Cancer, the Crab (Cnc)
(CAN-ser)
The Northern constellation of Cancer, the Crab, is best viewed in Spring during the month of March. It's brightest star is Altarf at magnitude 3.53. The boundary of the Cancer constellation contains 10 stars that host known exoplanets.
- Pronunciation:
- CAN-ser
- Meaning:
- Crab
- Genitive:
- Cancri
- Abbreviation:
- Cnc
- Constellation Family:
- Zodiacal
- Hemisphere:
- Northern
- Quadrant:
- NQ2
- Best viewing month*:
- March
- Right Ascension (avg):
- 8h 30m
- Declination (avg):
- 23° 34'
- Brightest star:
- Altarf (3.53)
- Stars with planets:
- 10
Brightest Stars in Cancer
The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Cancer by magnitude.
- Star
- Magnitude
- Spectral class
- Beta Cancri (β Cnc)
- 3.53
- K4III
- Delta Cancri (δ Cnc)
- 3.94
- K0III
- Iota Cancri (ι Cnc)
- 4.03
- G8Iab
- Alpha Cancri (α Cnc)
- 4.26
- A5m
- Gamma Cancri (γ Cnc)
- 4.66
- A1IV
- Zeta Cancri (ζ Cnc)
- 4.67
- F7V+F9V+G0+
- HD 71115
- 5.13
- G8II
- 8 Cancri (8 Cnc)
- 5.14
- A1V
- Chi Cancri (χ Cnc)
- 5.14
- F6V
- Xi Cancri (ξ Cnc)
- 5.16
- K0III
Double Stars in Cancer
These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Cancer. Also see all star clusters.
- Star system
- Magnitudes
- Type
- Zeta Cancri
- 5.3, 5.9
- double
- Iota Cancri
- 4.1, 6.0
- double
Star Clusters in Cancer
The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Cancer . Also see all star clusters.
* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.
** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).
