The Constellation Song
 
	(to the tune of the Major General's song from 
	        The Pirates of Penzance)
 
		by Kevin Krisciunas, 1987

 
The constellations in the sky were not put there to bore us.
There's Antlia, Andromeda, Aquarius, and Taurus,
And Apus, Leo, Lepus, Ara, Aries, and Centaurus,
Carina, Crater, Cancer, Canis Major/Minor, Corvus,
And Aquila, Auriga, Leo Minor, and Monoceros,
Columba, Libra, Lyra, Lynx, and Caelum, Cygnus, Circinus,
Corona Borealis, Cetus, Crux, Oh! do not scorn us
When you learn we fondly love the likes of Capricornus.
 
Horologium and Hydra, Hydrus, Indus, Microscopium,
And Cepheus, Bootes, Eridanus, Telescopium,
Chamaelion and Hercules, Dorado, Draco, Delphinus,
Norma, Octans, Lupus, Musca, Pyxis, Grus, and Scorpius.
 
There's Coma Berenices, Fornax, Pavo, Puppis, Perseus,
Corona Australis, Tucana, places like Equuleus,
Sagittarius and Sagitta, both north and south Triangulum,
And Scutum, Sculptor, Sextens, Serpens, Mensa and Reticulum.
Lacerta, Ophiuchus, Pictor, Gemini and Pisces
Is where we hope to find a cloud of interstellar ices.
Orion, Piscis Austrinis, in Phoenix, and in Pegasus is
Where the clouds are dense enough and each then coalesces.
                                                                          *
Towards Cassiopeia, towards the Giraffe, and also towards the Hunting Dogs
We find the stars and galaxies and scribble in our nightly logs.
Ursa Major/Minor, Vela, Virgo, Volans, and Vulpecula
Is where we plan to aim tonight with million dollar specula.
 
To lofty mountains off we go in confident reliance,
In hot pursuit of photons there and world beating science.
 
[Alternate last two lines:
 
  The constellations in the sky, they number eight and eighty.
  They're up there every dark, clear night.  I hope you've seen them lately. ]
 
________________
    *
     Camelopardus = the Giraffe.  Canes Venatici = the Hunting Dogs.  These
two just don't rhyme with anything.

     Piano music for this can be "The Elements" by Tom Lehrer.