Canis Major

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Related to Canis Major: Sirius

Canis Major

(kā`nĭs) [Lat.,=greater dog], constellationconstellation,
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 MinorCanis 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 SiriusSirius
, or Dog Star,
brightest star in the sky. It is located in the constellation Canis Major (1992 position R.A. 6^h44.8^m, Dec. −16°42'); its Bayer designation is Alpha Canis Majoris. Sirius [Gr.
..... 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 AdharaAdhara
, bright star in the constellation Canis Major; Bayer designation ε Canis Majoris; 1992 position R.A. 6^h58.3^m, Dec. −31°54'. A bluish-white giant (spectral class B2 II) with apparent magnitude 1.
..... 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

(kay -niss) (Great Dog) A conspicuous constellation in the southern hemisphere, lying partly in the Milky Way. The brightest stars are Sirius (α), the second brightest star in the sky (after the Sun) and one of the nearest stars to our Solar System; the 1st-magnitude giant Adhara (∊); and the giant Mirzam (β) and supergiant Wezen (δ), both close to 2nd magnitude and very remote and luminous. The area contains the open cluster M41 (NGC 2287). Another cluster, NGC 2362, apparently centered on Tau (τ) Canis Majoris, makes an interesting telescopic sight. Abbrev.: CMa; genitive form: Canis Majoris; approx. position: RA 7h, dec –20°; area: 380 sq deg.

Canis Major

a constellation in the southern hemisphere, whose brightest star, Sirius, has a visual stellar magnitude of -1.4. Best visibility conditions occur in December and January. Canis Major is visible in the central and southern regions of the USSR.

Canis Major

[‚kā·nəs ′mā·jər]

(astronomy)

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

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References in periodicals archive ?

98, making Canis Major the only constellation with exactly four stars of magnitude 2.

Colors and Clusters: You don't have to wait for summer nights to see a pleasingly colored double star

It is scheduled to fly again in December 2018, when it will look at Epsilon Canis Major.

How Did The Intergalactic Medium Get Charged?

The nebula adjoining the star HD 44179 is situated just one degree north of the boundary with Canis Major.

Mythical monoceros--unicorn of the skies

Whilst in Canis Major, lets not forget to look at Sirius, and see if perhaps its companion, the 'pup' as it is sometimes known, can be seen.

Sky notes: 2010 February and March

In August, ancient Egyptians watched the bright star Sirius rise just before dawn in the constellation Canis Major, which means "big dog.

Dog days of summer-party

It is Sirius in Canis Major who is the greater dog and he trots after his master's heels to the left and below Saiph.

Our ancestors were more attuned to the passing of the seasons; Astronomical notes for December by Gill Pilfold of the Birmingham Astronomical Society

The brightest star is Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major (the Great Dog), with a magnitude of -1.

Constellations

My study window Faces east, out over the meadow, And I see this morning That the sheep have scattered On the hillside, their white shapes Making the pattern of the stars In Canis Major, the constellation Around Sirius, the Dog Star, Whom my father when we were small Used to point out, calling it For some reason I forget Little Dog Peppermint.

Byways

More commonly, Sirius is known as the "Dog Star," a nickname that makes sense because it's the beacon of Canis Major the constellation of the Big or Great Dog.

Star track: wonders of the winter sky

But Canis Major features four other stars brighter than

The Great Overdog: Sirius isn't the only star that shines brightly in Canis Major

Located in the direction of the constellation Canis Major, the nebula enshrouds a large, bright star named EZ Canis Majoris.

Hubble Spies A Nebula Surrounding A Nearby Wolf-Rayet Star

To the left is Sirius (the brightest stars in the night sky) in the Canis Major (the Great Dog).