Cancer

Astronomy

Cancer lies between Leo and Gemini at about 8 hours 25 minutes right ascension and 20° north declination. It also contains another star cluster called Praesepe or the Beehive.

Fixed Stars

Alhena:

Canopus:

Castor:

Dirah:

Pollun:

Procyton:

Propus:

Sirus:

Tejat:

Wasat:

Western Mythologies

Babylonians

The Babylonians called it Shittu, the crab, or Nangaru Sha Eqli, "the carpenter of the field".

Chaldeans: The image which the Chaldeans projected onto this constellation was two animals in the form of an ass.

Egyptians

This constellation was considered to be the Scarabeaus or Beatle

Phoenicians

Greek

The greeks likely developed the same theme as the Chaldeans by relating the constelation to the same pair of asses where they became associated with Jupiter adventures, where he claimed victory over the giants. However it changed to the crab on account of Hercules contest with the Lerniean hdra monster. This is when Juno sends a sea crab to bire the heels of hercules feet, thus the crab is homoured by being placed into the constellations.

Arabic

India

Considered the constellation took the form of a Crab.

European Indigenous Mythologies

"Q" Celts

Irish:

"P" Celts

Breton:

Basque: Porcupine or Tourtose

Welsh:

Astrocelt 1998