Cancer

The constellation Cancer, named after the Latin word for "crab," occupies a portion of the northern celestial hemisphere. Positioned between Gemini to the west and Leo to the east, Cancer is recognized as one of the 12 constellations constituting the zodiac. Cancer's visibility in the night sky peaks during late winter and early spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Stars

While Cancer hosts several stars, its most prominent ones, Beta Cancri (Al Tarf) and Alpha Cancri (Al Zubanah), remain relatively faint.

Clusters

Notably, the Beehive Cluster (M44), also known as Messier 44 or Praesepe, stands as one of the constellation's primary deep-sky objects. Visible to the naked eye under favorable conditions, this bright open star cluster serves as a captivating target for amateur astronomers within Cancer.

History

Its mythological origin stems from the tale of a crab sent by the goddess Hera to thwart Hercules during his battle with the Hydra. In gratitude for its efforts, Hera immortalized the crab among the stars.