time. The Egyptians worshipped the Lion because it was in the sky at the time of the flooding of the Nile. Leo is easiest to see in March.
Leo is easy to locate; following the pointer stars of the Big Dipper South approximates the location of the bright blue-white star Regulus in Leo's chest. Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation is so named because it was seen as the one who regulated all things in the heavens. That name was given by Copernicus. In ancient times, the star was known as Cor Leonis, the Lion's Heart. Algeiba, another bright star in Leo means forehead in Arabic, and Denebola means lion's tail.
Leo is the sign for people born between July 23 and August 22.
Learn more about Leo at Astrology.com.
Virgo is named after a virgin in Greek mythology, but it is a matter of debate which one. Some say it is Demeter, while still others claim it was Erigone. It is the second largest constellation (after Hydra). Virgo is easiest to see in April.
In other cultures besides Greece, this constellation is also presented as a "maiden". In Egypt, this was the constellation of Isis, goddess of the living and the dead. In the Sumerian culture, she was Ishtar, the Queen of Heaven. In Roman mythology she is Ceres, the Roman version of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. The sun passes through Virgo in the fall, and therefore is the constellation that announces the harvest.
Spica is one of the brightest stars in the constellation Virgo. It means "ear of wheat" and is what the "maiden" is carrying. Porrima is the Roman goddess of prophecy.
Virgo is the sign for people born between August 23 and September 22.
Learn more about Virgo at Astrology.com.
Libra is called the scales. In ancient times, the sun passed through Libra at the autumnal equinox (when the day and night are the same length). Many middle Eastern cultures used Libra to represent justice. In Greek astronomy, the stars that now make up Libra were the claws of Scorpio. Libra is easiest to see in May.
Eventually, Libra came to represent the Golden Chariot of Hades. This connects with the autumn, as Hades falls in love with the Persephone, the daughter of Demeter (the goddess of the harvest).
The scales are also sometimes associated with Virgo, and the goddess of justice.
Libra is the sign for people born between September 23 and October 22.
Learn more about Libra at Astrology.com.
The constellation of Scorpio represents the scorpion. The constellation is protected by the god Ares. It is one of the oldest constellations known. The sun only spends nine days in Scorpio. Scorpio is easiest to see in June.
Alniyat is the name of two stars in Scorpio and means stinger. These two stars make up the stinger of the Scorpion. Anteres, one of the brightest stars in the sky, means rival to Ares, who is know as Mars in Roman mythology. Anteres is red, much like its rival, the planet Mars.
Scorpio is the sign for people born between October 23 and November 21.
Learn more about Scorpio at Astrology.com.
Sagittarius is the archer. He is seen as half-man, half-beast and is said by some to have been placed in the heavens to guide Jason and the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece. Sagittarius may also be associated with the Sumerian god Nergal. In the end, Sagittarius was named by the Romans.
Although most of the names of the stars are in Arabic, they generally go along with the theme of an archer. Rukbat means knee. Kaus means bow, so Kaus Borealis is the northern part of the bow, Kaus Meridionalis is the middle part of the bow and Kaus Australis is the southern part of the bow. Ain al Rami means eye of the archer.
Sagittarius may only be seen in the Northern Hemisphere in the summer and the Milky Way runs through Sagittarius. It is easiest to see in July.
Sagittarius is the sign for people born between November 22 and December 21.
Learn more about Sagittarius at Astrology.com.
This constellation has been recognized since Babylonian times. It is generally depicted as a goat with a fish tail, although the name literally means horned goat. Capricorn is usually associated with the Greek god, Pan.
Capricorn is one of the most ancient constellations. According to one myth, this constellation represents the son of Aegipan. He lived with Zeus on the Mountain Ida on Crete. He accompanied Zeus in his war against the Titans. He found the horns of the sea, Conchas, and tought his companions how to use them. When they faced their enemies they blew on these horns instead of using the trumpets, which caused the Titans to flee. To honor him Zeus placed him under the stars in a way that he was part goat and part fish, as a sign that he found the horn of the sea. Capricorn is easiest to see in August.
Capricorn is the sign for people born between December 22 and January 19.
Learn more about Capricorn at Astrology.com.
As its name suggests, the constellation Aquarius is often associated with water. It is generally drawn as a man pouring water from a bucket. This could be because the sun enters Aquarius as the rainy season is just beginning. It represents either Ganymedes, the cup bearer of Heaven, or King Cecrops of Athens, who reigned before wine was discovered.
Two of the stars, Sadalmelik and Sadalsuud, are twin stars, meaning lucky one of the king and luckiest of the lucky, respectively. Sadalachbia means the lucky star of hidden things. Luck was important at this time, because the amount of water that was received when the sun entered Aquarius would determine the fate of the year. In six hundred years, the sun will reach its vernal equinox in Aquarius. Aquarius is most easily visible in September.
Aquarius is the sign for people born between January 20 and February 18.
Learn more about Aquarius at Astrology.com.
Pisces means fishes. The constellation is protected by Poseidon, the god of the Sea. It is related to the Greek god Typhon, who was a terrifying creature, even to the other gods. The constellation is generally depicted as two fish connected at the tail, and indeed, the connecting star, Alrisha, means cord.
The vernal equinox now occurs in Pisces. In ancient times, the vernal equinox occurred in Aries. In six hundred years, it will occur in Aquarius. Pisces was a constellation that the ancient Mesopotamians recognized. Pisces is easiest to see in October.
Pisces is the sign for people born between February 19 and March 20.
Learn more about Pisces at Astrology.com.
Andromeda was named for the princess Andromeda (“ruler of men”)
from Greek mythology. Her mother, Cassiopeia, was so vain that she boasted that
she possessed beauty equal to that of the Nereids. In order to avenge this insult against his nymphs, Poseidon sent a great sea monster to ravage the kingdom. When consulted, the oracle of Ammon prophesized that the only way to appease Poseidon would be for the king, Cepheus, to sacrifice his own daughter to the beast. Andromeda was chained to a rock on a cliff overlooking the sea and left to die. However, the hero Perseus, who was flying by on his winged horse, Pegasus, heard Andromeda’s screams. Perseus was just returning from killing Medusa, and held her head high in the air. When the sea monster looked upon the head he immediately turned to stone. He unchained Andromeda and the couple fell instantly in love.
The constellation is in the northern sky near the constellation Pegasus, and takes the general shape of a long, dim, straggly letter "A". Other characters from the mythology of Andromeda can be seen around her, immortalized in their own constellations, such as Perseus and Cassiopeia. The constellation is most notable for containing the Andromeda Galaxy.
Canis Major is known as the Great Dog. In Greek mythology, it is said that this constellation, along with Canis Minor, are Orion's hunting dogs. Canis Major was one of the most important constellations in ancient times because it contains the sky's brightest star.
Sirius, the Dog Star, is one of the brightest objects in the night sky. Only
the Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Mars are brighter. Those that lived near the Nile
River used the star to signal the flooding of the Nile. This special occasion
represented the return from the dead of the Sun god Osiris.
Canis Major is very easy to find during the months of November through March.
First locate Orion the Hunter, and imagine a straight line through his belt.
Follow the line to the southeast, and you will see Sirius perched right below
it. Sirius represents the bottom of the dog's neck. His body stretches
to the southeast, and his front leg is to the west of Sirius.
Crux, commonly known as the Southern Cross, has the distinction of being the
smallest constellation in the sky. Although it is small, it has held much importance over the centuries, and is the most famous constellation of the Southern hemisphere. As its name suggests, its stars form the shape of a Latin cross.
It is so distinctive on autumn and winter nights that Crux has found its way
onto several national flags including those of Brazil and Australia. Because
of its position in the sky, it was used by sailors and explorers for centuries
as a navigation tool. The brightest star, Acrux, is actually a double star.
Cygnus (the swan) is often known as the Northern Cross.
Swans are a common theme in several Greek myths: Zeus disguised himself as
a swan to seduce Leda, who gave birth to the Gemini, Helen of Troy, and Clytemnestra. Orpheus was transformed into a swan after his murder, and was said to have been placed in the sky next to his lyre. In addition, it is said that a youth named Cygnus was the friend of the ill-fated Phaethon, son of Apollo. After Phaethon was killed trying to drive the chariot of the sun, Cygnus searched desperately for his body in the Eridanus river where it had fallen. He dove so many times into the river that he appeared to be a swan searching for food. After he died of grief, Zeus changed him into the water bird and placed him in the night sky.
In Chinese Mythology, the constellation Cygnus is the site of the once-a-year
magpie bridge which connects the lovers Niu Lang and Zhi Nu.
There are many myths behind the constellation Draco (the dragon) for its resemblance to the mythical creature. In one story, Draco represents the dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece and was killed by Jason. In another myth, it represents the dragon that protected the apples of the Hesperides, one of the twelve labors of Hercules.
Draco is a circumpolar (around the pole) constellation for many Northern Hemisphere viewers. One of its stars, Thuban, used to be the pole star in 3000 BC, but due to the earth's wobble on its axis Polaris has become the pole star. Many ancient structures were built around Thuban as a guide, including the Egyptian pyramids.
Greatest and strongest of the Greek demigods, Hercules was the son of Zeus by
a mortal woman (Alcmene) and was hated by Zeus's wife, Hera, since he was a
product of her husband's infidelity. Hercules began his life of heroic violence
by strangling two serpents while still in his crib. The two snakes were sent
by Hera to kill Hercules. Later in life she would succeed in driving Hercules
insane, and led him to kill his wife and children. As atonement, he was to
serve the king Eurystheus. It was then that he would perform the Twelve Labors
that were designed by Hera to kill him, but only succeeded in bringing him
fame and glory. He eventually was accepted by the other gods and was placed
in the sky upon his death. Many of the monsters he killed during his labors
surround him: Draco, Hydra and Leo the lion.
Hercules can be seen kneeling in the sky for northern latitudes during the spring months.
Orion is one of the most easily recognizable constellations in the sky. He is made up of shoulders, legs, a sword, and most famously, his belt. The star that forms his left shoulder is Betelgeuse (pronounced Beetlejuice). In Arabic, it means Armpit of the Central One.
The Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia called Orion, Uru-anna. They identified it with the great Sumerian hero Gilgamesh, who was seen as battling the Bull of Heaven, Gut-anna, which we see as the constellation of Taurus. Orion is also seen in Greek mythology as battling the bull Orion.
Ursa Major is known as the Great Bear in Greek Mythology. Other cultures have also seen this constellation. Native Americans saw the bowl of the Big Dipper as a bear, and the handle as three warriors chasing it. In other cultures it was identified as a wagon, a plow, or even as the government by the Chinese.
The constellation Ursa Major's most famous stars are the Big Dipper, one of the most recognizable pattern in the northern sky. The handle of the Dipper is the tail of the Bear. The Big Dipper is an asterism, which is a group of stars that is recognizable, but is not a constellation itself.
From the Northern Hemisphere, the Big Dipper can help you find all sorts of important stars like the North Star, Polaris. If you draw an imaginary line out of the cup of the dipper, you will arrive at the North Star.
Ursa Major is easiest to see in March.
Ursa Minor was seen by the Greeks as a small bear. It is better known in the United States as the Little Dipper. It is related to the birth of the most powerful of Greek gods, Zeus.
Ursa Minor contains a very famous star, Polaris, the North Star. In Greek mythology, the handle of the Dipper is the Bear's tail.
The North Star has been important since ancient times. It was used for many years to navigate the seas. Ursa Minor is easiest to see in March.
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