Delta Cancri is an orange giant with an apparent magnitude of 3.94. It is 180 light years distant. It is the second brightest star in Cancer. It marks the location of Praesepe (Messier 44), the famous open cluster, also known as the Beehive Cluster.
The star is also notable for its less famous name, Arkushanangarushashutu, which is the longest of all the known star names. It means “the southeast star in the Crab” in ancient Babylonian.
The star’s more commonly used name, Asellus Australis, means “southern donkey colt” in Latin.
Delta Cancri also lies close to the ecliptic and can be occulted by the Moon and, however rarely, by planets.