Canis Major

Canis Major, the Great Dog, contains Sirius, the brightest star in the entire night sky at magnitude -1.46. Sirius is a binary system consisting of a main-sequence A-type star and a white dwarf companion, Sirius B, whose discovery confirmed the existence of white dwarfs. The ancient Egyptians used the heliacal rising of Sirius to predict the annual flooding of the Nile.

The Orion family groups constellations associated with the legendary hunter Orion, one of the most spectacular and universally recognized figures in the sky. This family occupies a region rich in bright stars and nebulae, making it one of the most rewarding areas for observation. Orion itself contains two first-magnitude stars (Betelgeuse and Rigel), the iconic three-star Belt, and the Great Orion Nebula — a stellar nursery visible to the naked eye.

Mythology & History

Orion was a giant huntsman of extraordinary beauty and skill. In the most common version of the myth, he was killed by a scorpion sent by Gaia (or Artemis), which is why Orion and Scorpius are placed on opposite sides of the sky and never appear together. His two hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor, follow at his heels, with Canis Major containing Sirius — the brightest star in the entire night sky. Lepus the Hare crouches at his feet, and Monoceros the Unicorn was later placed in the gap between his dogs.

Observation Tips

Orion family constellations are best observed during northern hemisphere winter (December-February) and are visible from virtually every inhabited part of Earth. The Orion Nebula (M42) is the most photographed deep sky object and is visible to the naked eye as the middle 'star' of Orion's sword. Sirius in Canis Major, at magnitude -1.46, is unmistakable. Betelgeuse's distinctive red-orange color and semi-regular brightness variations (it is a red supergiant nearing the end of its life) make it a fascinating target for ongoing observation.

HIP 29658HIP 29710HIP 29717HIP 29722HIP 29732HIP 29733HIP 29750HIP 29754HIP 29756HIP 29784HIP 29785HIP 29802HIP 29803HIP 29805HIP 29809HIP 29811HIP 29817HIP 29829HIP 29862HIP 29863HIP 29941HIP 30001HIP 29877HIP 31540HIP 31541HIP 31543HIP 30062HIP 30063HIP 30066HIP 31553HIP 31554HIP 31557HIP 31558HIP 31560HIP 30171HIP 30174HIP 29923HIP 29928HIP 31599HIP 30330HIP 30334HIP 30390HIP 30395HIP 30397HIP 30398HIP 30406HIP 29966HIP 29973

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Canis Major constellation?
Canis Major (CMa) is one of the 88 IAU-recognized constellations in the Southern hemisphere. Canis Major, the Great Dog, contains Sirius, the brightest star in the entire night sky at magnitude -1.46. Sirius is a binary system consisting of a main-sequence A-type star and a white dwarf compan
How many stars are cataloged in Canis Major?
StarFYI currently catalogs 1,367 stars in the constellation Canis Major.
What is the brightest star in Canis Major?
The brightest star in Canis Major is Sirius.
How large is the Canis Major constellation?
Canis Major covers 380.12 square degrees of the sky.
What family does Canis Major belong to?
Canis Major belongs to the Orion Family of constellations.