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Lynx
Lynx is a minor constellation created by astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the 17th century. It resembles a bumpy line and does not look like a lynx. Hevelius wanted there to be a constellation in between Ursa Major and Auriga and so created Lynx, declaring that anyone who wants to study stars should have the eyes of a lynx. Lynx is located northeast of Auriga and south of Ursa Major.
Auriga
Auriga is a constellation located in the northern hemisphere northeast of Gemini. The formation of stars looks like a hexagon but represents a charioteer holding a goat in his left arm and reigns in his right arm. Ptolemy was the first to recognize the constellation in the second century. Some astronomers think the Greeks identified Auriga as Hephaestus, the god of craftsmen and blacksmiths because these trades were used to invent the chariot.
Orion
The Orion constellation is easy to pick out because of Orion's belt: three closely clustered starts in a row. The constellation straddles the northern and southern hemispheres and is located southeast of Gemini. In Greek mythology, Orion was the most handsome man and skilled hunter, but he became too proud of his praises and started boasting of his superiority. The gods were annoyed, and Scorpius the scorpion was sent to sting Orion's foot. Diana, who admired Orion, asked that he be placed in the sky.
Canis Minor
Canis Minor resembles a short line of stars. It is located in the northern hemisphere just south of Gemini and was first written about by Ptolemy in the second century. Canis Minor in Greek mythology can be recognized as a dog that followed Orion or as Icarius' dog, Maera. The myth of Icarius is that god Dionysus taught him to make a potent wine. When he gave samples of wine to his friends, they thought he was trying to poison them and killed him. Maera died of grief from Icarius' death, and Zeus put him in the stars.
Taurus
Taurus is a Y-shaped constellation that resembles a charging bull. It is located southeast of Gemini in between Auriga and Orion. There are several myths about Taurus the bull; one is that Jupiter fell in love with Europa, who was unimpressed. Jupiter turned himself into a white bull and approached Europa, who became impressed with the beauty of the bull. When Europa got on the bull's back, the bull charged to Crete and revealed himself as Jupiter. Europa, now decidedly intrigued with Jupiter, agreed to marry him.
Cancer
Cancer is a crab-shaped constellation located in the northern hemisphere west of Gemini. Cancer is associated with both the myth of Hercules and a myth about the Northern Ass (donkey) and the Southern Ass, which use the stars that make the eyes of the crab. In the Hercules myth, Hercules was battling the hydra when goddess Hera sent a crab to attack and distract him. Hercules crushed the crab with his heel. If stars are used to create the two donkeys, the donkeys are the ones the gods rode to the battle of the Titans.
Monoceros
Monoceros is a constellation south of Gemini and in between Canis Minor and Orion. It looks like three lines jutting out of a single center. The constellation was created in the 17th century by astronomer Petrus Plancius and is supposed to resemble a unicorn. This constellation is hard to pick out because the stars used for the unicorn outline are faint.