Constellation

A constellation is a perceived pattern formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another when viewed from a specific point in space and time.¹

There are many constellations in Golarion's night sky, including the thirteen signs of the Cosmic Caravan used by those studying astrology.² Different cultures have their own constellations.

Over Golarion

This is a list of some of the more famous constellations in the night sky using the names prevalent in the Inner Sea region of Golarion:²³⁴

Northern hemisphere

Constellations of Golarion's northern hemisphere, which includes the Inner Sea region, draw their names from Varisian traditions. The Varisians used them to guide their wanderings for generations.⁴

The Animal Mother
The Caravan
The Dancer
The Goblin
The Jackal
The Mantis
The Owl
The Rose
The Salmon
The Sea Wraith
The Snakefang
The Stair of Stars
The Stirge
The Twins
The Wyrm: Considered evil by some and good by others, the great star-dragon protects his hoard³

Southern hemisphere

Few in the Inner Sea region can see the stars known across much of the southern hemisphere of Golarion, which are better known across southern Garund and Casmaron.⁵

Ardacordis: A mythical serpent who wrestles the Kraken to prevent it from choking the world³
The Fang: Protects all who travel³
The Ferryman: Claims lost souls³
The Gecko: He climbed up into the night heavens³
Gigas Major: The old giant³
Gigas Minor: The young giant³
The Hawk: Hunts through the heavens and protects the sun³
The Key: Abadar uses it to unlock the First Vault³
The Kraken: She ensnares Ardacordis³
The Sorcerer: Those who use magic look to him for guidance³
The Sphinx: Respected by even the gods for its wisdom³
The Spider: It weaves the night in its silken threads³
The Tarrasque: It sleeps among the stars until the end times draw near³
The Throne: A seat reserved for the final king³

Minor constellations

In religion

Abadar: The constellation called the Key is said to be made to unlock the First Vault or to point the way there.³
Besmara: Her ship, the Seawraith, is seen as a constellation in the night sky.^{[citation needed]}
Desna: The constellation called the Stair of Stars astronomically points the way to the pole star, Cynosure, and theologically points the way to Desna's palace.²⁷

In astrology

Main article: Astrology

Constellations of a zodiac — an area of the sky centered on the sun's apparent path across the celestial sphere⁸ — form the basis of astrological studies across Golarion.⁹¹⁰

Cosmic Caravan

Main article: Cosmic Caravan

Astrologers in the Inner Sea region use the thirteen signs of the Varisian Cosmic Caravan as the basis for their studies and predictions.¹¹ It is suspected of having an Azlanti origin, potentially making it a cousin of similar Lergeni astrology systems.⁹

Certain psychics, called esoteric starseekers, use the constellations of the Cosmic Caravan as the source of their power; they read the constellations as other psychics read minds, and can gain access to certain spells that are associated with specific constellations.¹²

Dragon Empires zodiac

Main article: Dragon Empires zodiac

The Dragon Empires zodiac of Tian Xia comprises twelve figures heavily associated with imperial dragons and Tian legends. This zodiac is also more concerned with specific points in time, including the daylight hours, and with phases of the moon.¹³¹⁰

Blink dog zodiac

Blink dogs are fascinated by the myths associated with their own zodiac, which they use for assessing births and seeing omens.¹⁴

Jahaxi constellations

The Lirgeni and iruxi peoples of Jaha have their own combined constellations and astrological traditions. Jahaxi constellations include:¹⁵

The Bird Mother: A protector of new stars.
The Bird of Paradise: A flower that grows from a drop of the sun.
Eyes of the Dead: Home to ancestors who observe the world.
The Fang: A protector of travelers.
The Horn: Supports the night sky.
The Lions: Creatures who became stars after observing a goddess.
The Sailfish: Swoops down to catch food.
The Spider: Weaver of the night.
The Spine: Supports the connection between the world and heavens.
The Twin Turtles: The two are stacked atop each other.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

↑ Constellation, Wikipedia.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 James L. Sutter. (2008). Into the Black. Children of the Void, p. 52. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-127-5
↑ ^3.00 ^3.01 ^3.02 ^3.03 ^3.04 ^3.05 ^3.06 ^3.07 ^3.08 ^3.09 ^3.10 ^3.11 ^3.12 ^3.13 ^3.14 ^3.15 ^3.16 James L. Sutter. (2012). Distant Worlds, p. 50. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-403-0
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Ethan Day-Jones, Jim Groves, Jonathan H. Keith, Andrew Romine, David N. Ross, and James L. Sutter. (2014). People of the Stars, p. inside front cover. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-674-4
↑ Ethan Day-Jones, Jim Groves, Jonathan H. Keith, Andrew Romine, David N. Ross, and James L. Sutter. (2014). People of the Stars, p. inside back cover. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-674-4
↑ Scott Fernandez, Ron Lundeen, and Larry Wilhelm. (2015). Tombs of Golarion, p. 38. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-720-8
↑ Elaine Cunningham, with Dave Gross. (2010). Winter Witch, p. 258. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-286-9
↑ Zodiac and ecliptic, Wikipedia
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 Jason Bulmahn et al. (2014). Occult Mysteries, p. 36. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-649-2
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 James Jacobs, Dave Gross, Rob McCreary. (2011). Dragon Empires Gazetteer, p. 51. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-379-8
↑ James L. Sutter. (2008). Into the Black. Children of the Void, p. 52. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-127-5
↑ Kim Frandsen et al. (2019). Wilderness Origins, p. 30. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-107-8
↑ Richard Pett. (2011). Forest of Spirits. Forest of Spirits, p. 53. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-380-4
↑ Wolfgang Baur et al. (2010). Bestiary 2 (First Edition), p. 47. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-268-5
↑ Laura-Shay Adams et al. (2021). "Jaha". The Mwangi Expanse, p. 206. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-340-9

[1] Constellation, Wikipedia.

[PF14p52-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 James L. Sutter. (2008). Into the Black. Children of the Void, p. 52. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-127-5

[DW-50-3] 3.00 ^3.01 ^3.02 ^3.03 ^3.04 ^3.05 ^3.06 ^3.07 ^3.08 ^3.09 ^3.10 ^3.11 ^3.12 ^3.13 ^3.14 ^3.15 ^3.16 James L. Sutter. (2012). Distant Worlds, p. 50. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-403-0

[PotS-insidefront-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Ethan Day-Jones, Jim Groves, Jonathan H. Keith, Andrew Romine, David N. Ross, and James L. Sutter. (2014). People of the Stars, p. inside front cover. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-674-4

[PotS-insideback-5] Ethan Day-Jones, Jim Groves, Jonathan H. Keith, Andrew Romine, David N. Ross, and James L. Sutter. (2014). People of the Stars, p. inside back cover. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-674-4

[6] Scott Fernandez, Ron Lundeen, and Larry Wilhelm. (2015). Tombs of Golarion, p. 38. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-720-8

[7] Elaine Cunningham, with Dave Gross. (2010). Winter Witch, p. 258. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-286-9

[8] Zodiac and ecliptic, Wikipedia

[OM-36-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Jason Bulmahn et al. (2014). Occult Mysteries, p. 36. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-649-2

[DEG-51-10] 10.0 ^10.1 James Jacobs, Dave Gross, Rob McCreary. (2011). Dragon Empires Gazetteer, p. 51. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-379-8

[11] James L. Sutter. (2008). Into the Black. Children of the Void, p. 52. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-127-5

[12] Kim Frandsen et al. (2019). Wilderness Origins, p. 30. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-107-8

[13] Richard Pett. (2011). Forest of Spirits. Forest of Spirits, p. 53. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-380-4

[14] Wolfgang Baur et al. (2010). Bestiary 2 (First Edition), p. 47. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-268-5

[15] Laura-Shay Adams et al. (2021). "Jaha". The Mwangi Expanse, p. 206. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-340-9

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15