Pronunciation:

(KAN-ser)

Abbreviation:

Cnc

  Genitive:

Cancri

Right Ascension:

9 hours

  Declination:

20 degrees

Area in Square Degrees:

506

Crosses Meridian:

9 PM, March 15

Visible Between Latitudes:

90 and -60 degrees

The constellation Cancer, the crab, is visible in the northern hemisphere in the early spring. It is visible at latitudes between 90 degrees and -60 degrees. It is a medium-sized constellation filling 506 square degrees of the sky. It ranks 31st in size among the 88 constellations in the night sky. It is bordered by Gemini to the west, Lynx to the north, Leo Minor to the northeast, Leo to the east, Hydra to the south, and Canis Minor to the southwest. It is one of the thirteen constellations of the zodiac. This means it lies along the path the Sun travels in the sky during the year.

Cancer is one of the 48 constellations originally listed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. Its name means “the crab” in Latin. It is believed to represent the crab in the story of the twelve labors of Hercules. It was sent by the goddess Hera to distract Hercules while he is fighting the Hydra. When the crab tries to kill Hercules, he kicks it so hard that it is propelled into the sky among the stars. In another version, the crab tried to grab Hercules’ toe, but Hercules crushed it under his foot. In some ancient cultures this constellation was believed to be the gate through which souls passed from Heaven to Earth as they were born into human bodies.