Cancer

Quick Facts

Name:	Cancer KAN-surr
Meaning:	Crab
Abbreviation:	Cnc
Genitive:	Cancri
Visible in Latitudes:	90° thru -60°
Viewing Season:	Winter
Best Seen In:	March, 9:00 pm
Transit Date:	February 4
Right Ascension:	8.69 hours
Declination:	20.2 degrees
Area:	505.872 sq. degrees

Star Diagram

Star Diagram: Cancer

About Cancer

There are several stories of this most inconspicious constellation. In early times, it was the crab crushed by Hercules when it pinched his toes in during a contest with Hydra. The other story is from the Chaldaean and Platonist philosophy, where it is thought that Cancer was the Gate of Man through which souls passed from Heaven to Earth and into human bodies.

Named Stars

Name		Star

Acubens		Alpha Cnc
Altarf		Beta Cnc
Asellus Borealis		Gamma Cnc
Asellus Australis		Delta Cnc
Tegmen		Zeta 1 Cnc

Messier Objects

Name		Type

M44		Open Cluster
M67		Open Cluster

Neighboring Constellations

Canis Minor
Gemini
Hydra

Leo
Lynx