Delphinus the Dolphin Constellation

constellation · northern sky · ancient astronomy

A dolphin in the stars. Delphinus is a constellation shaped like a dolphin, with five bright stars forming its body and tail. Ancient astronomers saw this pattern in the sky and gave it a name that means dolphin in Latin.

Five bright stars. The brightest stars in Delphinus create a clear shape that looks like a dolphin jumping. Four stars make up the dolphin's body, and one star marks its tail, making it easy to spot once you know what to look for.

Super ancient. Delphinus was one of 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy, an astronomer who lived about 2,000 years ago. It's still recognized today as one of the 88 official constellations in the night sky.

Small but special. Delphinus is the 69th smallest constellation out of 88, making it a relatively tiny star pattern. Even though it's small, it's one of the most recognizable because of its clear dolphin shape.

Bordered by neighbors. Delphinus sits in the Northern Hemisphere near the celestial equator, surrounded by six other constellations including Aquarius, Pegasus, and Aquila. Its location makes it visible to stargazers in many parts of the world.