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rounds - orbiting again and again around Earth - it moves in front of the constellations of the Zodiac, passing the same stars and constellations again and again.
• The chart at the top of this post shows tonight's moon in Cancer. But Cancer is so faint that you will have a tough time spotting it in the glare of tonight's fat crescent moon.
• Instead, use tonight to learn what's cool about this constellation. First, take a look at the chart to see the boundaries of Cancer. The sun passes in front of this constellation from about July 20 to August 10 every year. Wait, you say, that doesn't match astrological dates? That's because the constellation of Cancer as we see it in the real sky - and the astrological sign of Cancer - are not the same thing.
• Cancer, though one of the dimmest constellations of the Zodiac, is still very significant. In ancient times, this constellation won much fanfare because the sun shone in front of Cancer during the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice. Some 2,800 years ago, the star Asellus Australis actually marked the summer solstice point in the sky. Nowadays, the sun has its annual conjunction with Asellus Australis on or near August 1
• Also in our day, the sun shines in front of the constellation Taurus the Bull on the summer solstice. Because the sun reaches its northernmost point from the Earth's equator on the summer solstice, you'd think the northernmost extent of the sun's travels would be called the tropic of Taurus. But no. Look on the globe and you'll find the sun's northernmost latitude labeled as the tropic of Cancer, in deference to this faint yet celebrated constellation.
• Bottom line: On Thursday, May 16, 2013, the moon is in front of the faint constellation Cancer. The moon's glare will make Cancer tough to spot. Good night to use your imagination!
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