Cancer Minor (constellation)
Cancer Minor (Latin for "lesser crab") was a constellation composed from a few stars in Gemini adjacent to Cancer. The constellation was introduced in 1612 (or 1613) by Petrus Plancius.[1]
The 5th-magnitude stars constituting Cancer Minor were HIP 36616, and , , 81 and , forming a faint natural arrow-shaped asterism.
It is only found on a few 17th-century Dutch celestial globes and in the atlas of Andreas Cellarius. It was no longer used after the 18th century.
See also[]
- Obsolete constellations
- Dutch celestial cartography in the Age of Discovery
- Constellations created and listed by Dutch celestial cartographers
References[]
Categories:
- Former constellations
- Constellations listed by Petrus Plancius
- Dutch celestial cartography in the Age of Discovery
- Astronomy in the Dutch Republic
- 1610s in the Dutch Republic
- Astronomy stubs