88 prominent groups of stars in the sky are called the ?

The 88 prominent groups of stars which form patterns in the sky as seen from Earth are called the constellations, the brightest of which is Crux (the Southern Cross).

Centaurus (the Centaur) is the constellation that has the greatest number of visible stars in it.

Within constellations are asterisms, these smaller patterns of stars form such well known shapes as the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, and the Little Dipper in Ursa Minor.

The 12 constellations of the Zodiac are: Aquarius the water bearer; Aries the ram; Cancer the crab; Capricorn the goat; Gemini the twins; Leo the lion; Libra the scales; Pisces the fish; Sagittarius the archer; Scorpius the scorpion; Taurus the bull and Virgo the virgin.

On October 7-8, 2012 a meteor shower radiating from the constellation of Draco the Dragon was visible in the middle and far north latitudes around the world.