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Stars and Sticks| Abbreviation | Crt |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Cup |
| Pronunciation Guide is based on “Pronouncing Astronomical Names,” published in 1943 by the American Astronomical Society. | CRAY-ter |
| Genitive The genitive is the Latin possessive form used in star names. For example, Alpha Orionis means “the Alpha of Orion.” | kray-TAIR-is |
| Best Month | April |
| Visibility | Global |
| 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 | Challenging |
| Description | The ornate two-handled wine cup of Apollo sits on the back of the great Water Snake (Hydra), guarded by the neighboring Crow (Corvus). In myth the crow was sent to fill this cup with spring water for Apollo but returned late with an excuse about a serpent blocking the source. Apollo immortalized all three — the cup, the crow, and the snake — together in the sky as a permanent tableau of the crow's deception. The constellation is one of Ptolemy's original 48 and has been recognized since antiquity. The brightest star, Delta Crateris, is an orange giant about 195 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 →
