This chart ranks the smallest of the 88 official constellations by area, in square degrees, as defined by the International Astronomical Union. Crux, the Southern Cross, is the smallest of all.

About: Smallest Constellations by Area

Overview of the data behind this chart

This chart ranks the smallest of the 88 official constellations by area, in square degrees, as defined by the International Astronomical Union. Crux, the Southern Cross, is the smallest of all.

AI Insight

Crux, the Southern Cross, is the smallest constellation in the sky at just 68.4 square degrees, yet it is among the most recognisable and appears on several national flags. Equuleus (71.6) and Sagitta (79.9) follow closely, both faint northern star patterns. Despite their small size, several of these compact constellations are famous: Crux for southern-hemisphere navigation, and Corona Borealis and Corona Australis for their distinctive crown-like arcs. The values reflect official IAU boundaries rather than visual prominence, so a small constellation can still contain bright, well-known stars. Crux is roughly nineteen times smaller than the largest constellation, Hydra, illustrating how unevenly the 88 constellations divide the sky, ranging from tiny Crux to sprawling patterns covering more than 1,300 square degrees.

Data source: IAU designated constellations by area

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Canis Minor leads with 183 in All Time.

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Average value in All Time: 115 · median: 110.

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Gap in All Time: Canis Minor is 2.7× larger than Crux.

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Additional Data

Smallest Constellations by Area

Data Insights Below

Data Insights

Numbers, trends & sources behind this chart

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Data Points

10 categories · 1 year

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Top Value

183.40

Canis Minor

Area (square degrees) · All Time

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Metrics

Area (square degrees)

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Period

All Time

Single year snapshot

Category Rankings

Area (square degrees) · All Time

#	Category	All Time
🥇	Canis Minor	183.40
🥈	Corona Borealis	178.70
🥉	Triangulum	131.80
4	Corona Australis	127.70
5	Triangulum Australe	110
6	Scutum	109.10
7	Circinus	93.40
8	Sagitta	79.90
9	Equuleus	71.60
10	Crux	68.40

Statistical Summary — Area (square degrees) · All Time

183.40

Maximum

68.40

Minimum

115

Average

110

Median

What This Data Shows

Auto-generated trend summaries per category

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Crux

Recorded 68.40 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Equuleus

Recorded 71.60 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Sagitta

Recorded 79.90 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Circinus

Recorded 93.40 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Scutum

Recorded 109.10 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Triangulum Australe

Recorded 110 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Corona Australis

Recorded 127.70 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Triangulum

Recorded 131.80 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Corona Borealis

Recorded 178.70 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

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Canis Minor

Recorded 183.40 Area (square degrees) in All Time.

Source

Full Data Table

10 records across 1 year

10 sourced

Category	Metric	All Time
Crux	Area (square degrees)	68.40
Equuleus	Area (square degrees)	71.60
Sagitta	Area (square degrees)	79.90
Circinus	Area (square degrees)	93.40
Scutum	Area (square degrees)	109.10
Triangulum Australe	Area (square degrees)	110
Corona Australis	Area (square degrees)	127.70
Triangulum	Area (square degrees)	131.80
Corona Borealis	Area (square degrees)	178.70
Canis Minor	Area (square degrees)	183.40