Canis Major facts for kids
| Constellation | |
List of stars in Canis Major
|
|
| Abbreviation | CMa |
|---|---|
| Genitive | Canis Majoris |
| Pronunciation | genitive |
| Symbolism | the greater dog |
| Right ascension | 7 |
| Declination | −20 |
| Quadrant | SQ2 |
| Area | 380 sq. deg. (43rd) |
| Main stars | 8 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars |
32 |
| Stars with planets | 6 |
| Stars brighter than 3.00m | 5 |
| Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly) | 1 |
| Brightest star | Sirius (α CMa) (−1.46m) |
| Messier objects | 1 |
| Meteor showers | None |
| Bordering constellations |
|
| Visible at latitudes between +60° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of February. |
|
Canis Major is a bright constellation found in the southern part of the sky. Its name comes from Latin and means "the greater dog." There is also a smaller constellation called Canis Minor, which means "the lesser dog."
Long ago, a famous astronomer named Ptolemy listed Canis Major as one of 48 constellations. Today, it is still recognized as one of the 88 modern constellations by the International Astronomical Union.
Sirius: The Brightest Star
The most famous star in Canis Major is Sirius. It is also known as the "Dog Star." Sirius is the brightest star you can see in the night sky. It shines with a magnitude of -1.44.
Sirius is also very close to Earth. It is only about 8.6 light years away. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year. This makes Sirius one of our closest stellar neighbors.
Mythology and History
In ancient stories, Canis Major is often seen as one of the hunting dogs of Orion, the great hunter. Orion is another well-known constellation that appears nearby in the sky.
Many cultures around the world have seen different shapes and stories in the stars of Canis Major. Its bright stars have guided sailors and inspired storytellers for thousands of years.
Images for kids
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Sirius A, the brightest star in the night sky, lies in Canis Major.
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Canis Major as depicted on the Manuchihr Globe made in Mashhad 1632-33 AD.
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Canis Major, observed above Kuantan (north is towards top right)
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Canis Major as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825. Next to it are Lepus and Columba (partly cut off).
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Very Large Telescope image of the surroundings of VY Canis Majoris
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ESO 489-056 is an irregular dwarf galaxy, located 16 million light-years distant.
See also
In Spanish: Canis Maior para niños
