99% of people can't guess these constellations from one image! Can you?

By: J. Scott Wilson
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
99% of people can't guess these constellations from one image! Can you?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Did you get A's in your astronomy class? Are you super into astrology? Do you find yourself looking up at the sky and listing every constellation you see? Then take this quiz! 99% of people can't correctly identify the constellations in these images. Can you? Prove it!
Pictor
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Orion
Pictor
The constellation Pictor’s name is Latin for “painter,” but the constellation really represents the painter’s easel. One of its stars, Beta Pictoris, has one of the exoplanets discovered by modern astronomers, but it's not believed to be habitable.
Andromeda
Orion
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Lyra
Leo
Orion
Orion is the hunter, so, of course, he needs game to hunt. Lepus (the rabbit) is one of his stellar "targets."
Phoneix
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aries
Phoenix
This constellation was named after the phoenix, the mythical bird that rises from its own ashes. Phoenix constellation is easy to see for anyone in Australia and South Africa during the southern hemisphere's summer.
Chamaeleon

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Draco
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Draco
Draco looks like a dragon, with the head slightly north of Hercules, and the tail ending between the big and small dippers in Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. While dragons weren't a big part of Greek mythology, this one guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides, and Hercules killed it as one of his labors.
Orion
Cancer
Hercules
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Taurus
Ursa Major
Hercules
Hercules is the 5th largest constellation in the sky. The constellations described by Ptolemy tell a lot of Hercules' story, with many of the creatures he vanquished sharing the sky.
Grus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aries
Grus
Grus is Latin for "crane," the long-legged aquatic bird. One thing very interesting about Grus is a celestial group called the Spare Tyre Nebula. Even astronomers can have a sense of humor.
Scorpius

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Equuleus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Equuleus
In Greek mythology, it's not uncommon for offspring to result from two different mythical creatures. One myth has this horse springing from a union between Chiron the centaur and a nymph. Another says it was either the child or sibling of Pegasus.
Ursa Minor
Taurus
Cancer
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Draco
Sagittarius
Cancer
The constellations neighboring Cancer are Lynx, Leo Minor, Leo, Hydra, Gemini and Canis Minor. In Greek mythology, Cancer was a crab that bit Hercules on the foot while he battled the Hydra. Hera, who hated Hercules, placed the crab in the stars.
Lynx
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Lynx
The Lynx seems like a constellation from the ancients, but it was actually introduced by Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century. The lynx is known for having sharp eyes, and Hevelius said only stargazers with sharp eyes could find it.
Orion
Ursa Major

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Auriga
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aries
Auriga
Auriga, described by Ptolemy, has actually been represented as a charioteer by two different cultures. Along with the Greeks, the Chinese incorporated the Auriga stars into celestial chariots.
Cancer
Centaurus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Canis Major
Centaurus
Centaurus is named for Chiron, a wise centaur who tutored Hercules and Jason. However, as often happened when mortals played with gods, Chiron was wounded and begged to be put out of his misery. Zeus granted his wish and made him a constellation.
Ursa Minor
Capricornus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Capricornus
Capricornus stands for “horned goat” in Latin. Although Capricornus is thought to represent Amalthea, the she-goat that suckled Zeus as an infant, some myths think it represents the half-man, half-goat god, Pan.
Cygnus
Taurus

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Norma
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Norma
The constellation Norma’s name means “normal” in Latin. LIke many of the constellations defined by de Lacaille, it represents a modern tool, likely a carpenter's square.
Cassiopeia
Orion
Bootes
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aries
Ursa Minor
Bootes
Boötes is one of the largest constellations in the night sky. In Greek, the name means herdsman. Like Orion, he comes equipped with two hunting dog constellations.
Andromeda
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Andromeda
Andromeda is visible in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The Andromeda galaxy, in this constellation, is the furthest object that can be seen with the naked eye. It’s 2.5 million light years away from Earth.
Cancer
Leo

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Musca
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Leo
Musca
Musca had a bit of an identity crisis in its first few years of discovery. One astronomer named it aphis (bee), but the name given by Frederick de Houtman won out in the end.
Sagittarius
Antlia
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Antlia
While many constellations stand for mythological creatures or people, this one symbolizes an air pump. Nicolas de Lacaille named it to commemorate the invention of the pneumatic pump by a fellow Frenchman.
Andromeda
Ursa Major
Caelum
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Orion
Caelum
Some constellations have glamorous connections, like unicorns or hunters, but Caelum is a chisel. It was introduced in the 1700s by Nicolas de Lacaille.
Canis Major

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Dorado
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Dorado
The Dorado constellation’s name means “the dolphinfish” in Spanish. It contains part of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way.
Taurus
Cancer
Aquarius
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aquarius
All of the Zodiac constellations, including Aquarius, were recorded in the second century by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy. Aquarius means "cup bearer" or "water bearer" in Latin. It is the 10th biggest constellation in the sky, although it's very faint.
Andromeda
Cygnus
Cassiopeia
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. The queen upon which she's based prized vanity over respect for the gods.
Capricornus
Draco

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Canis Major
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Canis Major
Canis Major is one of Orion's hunting dogs. Laelaps was his lead dog, which according to myth, could catch anything it hunted.
Leo
Sagittarius
Hydra
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Orion
Leo
Hydra
The Hydra constellation is associated with the mythological creature that Hercules was sent to battle. The giant many-headed water snake was a disastrously difficult task for Hercules, because once one of its heads was cut off, another two would grow in its place.
Leo
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Ursa Major
Cancer
Leo
Leo is one of the oldest recorded constellations, it was perceived as a lion by ancient civilizations as far back as 6,000 years ago. In the Southern Hemisphere, Leo appears upside down.

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Cygnus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aquarius
Chamaeleon
Cygnus
Cygnus is a familiar northern constellation with its brightest star, Deneb, marking the tail of the swan it depicts. This massive, beautiful constellation also forms part of the Summer Triangle, together with Lyra in Vega and Aquila in Altair.
Canes Ventacici
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Orion
Canes Venatici
The Canes Venatici constellation’s name means “hunting dogs” in Latin. It represents the hunting dogs of Boötes the Herdsman, a neighboring constellation. Orion also comes equipped with hunting dogs.
Aries
Aquila
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aquila
The Aquila constellation represents the eagle of the Roman god Jupiter in mythology. Well-known stars Altair and Tarazed are part of the constellation.
Cepheus
Cancer

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Sextans
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Leo
Sextans
Sextans is an equatorial constellation appropriately named after the sextant, a star-sighting navigational tool used for centuries. Recently, a galaxy within Sextans was found to have Population III stars, which are some of the oldest stars known and may have begun the production of basic elements necessary for life.
Tucana
Libra
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Hercules
Libra
Libra is the only constellation in the Zodiac that represents an inanimate object. Libra used to be considered a part of Scorpius. The scales looked like claws hung upside down. Then Roman astronomers redrew the skyline and moved the claws of the scorpion to Libra.
Sagittarius
Ara
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aquila
Ara
The constellation Ara means “the altar” in Latin. Before the war with the Titans, the myth says, Zeus and the other gods swore a vow of allegiance.
Hercules

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Scutum
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Scutum
Scutum belongs to the Hercules family of constellations. This constellation is the only one associated with a non-classical historical figure, the Polish King John III Sobieski.
Orion
Aquarius
Lyra
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Lyra
Musicians have always had it rough, and Orpheus is no exception. According to myth, he was killed and his lyre was thrown in a river. Zeus, who loved his music, placed it in the stars.
Canis Major
Ursa Minor
Sculptor
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Sculptor
Sculptor is one of the southern constellations introduced by French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. The modern name is shortened from the French l'Atelier du Sculpteur, or the "the sculptor's studio."
Sagittarius
Taurus

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Cetus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Cetus
Cetus, or the “Sea Monster," is the fourth biggest constellation in the night sky. There are many myths of the jealous gods sending creatures to devour vain mortals. This monster ate Andromeda, whose mother believed she was more beautiful than the Nereids.
Aries
Orion
Lepus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Lepus
If you've ever seen the critter-horror film "Night of the Lepus," you know this is a rabbit. Specifically, it's a hare being chased by Orion's hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor.
Lyra
Scutum
Cepheus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Cepheus
Cepheus is named after a mythical Greek king, but it contains a deadly secret. Within the bounds of the constellation is a supermassive black hole, thought to be 10,000 times as big as the one at the center of the Milky Way.
Aquarius
Ursa Major

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Monoceros
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Canis Major
Cancer
Monoceros
Unless you have a telescope, you might not be familiar with Monoceros. It's made up mostly of fairly faint stars, but contains a number of star clusters.
Carina
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Orion
Carina
Carina was originally part of a larger constellation called Argo, which was a ship. IArgo was split into three different constellations, with Carina being the keel.
Taurus
Sagittarius
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Taurus
Orion
Sagittarius
Called The Archer, this centaur-shaped constellation is the ninth symbol in the zodiac. It's one of the Fire signs, along with Aries and Leo.

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Canis Minor
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Canis Minor
Canis Major is one of the hunting dogs of Orion, the hunter. Oddly enough, there are no constellations devoted to cats. One can only presume that the ancient astronomers were dog people.
Cancer
Sagittarius
Sagitta
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Cancer
Ursa Major
Sagitta
Sagitta is the arrow, and Sagittarius is the archer who fires it. It's the third-smallest of all constellations, but dates back to Ptolemy in the 2nd century..
Chameleon
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Ursa MInor
Chameleon
Many Southern Hemisphere constellations were named after things found in those regions, including the chameleon. The color-shifting lizard was unknown in Europe, but all over the warmer climes.
Aries

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Octans
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Octans
Octans is a very faint constellation in the far southern sky. Like sextans, it's named for a piece of navigational equipment, the octant, which used stars to plot courses.
Scutum
Canes Venatici
Perseus
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Cancer
Perseus
The son of Zeus and Danaë, Greek mythological hero Perseus has a whole host of legends associated with him. He's surrounded by constellations symbolizing legends related to him.
Leo
Vulpecula
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Ursa Major
Vulpecula
Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius named this constellation late in the 1600s. The name means "little fox" in Latin, likely inspired by the animals themselves, which were a popular hunting target.
Canis Minor

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Aries
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Which constellation corresponds with this image?
Aries
One of the signs of the zodiac, Aries is a constellation agreed-upon by all the ancient astronomers. Its legend is woven through many ancient myths, including Jason and the Golden Fleece.
Orion
Taurus
You Got:
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