Rangifer (constellation)

Rangifer was a small northern circumpolar constellation between the constellations of Cassiopeia and Camelopardalis. It was also known as Tarandus. Both words mean "reindeer" in Latin. "Rangifer" is the generic name of the reindeer, and "tarandus" is the specific name. The constellation may also be referred to as Renne.

The constellation was found in the northern sky near the now obsolete constellation of Custos Messium (the harvest keeper).

The constellation is no longer in use. In 2025, the IAU Working Group on Star Names adopted the names Rangifer and Tarandus for the stars 49 Cassiopeiae and 2 Ursae Minoris, respectively, after the obsolete constellation.

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