The constellation lists are divided into two; those visible from Europe or the USA etc., and those best seen from the Southern continents. Occasionally, when a constellation straddles both of these zones (such as Eridanus) the parts are treated separately in each listing; thus there is a "Northern" Eridanus and a "Southern" one. Such instances are, however, very rare.

Many of the objects are shown in Norton's 2000, though not always identified by name, since it was felt that previous editions of that essential volume were too cluttered with star-designations. The downside of this is that it is now difficult to identify many objects therein, so I have provided an index of objects not identified in Norton's, showing co-ordinates for the year 2000, for each page. Click on the Index section of the navigation bars at the head and foot of each main page to get there. In addition, each constellation has an accompanying chart for use with the text; these charts have now been completely updated (April 2001) and are less cluttered with needless star designations than the previous set, and show stars down to magnitude 6.5 instead, as well as each constellation within the official IAU boundary. Broken links have been repaired (at least for the Northern section; the Southern section is next - won't be long!); each chart follows certain broad conventions:

Wide groups of stars, when defined by coordinates only, are enclosed in a grey circle of the appropriate size. Close doubles are labelled in green, variable stars in red (whether they are actually red stars or not) and clusters/nebulae as light blue. In conditions where identification on the chart could be a problem, both label and object together are coloured appropriately. In some cases, notably in the southern hemisphere, where several small constellations are close together, each has been identified by name in Italic script. My intention has been one of providing as uncluttered a chart as possible, though sometimes (for example in Cygnus or Carina) a middle course has had to be found.

During the research for this work, I found that I was "discovering" many double stars suitable for binocular observation. These have not been given official designations in catalogues, due to the fact that all observers who have drawn up such catalogues were using high magnifications on telescopes, not binoculars. These "new discoveries" have been given a "P." designation - but if, inadvertently, I have renamed an official wide double star with such a designation, I apologize to the revered memory of Herschel, Struve, Webb et al.

Several finding charts are provided for objects throughout these pages. Clicking on the link will bring up the desired chart, from which you will able to return to the constellation you have just come from. I have also provided an index for them. Please note that all these charts are erect. If you are using a finder or a telescope, which may well produce an inverted image, turn the chart upside down!