What it looks like
Crater is a moderate southern constellation, drawn as a goblet or chalice resting on the body of Hydra the Water Snake. Its brightest stars sit near magnitude 4, making it fainter than its neighbours Corvus and Hydra, but its shape is fairly distinctive on spring evenings.
Brightest stars
Crater has no first- or second-magnitude stars; its brightest, Alkes, sits near magnitude 4.1.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkes (α Crateris) | +4.07 | 174 ly | The Cup |
| Labrum (δ Crateris) | +3.56 | 195 ly | The Lip |
| Gamma Crateris | +4.06 | 84 ly | — |
| Beta Crateris | +4.46 | 266 ly | — |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Crater is the cup carried by Apollo's crow, cast into the sky together with the crow and the water snake.
The cup of Apollo
Apollo sent his crow to fetch water from a spring, carrying a sacred cup. The crow lingered by a fig tree waiting for the fruit to ripen and, on finally returning, lied that a water snake had blocked his path. Apollo punished all three by placing them in the sky: the crow as Corvus, the cup as Crater, and the snake as Hydra. The cup rests forever on Hydra's back, just out of the crow's reach — a permanent reminder of the crow's deceit.
How to find it
Look for a faint cup shape just west of Corvus and above Hydra on spring evenings.
- Find Corvus first, then look slightly west.
- Crater is much fainter than its neighbours — use a star chart or app.
- Best on spring evenings from the northern hemisphere.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Crt
- Genitive
- Crateris
- Meaning
- The Cup
- Brightest star
- Alkes
- Main stars
- 4
- Area rank
- 53rd
- Best visible
- April
- Declination
- -15°
- Meteor showers
- —
- Neighbours
- Leo, Sextans, Hydra, Corvus, Virgo
Deep-sky objects
Crater contains few bright deep-sky objects; the constellation's main interest is the Crater Cluster (Abell 1060), a galaxy cluster about 160 million light-years away. The spiral galaxy NGC 3511 and NGC 3887 are faint but within reach of moderate telescopes.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Crater look like?
Crater is a faint southern constellation known as the Cup, sitting on the back of Hydra beside Corvus as part of the trio punished by Apollo.
What is the brightest star in Crater?
The brightest star in Crater is Alkes, shining at around magnitude 4.07.
When is Crater best visible?
Crater is best seen from both hemispheres during April.
What is the story behind Crater?
In Greek myth, Crater is the cup carried by Apollo's crow, cast into the sky together with the crow and the water snake.
Which constellations are near Crater?
Crater borders Leo, Sextans, Hydra, Corvus and Virgo.
Corvus
Hydra