The Crab
Cancer
Genitive: Cancri · abbreviation Cnc
Best evening month
March
Visible from
63°S to 90°N
Centre RA
8h 33m 00s
Centre Dec
+27° 00′
In your sky
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Mythology & origin
The crab sent by Hera to distract Heracles as he fought the Hydra; crushed underfoot, it was placed among the stars. Home of the Beehive Cluster (M44).
Ptolemy · Almagest, 2nd century AD
Zodiac
♋︎ The sign of Cancer
The astrological sign shares this name but no longer matches the stars' dates — see why.