Crater is a faint constellation best seen in April. Click on image for full size (52K JPG) Windows Original

The constellation Crater is known as the Cup. Crater is a small constellation located between Hydra and Leo and next to Corvus. Crater is best seen sometime between March and June. You'll have to scan the sky closely because it is made mostly of dim stars.

The stories about Crater originate in Greek myth. It is said that Corvus, the crow, was sent by Apollo to get some spring water. He took the cup to fill, and came across a fig that wasn't quite ripe. He waited for it to turn ripe, which made him late on his return. He brought a serpent with him and told Apollo that it attacked him and that was why he was late.

Of course, Apollo knew everything, so he was very angry that Corvus lied. He sent the crow, the cup and the serpent all into the sky. Another story says the cup is actually the sacred goblet used by the Olympian Gods. At one time, the constellation was seen as the young boy, Ganymede, who used to serve the gods nectar in the goblet. Eventually it was changed to represent the cup.

There aren't any clusters or nebulae in the constellation. There are several faint galaxies, but none are of interest to amateur astronomers. Instead, you should concentrate on finding all the faint stars that make up the constellation!

Crater is a faint constellation best seen in April. Click on image for full size (52K JPG) Windows Original

The constellation Crater is known as the Cup. Crater is a small constellation located between Hydra and Leo and next to Corvus. Crater is best seen sometime between March and June. You'll have to scan the sky closely because it is made mostly of dim stars.

The stories about Crater come from Greek myth. It is said that Corvus, the crow, was sent by Apollo to get some spring water. He took the cup to fill, and came across a fig that wasn't quite ripe. He waited for it to turn ripe, which made him late on his return. He brought a serpent with him and told Apollo that it attacked him and that was why he was late.

Of course, Apollo knew everything, so he was very angry that Corvus lied. He sent the crow, the cup and the serpent all into the sky. Another story says the cup is actually the sacred goblet used by the Olympian Gods. At one time, the constellation was seen as the young boy, Ganymede, who used to serve the gods nectar in the goblet. It was changed to represent the cup.

Crater is a faint constellation best seen in April. Click on image for full size (52K JPG) Windows Original

The constellation Crater is known as the Cup! The stars in Crater are very faint, so it is hard to see. Crater is between Leo and Hydra. Corvus the Crow is next to it. You can see Crater from March through June.

In Greek mythology, the crow took the cup to a spring to get some water for Apollo. But he ate a fig before getting the water. He took a serpent with him back to Apollo.

Corvus was late, so he told Apollo the serpent attacked him. Apollo knew he was lying, so he put Corvus, Crater and the serpent in the sky. Corvus shouldn't have lied!