Crater

Also known as Crt, Crateris, Crater (constellation)

constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere

AI overview

Crater is a small constellation located in the southern sky. It's one of the fainter constellations and represents a goblet or cup in Greek mythology.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Official name: Crater
Area: 282
Image: CraterCC.jpg

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Commons category: Crater (constellation)
short name: Crt

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Article

Crater is a small constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere. Its name is the Latinization of the Greek krater, a type of cup used to water down wine. One of the 48 constellations listed by the second-century astronomer Ptolemy, it depicts a cup that has been associated with the god Apollo and is perched on the back of Hydra the water snake.

There is no star brighter than third magnitude in the constellation. Its two brightest stars, Delta Crateris of magnitude 3.56 and Alpha Crateris of magnitude 4.07, are ageing orange giant stars that are cooler and larger than the Sun. Beta Crateris is a binary star system composed of a white giant star and a white dwarf. Seven star systems have been found to host planets. A few notable galaxies, including Crater 2 and NGC 3981, and a famous quasar lie within the borders of the constellation.