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 33084HIP 33164HIP 33165HIP 33182HIP 33183HIP 33186HIP 33187HIP 33197HIP 34884HIP 34887HIP 34888HIP 34894HIP 34895HIP 34898HIP 31791HIP 31794HIP 31799HIP 31803HIP 33362HIP 31811HIP 30457HIP 30461HIP 30464HIP 30468HIP 30469HIP 30514HIP 31821HIP 31824HIP 31827HIP 30530HIP 30534HIP 30537HIP 30538HIP 33781HIP 33784HIP 33787HIP 33841HIP 33820HIP 33843HIP 33844HIP 33846HIP 33850HIP 33865HIP 33867HIP 33868HIP 33872HIP 3388110 CMa

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.