Mythology
The Crab sent by Hera to distract Heracles during his battle with the Hydra. Though Heracles crushed it, Hera placed it in the sky as a reward for its service.
Observing Highlights
Home to the Beehive Cluster (M44, Praesepe), one of the finest open clusters for binoculars, and M67, one of the oldest known open clusters. A zodiacal constellation best seen in spring.
Main Stars
20
Main Stars
20
3.52 mag
29.4″
B: 14.3
K4III Ba0.5:
3.94 mag
40.9″
B: 12.2
G9III
4.02 mag
30.6″
B: 6.0
G7.5IIIaBa0.1
4.25 mag
10.3″
B: 11.8
A5m
4.66 mag
115.9″
B: 10.2
A1IV
HIP 39567; 8 Cnc
5.12 mag
A1V
5.13 mag
29.2″
B: 10.2
G7II-IIIFe-1
HIP 40843; Chi Cnc; 18 Cnc
5.14 mag
F6V
5.14 mag
0.2″
B: 6.2
G9IIIFe-1CH-0.5
HIP 43970; 62 Cnc
5.20 mag
975.6″
B: 5.7
A5III
5.20 mag
90.3″
B: 9.0
G8III
5.22 mag
G8II-III
HIP 44798; Kappa Cnc; 76 Cnc
5.24 mag
0.1″
B: 8.8
B8IIIpMn
5.30 mag
G1IVb
HIP 41909; Eta Cnc; 33 Cnc
5.33 mag
164.2″
B: 20.0
K3III
5.34 mag
K1III
HIP 41822; Theta Cnc; 31 Cnc
5.35 mag
74.5″
B: 11.8
K5III
HIP 43721; 57 Cnc
5.39 mag
1.5″
B: 6.4
G7III
HIP 43851; 60 Cnc
5.41 mag
gK5
HIP 44818; Tau Cnc; 72 Cnc
5.43 mag
G8III
Double Stars
15
Double Stars
15
4.02 mag
30.6″
B: 6.0
G7.5IIIaBa0.1
5.99 mag
10.1″
B: 7.2
F8V
6.40 mag
7.5″
B: 7.1
F4V
6.30 mag
5.2″
B: 6.2
A3V
HIP 41389; 24 Cnc
7.02 mag
5.7″
B: 7.5
F0III
HIP 44307; 66 Cnc
5.82 mag
4.5″
B: 8.6
A2V
HIP 42516; 39 Cnc
6.39 mag
151.8″
B: 6.6
G8III
3.52 mag
29.4″
B: 14.3
K4III Ba0.5:
6.21 mag
3.5″
B: 7.4
A0V
6.44 mag
20.7″
B: 10.4
G9III
3.94 mag
40.9″
B: 12.2
G9III
6.31 mag
44.9″
B: 11.0
A1V
5.13 mag
29.2″
B: 10.2
G7II-IIIFe-1
4.25 mag
10.3″
B: 11.8
A5m
5.20 mag
90.3″
B: 9.0
G8III
Variable Stars
8
Variable Stars
8HIP 45058
5.95 mag
M6IIIase
HIP 40534
7.13 mag
M7IIIe
HIP 43811
6.64 mag
5.69 - 6.94
SRB
C6II
HIP 41400; 27 Cnc
5.50 mag
5.41 - 5.75
SRB
M3III
HIP 40240; 15 Cnc
5.64 mag
5.53 - 5.65
ACV
B9pSiCr
HIP 42917; 49 Cnc
5.66 mag
5.58 - 5.71
ACV
A1pEuCr
HIP 44405; Nu Cnc; 69 Cnc
5.45 mag
A0pSi
HIP 43905
7.60 mag
7.6 - 10.5
SRB
C
Deep Sky Objects
30
Deep Sky Objects
30
Galaxy
(28)
NGC 2775
10.3 mag
5
Sab
12.6 mag
3.0
SBc
12.0 mag
2.3
SABc
14.0 mag
3.1
Sc
13.0 mag
3.6
Sa
14.1 mag
0.9
Sc
13.8 mag
0.6
Sb
14.0 mag
1.4
Sc
14.0 mag
1.7
SBb
12.4 mag
2.2
Sab
14.0 mag
1.3
Sb
13.7 mag
1.3
SBa
13.0 mag
2.4
Sa
12.1 mag
2.5
Sb
14.0 mag
1.2
SABb
14.0 mag
1.0
Sb
— mag
0.4
SBcd
14.0 mag
1.9
Sbc
14.0 mag
2.5
Sc
15.0 mag
2.0
SBb
— mag
1.4
SABa
— mag
1.2
Sc
— mag
2.6
Sc
— mag
SBc
14.0 mag
0.6
Sc
15.0 mag
0.4
Sa
15.0 mag
0.3
SABc
16.0 mag
0.3
Sab