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Stars and Sticks| Abbreviation | Cnc |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Crab |
| Pronunciation Guide is based on “Pronouncing Astronomical Names,” published in 1943 by the American Astronomical Society. | CAN-ser |
| Genitive The genitive is the Latin possessive form used in star names. For example, Alpha Orionis means “the Alpha of Orion.” | KANG-kry |
| Best Month | March |
| Visibility | Northern |
| Origin | AncientThese figures are rooted in the classical Greek and Mesopotamian traditions cataloged by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD. |
| Author | PtolemyPtolemy, a 2nd-century Greco-Egyptian astronomer, cataloged the 48 classical constellations in his landmark work, the Almagest. These form the core of the 88 modern constellations recognized today. |
| Type | constellation |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Description | The faintest of all the zodiac constellations, Cancer was the crab sent by Hera to distract Hercules during his battle with the nine-headed Hydra. It pinched at Hercules's foot but was quickly crushed underfoot — Hera rewarded its loyalty by placing it among the stars. In ancient times Cancer marked the Summer Solstice, giving rise to the term 'Tropic of Cancer.' Its most celebrated feature is the Beehive Cluster (M44), one of the nearest and most prominent open clusters, easily visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy patch and containing over 1,000 stars about 577 light-years away. |
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Monthly sky charts courtesy of What's Out Tonight? — Copyright ©2026 Ken Graun. Star charts are optimized for mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Click a chart to view or download the PDF. For guidance on using the chart, or to purchase a planisphere and astronomy books, visit kenpress.com.
Images: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/E. Slawik · IAU and Sky & Telescope · Stellarium — Full credits →
