How many constellations are there in the sky?

The International Astronomical Union divides the sky into 88 official constellations with precise boundaries. There are nearly 6,000 stars visible to the naked eye, each of which can be classified as a unique constellation. Each constellation can be identified by the shape of the bright star inside. Most of these official constellations are based on the ancient Greek traditional constellations handed down from the Middle Ages. These 88 constellations are divided into three celestial regions, 29 in the northern hemisphere, 47 in the southern hemisphere, and near the equator and ecliptic 12. 29 constellations in the northern hemisphere: Ursa minor, Ursa major, Draco, Lyra, Eagle, Cygnus, Wuxian, Dolphin, Sagittarius, Fox, Pegasus, Scorpion, Corona Nordica, Ophiuchus, Leo Minor, Canine, Backrow, Shepherd and Tmall. 47 constellations in the southern hemisphere: Guan Qing, Tian Yan, Temple of Heaven, Condor, Canis Canis, Sagittarius, Whale, Big Dipper, Compass, Pigeon, Corona, Raven, Dajue, Southern Cross, Swordfish, Bojiang, Celestial Furnace and Dragon Boat. Phoenix, picture frame, southern fish, tail, compass, network, yufu, shield, sextant, telescope, triangle, cuckoo, sailing boat, flying fish. 12 Zodiac signs: Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Constellation is the sum of celestial spaces in an area projected on the celestial sphere. So it is inaccurate to say that such a constellation is inside or outside the Milky Way. In the three-dimensional universe, these stars are not actually related to each other, but their positions on the celestial sphere are similar. Since ancient times, people have been interested in the arrangement and shape of stars, and naturally linked some stars with similar positions to form constellations.

Constellations are not unique in the universe, but artificially divided. The purpose of dividing constellations is to facilitate observation. The sky is artificially divided into 88 regions, and each region is a constellation. In space, these stars have no real relationship with each other, but their projections on the celestial sphere form a specific shape. As long as the stars projected in a certain constellation area can be considered to be in this constellation, these stars may be in the Milky Way or outside the Milky Way, and basically every star belongs to a constellation. So it is inaccurate to say how many constellations there are in the Milky Way, or how many constellations have not been discovered.