Crater

Crater is positioned between the expansive constellations of Hydra, Leo, and Virgo, Crater's subtlety and smaller size often render it challenging to spot without the aid of a telescope, particularly in regions inundated with light pollution.

History

Cataloged by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century, Crater derives its name from Latin, signifying a "cup" or "bowl." In Greek mythology, Crater is loosely associated with the cup of Apollo or sometimes linked to the goblet of Dionysus.

Stars

The most prominent luminary within Crater is Delta Crateris (δ Crateris), a yellow-white dwarf star situated approximately 200 light-years away from Earth. With a visual magnitude of around 3.6, Delta Crateris stands as the brightest star within this constellation, although Crater lacks other notable bright stars.

Clusters

Despite its scarcity of prominent stars, Crater does contain a few noteworthy deep-sky objects. Among these is the open star cluster NGC 3981, located near the border of Crater and Hydra. This cluster, while relatively faint, offers an intriguing celestial sight best observed through a telescope.