Star Lore Cancer Minor The Lesser Crab

Cancer Minor is a now obsolete constellation designed in 1612 by Petrus Plancius.

In 1612, Dutch astronomer and cartographer Petrus Plancius filled the space between the main stars of the constellations Cancer and Gemini with a small shrimp-like animal called Cancer Minor. The constellation consisted of the 5th magnitude stars 68, 74, 81 and 85 Geminorum and HIP 36616. (See map here). The idea never found much recognition. Aside from maps and globes made by Plancius between 1612 and 1614, it was only shown in 1660 in one of the maps of Andreas Cellarius' famous star atlas Harmonia Macrocosmica. Sources: Wikipedia, John C. Barentine: The Lost Constellations

Mirrored image of Cancer Minor in Harmonia Macrocosmica Source: The Lost Constellations

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