Cancer

IAU Code: Cnc

NASA Code: Canc

Genitive Name: Cancri /ˈkæŋkraɪ

Origin: ancient (Ptolemy)

Meaning: crab

Brightest Star: Tarf

Constellation	Meaning	Brightest Star
Andromeda	Andromeda (The chained maiden or princess)	Alpheratz
Antlia	air pump	α Antliae
Apus	Bird-of-paradise/Exotic Bird/Extraordinary Bird	α Apodis
Aquarius	water-bearer	Sadalsuud
Aquila	eagle	Altair
Ara	altar	β Arae
Aries	ram	Hamal
Auriga	charioteer	Capella
Bootes	herdsman	Arcturus
Caelum	chisel or engraving tool	α Caeli
Camelopardalis	giraffe	β Camelopardalis
Cancer	crab	Tarf
Canes Venatici	hunting dogs	Cor Caroli
Canis Major	greater dog	Sirius
Canis Minor	lesser dog	Procyon
Capricornus	sea goat	Deneb Algedi
Carina	keel	Canopus
Cassiopeia	Cassiopeia (mythological character)	Schedar
Centaurus	centaur	Rigil Kentaurus
Cepheus	Cepheus (mythological character)	Alderamin
Cetus	sea monster (later interpreted as a whale)	Diphda
Chamaeleon	chameleon	α Chamaeleontis
Circinus	compasses	α Circini
Columba	dove	Phact
Coma Berenices	Berenice's hair	β Comae Berenices
Corona Australis	southern crown	Meridiana
Corona Borealis	northern crown	Alphecca
Corvus	crow	Gienah
Crater	cup	δ Crateris
Crux	southern cross	Acrux
Cygnus	swan or Northern Cross	Deneb
Delphinus	dolphin	Rotanev
Dorado	dolphinfish	α Doradus
Draco	dragon	Eltanin
Equuleus	pony	Kitalpha
Eridanus	river Eridanus (mythology)	Achernar
Fornax	chemical furnace	Dalim
Gemini	twins	Pollux
Grus	crane	Alnair
Hercules	Hercules (mythological character)	Kornephoros
Horologium	pendulum clock	α Horologii
Hydra	Hydra (mythological creature)	Alphard
Hydrus	lesser water snake	β Hydri
Indus	Indian (of unspecified type)	α Indi
Lacerta	lizard	α Lacertae
Leo	lion	Regulus
Leo Minor	lesser lion	Praecipua
Lepus	hare	Arneb
Libra	balance	Zubeneschamali
Lupus	wolf	α Lupi
Lynx	lynx	α Lyncis
Lyra	lyre / harp	Vega
Mensa	Table Mountain (South Africa)	α Mensae
Microscopium	microscope	γ Microscopii
Monoceros	unicorn	β Monocerotis
Musca	fly	α Muscae
Norma	carpenter's level	γ2 Normae
Octans	octant (instrument)	ν Octantis
Ophiuchus	serpent-bearer	Rasalhague
Orion	Orion (mythological character)	Rigel
Pavo	peacock	Peacock
Pegasus	Pegasus (mythological winged horse)	Enif
Perseus	Perseus (mythological character)	Mirfak
Phoenix	phoenix	Ankaa
Pictor	easel	α Pictoris
Pisces	fishes	Alpherg
Piscis Austrinus	southern fish	Fomalhaut
Puppis	poop deck	Naos
Pyxis	mariner's compass	α Pyxidis
Reticulum	eyepiece graticule	α Reticuli
Sagitta	arrow	γ Sagittae
Sagittarius	archer	Kaus Australis
Scorpius	scorpion	Antares
Sculptor	sculptor	α Sculptoris
Scutum	shield (of Sobieski)	α Scuti
Serpens	snake	Unukalhai
Sextans	sextant	α Sextantis
Taurus	bull	Aldebaran
Telescopium	telescope	α Telescopii
Triangulum	triangle	β Trianguli
Triangulum Australe	southern triangle	Atria
Tucana	toucan	α Tucanae
Ursa Major	great bear	Alioth
Ursa Minor	lesser bear	Polaris
Vela	sails	γ2 Velorum
Virgo	virgin or maiden	Spica
Volans	flying fish	β Volantis
Vulpecula	fox	Anser

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