The Great Dog
Canis Major
Genitive: Canis Majoris · abbreviation CMa
Best evening month
February
Visible from
90°S to 64°N
Centre RA
6h 30m 00s
Centre Dec
−26° 00′
In your sky
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Mythology & origin
One of Orion's hunting dogs, sometimes identified with Laelaps, a dog destined to catch whatever it chased. Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, is its eye.
Ptolemy · Almagest, 2nd century AD
Brightest stars
- mag -1.44
Sirius
α Canis Majoris · HIP 32349
- mag 1.50
Adhara
ε Canis Majoris · HIP 33579
- mag 1.83
Wezen
δ Canis Majoris · HIP 34444
- mag 1.98
Mirzam
β Canis Majoris · HIP 30324
- mag 2.45
Aludra
η Canis Majoris · HIP 35904
- mag 3.02
Furud
ζ Canis Majoris · HIP 30122
- mag 3.02
Al Zara
ο2 Canis Majoris · HIP 33977
- mag 3.49
Unurgunite
σ Canis Majoris · HIP 33856
- mag 3.50
κ Canis Majoris
HIP 32759
- mag 3.89
Udra
ο1 Canis Majoris · HIP 33152