Cancer

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Constellations

Cancer

The Crab

Cancer is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. Its name is Latin for 'crab.'

The stars of Cancer are rather faint with Tarf being the brightest with a magnitude of 3.5.

Cancer is one of the 48 original Ptolemaic Constellations and one of the constellations of the Zodiac.

This section describes the constellation as it is seen in the night sky.

For star lore about Cancer, click here.

Cancer in the Night Sky

Star maps based on map provided by Sea & Sky

The stars of Cancer

Number Desig-
nation Name
Number Desig-
nation Name
1 M 44 Beehive Cluster; Praesaepe; NGC 2632
6 γ Asellus Borealis
2 M 67 King Cobra Cluster; NGC 2682
7 ζ Tegmine
3 β Tarf
8 ι Iota Cancri
4 δ Asellus Australis
9 ξ Nahn
5 α Acubens
10 λ Piautos

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