Canis Major constellation
Canis Major (the Great Dog) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in February. Its brightest star is Sirius (magnitude −1.46). Canis Major covers 380 square degrees and is the 43rd-largest of the 88 constellations.
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How to find Canis Major, step by step
Follow Orion's Belt down to Sirius.
- Find Orion's Belt on a winter evening.
- Follow the belt down and to the left (southeast) about eight times its length.
- You reach Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, the nose of the Great Dog. The triangle of Adhara, Wezen and Aludra below it is the dog's hindquarters.
Detailed star map of Canis Major
Facts
| Latin name | Canis Major (genitive: Canis Majoris) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CMa |
| Meaning | the Great Dog |
| Area | 380 square degrees (43rd of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 6.8 h, declination −22° |
| Visible from | latitudes 57° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | February (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Sirius |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 87 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 8 |
| Messier objects | M41 |
| Neighbors | Columba, Lepus, Monoceros, Puppis |
How to find Canis Major
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in February evenings: at about 9 pm Canis Major stands highest, around 28° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 77° above the horizon. The months before and after (January and March) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Canis Major borders Columba, Lepus, Monoceros and Puppis.
Asterisms with stars in Canis Major: Winter Triangle, Winter Hexagon.
Stars of Canis Major
Canis Major has 87 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius | α Canis Majoris | −1.46 | A1Vm | 9 ly |
| Adhara | ε Canis Majoris | 1.5 | B2II | 430 ly |
| Wezen | δ Canis Majoris | 1.84 | F8Ia | — |
| Mirzam | β Canis Majoris | 1.98 | B1II-III | 492 ly |
| Aludra | η Canis Majoris | 2.45 | B5Ia | — |
| Furud | ζ Canis Majoris | 3.02 | B2.5V | 344 ly |
| — | ο2 Canis Majoris | 3.02 | B3Iab | — |
| Nganurganity | σ Canis Majoris | 3.47 | K7Ib | — |
| — | ω Canis Majoris | 3.85 | B2IV-Ve | — |
| — | ο1 Canis Majoris | 3.87 | K2+Iab | — |
| — | ν2 Canis Majoris | 3.95 | K1III | — |
| — | κ Canis Majoris | 3.96 | B1.5IVne | — |
Deep-sky objects in Canis Major
Canis Major contains one object from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Messier 41 (M41): open cluster, 4.5 mag
Printable Canis Major map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Canis Major figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Canis Major is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Canis Major
What is the brightest star in Canis Major?
Sirius, at magnitude −1.46, about 9 light-years away.
When can you see Canis Major?
Canis Major is best seen in the evening in February. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 57° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Canis Major?
87 stars in Canis Major are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 8 of them have official IAU names.
What does Canis Major mean?
Canis Major means “the Great Dog” in Latin. Its abbreviation is CMa and the genitive, used in star names such as α Canis Majoris, is Canis Majoris.
