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> Constellation of Cancer

Constellation of Cancer

author: A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-cst11-00007

Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 51 cm

Cancer (the Crab) is a rather small constellation of 506 square degrees without any bright stars, however, the stick figure above strongly hints at a crab-like shape. The ecliptic runs through the middle of the main stars, which makes it one of the 12 zodiacal constellations. It is best seen in the early evening in March. The most obvious feature in the image above is the large open cluster Messier 44, also known as Praesepe, which appears to the unaided eye as a fuzzy patch. It is easly resolved into numerous faint stars in binoculars, hence its popular name, the Beehive cluster. Though inconspicuous, the constellation gave its name to the Tropic of Cancer. In ancient times Cancer was where the Sun appeared at its maximum mid-day elevation at the time of the (northern) summer solstice. Because of the precession of the equinoxes the northern summer solstice now occurs when the Sun is in Taurus. However, the Tropic of Cancer is still so names, and is the line of latitude around the northern hemisphere where the Sun is directly overhead at local noon on the day of the summer solstice.

Keywords for this photo:

ASTRONOMY - CONSTELLATION - LINE - M44 - MAP - NGC 2632 - OPEN CLUSTER - POLLUX - POSTER - STAR - STAR CLUSTER - ZODIAC -