Planet Wheel
·
Sky Maps
·
Galactic Map
·
Latest
·
Random

Sections

Catalogues

Tools and Links

Galactic Map

Show the direction of this region of the sky on the Galactic Map.

Cancer

The Crab

Ecliptic constellation

Show on Sky Map

GenitiveCancri
AbbreviationCnc
Constellation FamilyZodiac
Celestial QuadrantNQ2
Right Ascension7h57 to 9h23
Declination+6° 29' to +33° 1'
Area (sq deg)506
Brightest StarTarf
Optimum VisibilityFebruary
NotesAs it passes along the path of the Ecliptic, the Sun passes through Cancer each year during late July and early August. Cancer is not a prominent constellation (the brightest of its stars, Tarf, only approaches magnitude +3.5) but it is notable for the open star cluster M44, known as Praesepe or the Beehive Cluster, which lies in its central regions.
Map of Cancer Map of Cancer

If not for the fact that it lies on the Ecliptic, and is therefore part of the zodiac, Cancer would be a rather inconspicuous group of stars. It is home to the relatively nearby Praesepe star cluster.

Indexes

Related Entries

v2.1g

eSky © copyright Mark Fisher 1999-2024