Cancer (constellation)

Cancer
Constellation
Cancer
AbbreviationCnc[1]
GenitiveCancri[1]
Pronunciation/ˈkænsər/,
genitive /ˈkæŋkr/
Symbolismthe Crab
Right ascension07h 55m 19.7973s09h 22m 35.0364s[2]
Declination33.1415138°–6.4700689°[2]
Area506 sq. deg. (31st)
Main stars0
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
70
Stars with planets10
Stars brighter than 3.00m2
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)0
Brightest starβ Cnc (Tarf) (3.53m)
Messier objects2
Meteor showersDelta Cancrids
Bordering
constellations
Lynx
Gemini
Canis Minor
Hydra
Leo
Leo Minor (corner)
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −60°.
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of March.

Cancer is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac and is located in the Northern celestial hemisphere. Its old astronomical symbol is (♋︎). Its name is Latin for crab and it is commonly represented as one. Cancer is a medium-size constellation with an area of 506 square degrees and its stars are rather faint, its brightest star Beta Cancri having an apparent magnitude of 3.5. It contains ten stars with known planets, including 55 Cancri, which has five: one super-earth and four gas giants, one of which is in the habitable zone and as such has expected temperatures similar to Earth. At the (angular) heart of this sector of our celestial sphere is Praesepe (Messier 44), one of the closest open clusters to Earth and a popular target for amateur astronomers.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ridpath was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Cancer, constellation boundary". The Constellations. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 14 February 2014.