Crater

The Cup

A small, faint spring constellation of a loose bowl of stars sitting on the back of Hydra, next to Corvus.

Chart drawn as the sky looks when you face the constellation: north is up and east is to the left. Dot size shows brightness, and color hints at temperature. The connecting lines are one common stick figure; other traditions draw them differently.

Best season: Spring
Best months: March through June, low in the south on spring evenings
Visibility: Visible from the United States, low in the south
Abbreviation: Crt

How to find it

Look to the right of Corvus, below Leo, for a loose bowl of faint stars.
Both Crater and Corvus sit on the back of Hydra, the long, faint snake.

Brightest stars

Alkes (the brightest star, only modestly bright)

What to look for

The cup shape, which needs a dark sky.

Using it to find other things

Crater lies just west of Corvus, below Leo.

About this constellation

Crater has no bright stars and no famous objects, but it is easy to find because it sits next to the lopsided quadrilateral of Corvus. On a dark spring night you can trace the cup between Leo and Hydra.

Related guides

Visibility depends on your latitude, the date, and the time of night. The months above assume a typical evening from the contiguous United States, so use a planetarium app to confirm what is up tonight. Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter.

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