Birthastro Menu

Cancer Constellation

Cancer Constellation

Cancer
Cancer
Cancer Constellation:
Astronomical perspectives define Cancer Constellation as the dizzy Constellation among 12 zodiac constellations. The astronomers, who chase the sparkle of the Cancer Constellation in the night sky, have to find out the vivid figure of the Crab, which represents the Cancer Zodiac Constellation. 
In the middle of Gemini & Leo, Cancer the Crab is seen in the dark sky in the North Celestial Hemisphere. As part of twelve renowned constellations in the zodiac family, Cancer Constellation was associated with mythological events in which Hercules finds difficulty doing his job.
In the second century(CE), well-known Greek-Egyptian astronomer Ptolemaeus discovered Cancer Constellation lying on the ecliptic pathway, surrounded by Gemini from the West and Leo from the East.

Significant Facts About Cancer Constellation:
Mythological Association:
In the Greek tale, when the Goddess Hera learned about Hercules, the son of Alcmene & the God Zeus, Hera became blind with rage, jealousy, and hatred.
While Hercules tied the marital knot with Theban princess Megara and had children, his stepmother Hera provoked him to kill his wife and children. Then Hercules appealed to the God Apollo for forgiveness for his sin. God’s oracle directed Hercules to serve King Eurysthes, who assigned Hercules twelve labors, which were very difficult.
While Hercules was busy in his second job and was fighting with the multi-headed serpent - Hydra of Lerna, Hera sent the giant crab Carcinos to attack Hercules. So, the giant crab was the secondary character in the mythological tale of Hercules. While the giant crab Carcinos attacked Hercules with his feet, the great warrior - Hercules crushed with his foot. Then Hera rewarded the Crab for his sacrifice by placing him among the stars. Thus, the Crab figure represents the Cancer Constellation.
Two Messier Objects in Cancer Constellation:
The most interesting celestial object in Cancer Constellation is the Beehive Cluster, a pretty open star cluster. In the open cluster, the stars are bound by gravitational power. Beehive Cluster is one of the closest open clusters to our solar family. The distance between Beehive Cluster & our solar system is 577 light years. 
Kepler Space Observatory discovered two planets with different orbits in Beehive Cluster 2012. The prettiest Beehive Cluster lies in the center point of the Cancer Constellation, and it looks like a swarm of bees.
Another well-recognized messier object in the Cancer Constellation is Messier 67, known to astronomers as the King Cobra Cluster or The Golden Eye Cluster. In the Southern Equatorial middle point of the Cancer constellation, Messier 67 was discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler in 1779.
Famous Exoplanet:
In 2005, April American Astronomical Society discovered the exoplanet - 55 Cancri as a famous exoplanet. The characteristics of Cancri 55 have defined it as a gas giant without any solid surface. 
Major Stars in Cancer Constellation:
Beta Cancri:
One of the most iconic stars in the Cancer constellation is Beta Cancri, which is also familiar with its traditional name AI Tarf. As a yellow-tinted giant star - Beta Cancri is positioned almost 290 light years away from our planet Earth. 
The estimated age of AI Tarf is 1.49 billion years. Based on radius AI Tarf is 45.3 times larger than our Sun. The visual magnitude range of Beta Cancri is +3.5, which makes this one of the brightest star variants in Cancer Constellation.
Delta Cancri:
As a star variant of Cancer Constellation, Delta Cancari is almost 180 light years away from our Sun. And Delta Cancri is 130.5 light years away from the planet Earth. The 3.94 magnitude range makes this star variant the second bright celestial figure in the Cancer zodiac Constellation.
Zeta Cancri:
Zeta Cancri is a star variant in the Cancer Constellation, composed of dual binary stars - Zeta 1 & Zeta 2 Cancri. The traditional name of Zeta Cancri is Tegmine, which interprets as ‘The Shell of the Crab.’ In the Cancer Constellation, Zeta Cancri is observed as a white to yellow colored sequence star variant. Zeta Cancri is almost 83.4 lightyears away from the Earth.
Lambda Cancri:
Lambda Cancri is a spectroscopic binary star system observed in the blue-white sequence in the Cancer Constellation. The visual magnitude range of Lambda Cancri is +5.93. The traditional name of Lambda Cancri is Piautos & it is located on the borderline of Cancer Constellation. Lambda Cancri is almost 457.45 light years away from our planet Earth. As a Blur colored star, Piautos is considered one of the hottest stars in the Cancer Constellation.
Xi Cancri :
The significance of Xi Cancri lies in its unique properties and roles in the Cancer Constellation. Being a Binary Star system, Xi Cancri is composed of dual stars with common orbits in this Constellation. The primary star variant- Xi Cancri A, has a Yellow glow with a G-type structure. The visual magnitude of Xi Cancri A is 5.14. The secondary star variant - Xi Cancri B, has a 5.64 magnitude range. 
Xi Cancri is almost 373 lightyears away from the Earth. The surface temperature of Xi Cancri is 5005 Kelvin. As a double giant star in the Cancer Constellation, Xi Cancri is located near the celestial equator and visible from both hemispheres.
Lota Cancri:
Lota Cancri is a variant composed of dual star combinations in the Cancer Constellation. The double stars of Lota Cancri are split by 30 arcseconds. The visual magnitude range of Lota Cancri s 4.02. Lota Cancri is almost 300 light years away from our planet Earth. Lota Cancri is an exclusive star variant in the Cancer Constellation with a contrast of colors such as Orange & Blue-White.
Epsilon Cancri:
Epsilon Cancri is the brightest member in the Cancer Constellation with the spectroscopic Binary Star system. The apparent magnitude of Epsilon Cancri is +6.29. Epsilon Cancri belongs to the Steller classification, which points out Epsilon Cancri as an A-type A5 III giant star variant in the Cancer Constellation.

What Is The Best Way To Find Cancer Constellation?
As the Cancer Constellation is renowned as the faintest, it is impossible to find the celestial giant Crab figure with the naked eye. But the few seasonal facts can help to find out this Constellation during the early Spring. Cancer Constellation is visible in the North Hemisphere, and in the Autumn, you can find the clear appearance of Cancer Constellation in the South Hemisphere. Besides, the giant Crab figure lies in the night sky in an ‘Upside-down pattern. So, this characteristic of Cancer Constellation’ also makes it easily detectable with minimum effort.

What Does Cancer Constellation Represent in Astrology?
As the 4th zodiacal Constellation, Cancer defines the characteristics of people born between the 21st of june and the 21st of July. As the crab represents the Cancer constellation, it is believed that the power of oceanic crustaceans defines the intuitions and abilities of the people as they can manifest a high level of sensitivity in both emotional & materialistic matters. 
As a crustacean creature, the Crab can feel the energies in their environment. Similarly, people, who belong to the Cancer zodiac sign, become highly sensitive about the surrounding ambiance, which drives them to be self-protective.
Solid external shells naturally shield crabs but can attack their enemies with full energy. So, the people with the Cancer zodiac sign can reveal their mystical capabilities under their rock-solid personality.

Conclusion:
The exotic discussion on Cancer Constellation represents all the significant details about its characteristics, which can be essential for exploring the astrological traits of the Cancer people.