Cancer
The crab. Genitive Cancri, abbreviated Cnc. Introduced by Ptolemy.
Area
505.86 sq°
31 of 88 by size
Brightest star
β Cancri
magnitude 3.52
Best seen
January
on the meridian at midnight
Visible from
90°N to 84°S
some part above the horizon
Where it is
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Centre | 8h 41m, +19.3° |
| Declination range | +6.5° to +33.1° |
| Naked-eye stars | 99 to magnitude 6.5, 0 to magnitude 3 |
| Borders | Canis Minor, Gemini, Hydra, Leo, Lynx |
Principal stars
Every star to magnitude 4, brightest first.
| Star | Magnitude | HR |
|---|---|---|
| β Cancri | 3.52 | 3249 |
| δ Cancri | 3.94 | 3461 |
Deep sky
Objects with a Messier number or a name people use.
| Object | Catalogue | Type | Magnitude | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M44 | Beehive cluster · NGC 2632 | Open cluster | 3.1 | 95.0 |
| M67 | NGC 2682 | Open cluster | 6.9 | 30.0 |
- Magnitude: — where NGC 2000 gives none.
- Size: the largest dimension, in arcminutes.
My Sky
Rise, highest and set over your place, for any night: Cancer
Further info
Sources
Principal stars: Bright Star Catalogue
Deep sky: NGC 2000.0
Area and borders: IAU constellation boundaries
