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Cancer

Genitive: Cancri

Northern 506 sq° Cnc

Brightest star: Tarf

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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
Tarf

HIP 40526; Beta Cnc; 17 Cnc

3.52 mag K4III Ba0.5:
Asellus Australis

HIP 42911; Delta Cnc; 47 Cnc

3.94 mag G9III
Iota Cnc

HIP 43103; Iota Cnc; 48 Cnc

4.02 mag 30.6″ B: 6.0 G7.5IIIaBa0.1
Acubens

HIP 44066; Alpha Cnc; 65 Cnc

4.25 mag 10.3″ B: 11.8 A5m
Asellus Borealis

HIP 42806; Gamma Cnc; 43 Cnc

4.66 mag 115.9″ B: 10.2 A1IV
8 Cnc

HIP 39567; 8 Cnc

5.12 mag A1V
HIP 41325
5.13 mag 29.2″ B: 10.2 G7II-IIIFe-1
Chi Cnc

HIP 40843; Chi Cnc; 18 Cnc

5.14 mag F6V
Nahn

HIP 44946; Xi Cnc; 77 Cnc

5.14 mag 0.2″ B: 6.2 G9IIIFe-1CH-0.5
62 Cnc

HIP 43970; 62 Cnc

5.20 mag 975.6″ B: 5.7 A5III
Sigma Cnc

HIP 44154; Sigma3 Cnc; 64 Cnc

5.20 mag 90.3″ B: 9.0 G8III
Rho Cnc

HIP 43834; Rho2 Cnc; 58 Cnc

5.22 mag G8II-III
Kappa Cnc

HIP 44798; Kappa Cnc; 76 Cnc

5.24 mag 0.1″ B: 8.8 B8IIIpMn
Mu Cnc

HIP 39780; Mu Cnc; 10 Cnc

5.30 mag G1IVb
Eta Cnc

HIP 41909; Eta Cnc; 33 Cnc

5.33 mag K3III
Pi Cnc

HIP 45410; Pi Cnc; 82 Cnc

5.34 mag K1III
Theta Cnc

HIP 41822; Theta Cnc; 31 Cnc

5.35 mag 74.5″ B: 11.8 K5III
57 Cnc

HIP 43721; 57 Cnc

5.39 mag 1.5″ B: 6.4 G7III
60 Cnc

HIP 43851; 60 Cnc

5.41 mag gK5
Tau Cnc

HIP 44818; Tau Cnc; 72 Cnc

5.43 mag G8III

Double Stars

15
Iota Cnc

HIP 43103; Iota Cnc; 48 Cnc

4.02 mag 30.6″ B: 6.0 G7.5IIIaBa0.1
HIP 42172
5.99 mag 10.1″ B: 7.2 F8V
HIP 44768
6.40 mag 7.5″ B: 7.1 F4V
Phi Cnc

HIP 41404; Phi2 Cnc; 23 Cnc

6.30 mag 5.2″ B: 6.2 A3V
24 Cnc

HIP 41389; 24 Cnc

7.02 mag 5.7″ B: 7.5 F0III
66 Cnc

HIP 44307; 66 Cnc

5.82 mag 4.5″ B: 8.6 A2V
39 Cnc

HIP 42516; 39 Cnc

6.39 mag 151.8″ B: 6.6 G8III
HIP 39607
6.21 mag 3.5″ B: 7.4 A0V
HIP 42549
6.44 mag 20.7″ B: 10.4 G9III
Omega Cnc

HIP 39263; Omega2 Cnc; 4 Cnc

6.31 mag 44.9″ B: 11.0 A1V
HIP 41325
5.13 mag 29.2″ B: 10.2 G7II-IIIFe-1
Acubens

HIP 44066; Alpha Cnc; 65 Cnc

4.25 mag 10.3″ B: 11.8 A5m
Sigma Cnc

HIP 44154; Sigma3 Cnc; 64 Cnc

5.20 mag 90.3″ B: 9.0 G8III
Meleph

HIP 42556; Epsilon Cnc; 41 Cnc

6.30 mag 134.0″ B: 7.5 A8Vn
Asellus Borealis

HIP 42806; Gamma Cnc; 43 Cnc

4.66 mag 115.9″ B: 10.2 A1IV

Variable Stars

6
R Cnc

HIP 40534

7.13 mag 6.07 - 12.30 M M7IIIe
RS Cnc

HIP 45058

5.95 mag 5.33 - 6.94 SRB M6IIIase
X Cnc

HIP 43811

6.64 mag 5.69 - 6.94 SRB C6II
T Cnc

HIP 43905

7.60 mag 7.6 - 10.5 SRB C
27 Cnc

HIP 41400; 27 Cnc

5.50 mag 5.41 - 5.75 SRB M3III
HIP 44126
6.38 mag 6.24 - 6.55 SRB M4III

Deep Sky Objects

30
Open Cluster (2)
Messier 44

NGC 2632

3.7 mag 95.
Messier 67

NGC 2682

6.1 mag 30.
Galaxy (28)
Caldwell 48

NGC 2775

10.3 mag 5 Sab
NGC 2535
12.6 mag 3.0 SBc
NGC 2750
12.0 mag 2.3 SABc
NGC 2595
14.0 mag 3.1 Sc
NGC 2648
13.0 mag 3.6 Sa
NGC 2536
14.1 mag 0.9 Sc
NGC 2623
13.8 mag 0.6 Sb
NGC 2514
14.0 mag 1.4 Sc
NGC 2512
14.0 mag 1.7 SBb
NGC 2545
12.4 mag 2.2 Sab
NGC 2582
14.0 mag 1.3 Sb
NGC 2598
13.7 mag 1.3 SBa
NGC 2599
13.0 mag 2.4 Sa
NGC 2608
12.1 mag 2.5 Sb
NGC 2735
14.0 mag 1.2 SABb
NGC 2777
14.0 mag 1.0 Sb
NGC 2625
— mag 0.4 SBcd
NGC 2565
14.0 mag 1.9 Sbc
NGC 2575
14.0 mag 2.5 Sc
NGC 2752
15.0 mag 2.0 SBb
IC 2226
— mag 1.4 SABa
IC 2339
— mag 1.2 Sc
IC 2421
— mag 2.6 Sc
NGC 2637
— mag SBc
IC 2217
14.0 mag 0.6 Sc
IC 2248
15.0 mag 0.4 Sa
IC 2288
15.0 mag 0.3 SABc
IC 2308
16.0 mag 0.3 Sab