Cancer (Constellation)
Contents
- Overview
- Stars in Cancer
- Open Clusters
- Galaxies
- Bordering Constellations
- Astronomical symbol
- References
Overview
Cancer, The Crab, is a faint zodiacal constellation. It contains an impressive open cluster, M44, also known as The Beehive.
Stars in Cancer
Acubens (Alpha Cancri / α Cnc / HIP44066)
An A class star with an apparent magnitude of +4.25 that is located 173.58 light years away. The name Acubens means 'claw'.
Al Tarf (Beta Cancri / β Cnc / HIP40526)
An K class star with an apparent magnitude of +3.5 that is located 290.43 light years away. It has a spectral type of K4III.
Asellus Borealis (Gamma Cancri / γ Cnc / HIP42806)
An A class star with an apparent magnitude of +4.65 that is located 158.48 light years away. It has a spectral type of A1IV.
Asellus Australis (Delta Cancri / δ Cnc / HIP42911)
A K class star with an apparent magnitude of +3.9 that is located 136.07 light years away. It has a spectral type of K0III.
Epsilon Cancri (ε Cnc / HIP42556 / 41 Cnc / HR 3429 / HD73731)
An A class star with an apparent magnitude of +6.3 that is located 548.16 light years away. It has a spectral type of Am. Epsilon Cancri is one of the brighter stars in the open cluster Praesepe, also known as Messier 44.
Tegmine (Zeta Cancri / ζ Cnc / HIP40167)
A multiple star system consisting of ζ1 Cnc and ζ2 Cnc which are both binary systems. ζ1 has two components, ζ Cancri A and ζ Cancri B. ζ2 also has two components, ζ Cancri Ca and ζ Cancri Cb.
Eta Cancri (η Cnc / HIP41909)
An red giant star of spectral type K3III. It has an apparent magnitude of +5.3 and is located at a distance of 311.81 light years from our solar system. Eta Cancri has a companion[1], η Cancri B, an ultra-cool red dwarf with a surface temperature of around 2000K.
Iota Cancri (ι Cnc)
A binary star system comprising of ι Cnc A (HIP43103A), a class G star with a spectral type of G7.5 and an apparent magnitude +4, and ι Cnc B (HIP43100B), a white dwarf of spectral type A3.
Open Clusters
Praesepe (or The Beehive) (Messier 44 / NGC 2632)
After the Pleiades and the Hyades in the constellation of Taurus, Praesepe is probably one of the best naked eye clusters. With a brightness of +3.7 it is a fairly bright cluster in what is actually quite a faint constellation. Among some of the stars within M44 are 35, 38, 39, 40, 42 Cancri, and ε Cancri.
Messier 67 (NGC 2682)
A faint cluster with an apparent magnitude +6.9
Galaxies
NGC 2672
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +11.6.
NGC 2673
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +12.9.
NGC 2730
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +13.
NGC 2744
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +13.4.
NGC 2749
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +12.
NGC 2750 (GC 1756 / H 3.29)
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +12.
NGC 2761
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 2790
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
NGC 2791
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 2794
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
NGC 2795
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
NGC 2797
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
NGC 2801
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 2802
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
NGC 2804
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
NGC 2806
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 2807
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 2809
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 2812
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 2813
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +15.
NGC 2819
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
IC 2437
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
IC 2454
A galaxy with an apparent magnitude of +14.
Bordering Constellations
The constellation of Cancer shares its borders with the following constellations: Lynx, Gemini, Canis Minor, Hydra, Leo, and a corner of Leo Minor.
Astronomical symbol
The Astronomical symbol for the constellation Cancer is represented by the Unicode character '♋'
References
[1] University of Hertfordshire (2010, February 19). Red dwarf-red giant binary pair of stars found. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216221147.htm
