The Cancer constellation
Cnc · Catalogue stars: 6
Why this name?
According to Greek myth, a crab hindered Heracles during his battle with the Lernaean Hydra. Heracles crushed it, and Hera placed the crab in the sky.
A little history
In antiquity, the Sun lay in Cancer at the summer solstice. This gave the Tropic of Cancer its name, which survived after precession shifted the solstice point elsewhere.
Data
- IAU code
- Cnc
- Catalogue stars
- 6
- Messier objects
- 2
- Brightest star
- Tarf · 3.5ᵐ
Messier objects
Stars
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 43103 · 4.0ᵐ · G8Iab:
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 49° | 49° |
| +55° | 54° | 55° |
| +45° | 64° | 63° |
| +30° | 79° | 68° |
| 0° | 71° | 71° |
| −35° | 36° | 67° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 00:51 |
| February | 22:44 |
| March | 20:59 |
| April | 19:06 |
| May | 17:11 |
| June | 15:05 |
| July | 13:01 |
| August | 11:00 |
| September | 09:07 |
| October | 07:18 |
| November | 05:18 |
| December | 03:09 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Cancer?
Tarf — 3.5ᵐ.