| Constellation | |
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| Abbreviation | Crt |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Crateris |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkreɪtər/, genitive /krəˈtiːrɪs/ |
| Symbolism | the cup |
| Right ascension | 10h 51m 06.1297s–11h 56m 23.6655s[1] |
| Declination | −6.6621790°–−25.1957951°[1] |
| Area | 282 sq. deg. (53rd) |
| Main stars | 4 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars | 12 |
| Stars with planets | 7 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 0 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 0 |
| Brightest star | δ Crt (Labrum) (3.57m) |
| Messier objects | 0 |
| Meteor showers | Eta Craterids |
| Bordering constellations | Leo Sextans Hydra Corvus Virgo |
| Visible at latitudes between +65° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of April. | |
Crater is a small constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere. Its name is the latinization of the Greek krater, a type of cup used to water down wine. One of the 48 constellations listed by the second-century astronomer Ptolemy, it depicts a cup that has been associated with the god Apollo and is perched on the back of Hydra the water snake.
There is no star brighter than third magnitude in the constellation. Its two brightest stars, Delta Crateris of magnitude 3.56 and Alpha Crateris of magnitude 4.07, are ageing orange giant stars that are cooler and larger than the Sun. Beta Crateris is a binary star system composed of a white giant star and a white dwarf. Seven star systems have been found to host planets. A few notable galaxies, including Crater 2 and NGC 3981, and a famous quasar lie within the borders of the constellation.