Canis Major definition of Canis Major in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Canis Major (kā`nĭs) [Lat.,=greater dog], constellation constellation, in common usage, group of stars that appear to form a configuration in the sky; properly speaking, a constellation is a definite region of the sky in which the configuration of stars is contained.
..... Click the link for more information. lying near the celestial equator, SE of Orion. Known as the Large Dog (Canis Minor Canis Minor [Lat.,=lesser dog], small constellation ying near the celestial equator, E of Orion and NE of Canis Major, the Large Dog. Known as the Small Dog, Canis Minor is traditionally identified as one of Orion's hunting dogs. It contains the bright star Procyon .
..... Click the link for more information. is the Small Dog), it was associated with the figure of a dog by many cultures; the ancient Greeks identified it as one of Orion's hunting dogs, while the Scandinavians called it Sigurd's dog. It contains Sirius Sirius (sĭr`ēəs), or Dog Star, brightest star in the sky.
..... Click the link for more information. , the brightest star in the heavens, also known as the Dog Star. Other bright stars in Canis Major are Adhara Adhara (ădhâr`ə), bright star in the constellation Canis Major ; Bayer designation ε Canis Majoris; 1992 position R.A.
..... Click the link for more information. (Epsilon Canis Majoris), Mirzam (Beta Canis Majoris), and Wezen (Delta Canis Majoris). The constellation reaches its highest point in the evening sky in February.

Canis Major [‚kā·nəs ′mā·jər]

(astronomy)

A constellation with right ascension 7 hours, declination 20°S. Abbreviated CMa. Also known as Greater Dog.