Constellation Chart

The Cancer is a compact constellation squeezed between Leo and Gemini, members of zodiac. The constellation is in the shape of a monster of crab crushed by Hercules. The constellation of Cancer has a famous and splendid open cluster of Praesepe (M44) at the shell of the crab.

Galaxies In Cancer

M44 (NGC2632)

M44 (NGC2632) is a bright open cluster clearly visible to the naked eye on a dark enough sky. The cluster is well-known as "The Praesepe", meaning of a crib, and also called "The Beehive Cluster" in English. It's best appreciated with binoculars or small scope, its 1.5 degree size is equivalent to about three full-moons end-to-end, and distance is estimated about 520 light years. This grouping is so large it was known in antiquity, when it was thought to be something non-stellar object like a nebula. Japanese had regarded the cluster as a lump of souls in the ancient time, and the sight of it had terrified them.

M67 (NGC2682)

M67 (NGC2682) is an open cluster about 9 degrees south-east of the Praesepe (M44), with a diameter of 15 arc minutes. The cluster is positioned just 2 degrees west of alpha Canicri, so it should be easy to find the figure like a nebula with binoculars. You can appreciate the individual stars with a telescope over 6cm (2.4"), plenty of faint stars with magnitude about 11 to 13 are scattered like gold dust, and detectable that the whole of shape is like a hemisphere. M67 consists of about 100 stars, and they're over ten billion years old. Distance from the solar system is estimated about 2700 light years.

NGC2775

NGC2775 is a small outer galaxy positioned at southeastern edge of the constellation of Cancer, near the border to Hydra. You can find out the galaxy about 4 degrees ENE of zeta Hydrae that forms the Hydra's head. The galaxy can be detected as a round dimmed light with a brightness of 11th magnitude and an apparent diameter of about 5 arc minutes, and a medium-sized telescope can catch a central nucleus.

Planetary Destinations In Cancer

55 Cancri

Parent Star: iota Cancri, is 55 Cancri ( rho1 Cancri / HD 75732 )(G8 V) in the constellation of Cancer is located at a distance of 43.7 Light Years from our Solar system Co-ordinates are Right Ascension: 08 52 37.60 & Declination: +28 20 02.6. The apparent Magnitude of the star is 5.95. The Inner Edge of Habitability Zone is 0.42 AU & the Outer Edge of Habitability Zone: 1.32 AU . Orbiting around 55 Cancri are planetary objects of 55 Cancri e, 55 Cancri b, 55 Cancri c, 55 Cancri d. 55 Cancri Solar System

55 Cancri e is believed to be a Hot Super Earth and its exitence has been confirmed. The Planets Appearance is Silicate clouds over dark sodium haze. The planet is positioned out side of Habitability Zone at Mean Orbital Distance of 0.038 1 0.001 AU . The planet Orbits around the star every 2.808 1 0.002 Days. It's mass is 14.31 1 3.18 Earths and was discovered by McArthur et al in 2004.

55 Cancri b is believed to be a Clarified Jovian and its exitence has been confirmed. The Planets Appearance is Blue and cloudless. The planet is positioned out side of Habitability Zone at Mean Orbital Distance 0.115 1 0.003 AU. The planet Orbits around the star every 14.67 1 0.0006 Days. It's mass is 0.784 1 0.09 Jupiters and was discovered by Marcy and Butler in 1996.

55 Cancri c is believed to be a Clarified Jovian, Eccentric and its exitence has been confirmed. The Planets Appearance is Blue and cloudless. The planet is positioned out side of Habitability Zone at Mean Orbital Distance of 0.24 1 0.005 AU. The planet Orbits around the star every 43.93 1 0.021 Days. It's mass is 0.217 1 0.04 Jupiters and was discovered by Butler et al in 2002.

55 Cancri d is believed to be a Ammonia Cloud Jovian, Eccentric and its exitence has been confirmed. The Planets Appearance is White ammonia and water ice clouds, brown hydrocarbon stains. The planet is positioned out side of Habitability Zone at Mean Orbital Distance of 5.257 1 0.9 AU. The planet Orbits around the star every 4517.4 1 77.8 Days. It's mass is 3.92 1 0.5 Jupiters and was discovered by Butler et al. on 13 Jun 2002.