Canis Major, the Greater Dog (CMa)

(CAN-iss MAY-jer)

The Southern constellation of Canis Major, the Greater Dog, is best viewed in Winter during the month of February. It's brightest star is Sirius at magnitude -1.46. The boundary of the Canis Major constellation contains 9 stars that host known exoplanets.

Sirius is the 7th closest star to Earth at 8.66 light years. Red hypergiant VY Canis Majoris is the 7th largest known star in the universe at 1,400 times the size of the Sun.

1. Pronunciation:
2. CAN-iss MAY-jer

1. Meaning:
2. Greater Dog

1. Genitive:
2. Canis Majoris

1. Abbreviation:
2. CMa

1. Constellation Family:
2. Orion

1. Hemisphere:
2. Southern

1. Quadrant:
2. SQ2

1. Best viewing month*:
2. February

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 6h 50m

1. Declination (avg):
2. -22° 19'

1. Brightest star:
2. Sirius (-1.46)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 9

Brightest Stars in Canis Major

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Canis Major by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Alpha Canis Majoris (α Cma)
2. -1.46
3. A0m

1. Epsilon Canis Majoris (ε Cma)
2. 1.5
3. B2II

1. Delta Canis Majoris (δ Cma)
2. 1.83
3. F8Ia

1. Beta Canis Majoris (β Cma)
2. 1.98
3. B1II/III

1. Eta Canis Majoris (η Cma)
2. 2.45
3. B5Ia

1. Zeta Canis Majoris (ζ Cma)
2. 3.02
3. B2.5V

1. Omicron² Canis Majoris (ο² Cma)
2. 3.02
3. B3Ia

1. Sigma Canis Majoris (σ Cma)
2. 3.49
3. K4III

1. Kappa Canis Majoris (κ Cma)
2. 3.5
3. B1.5IVne

1. Omicron Canis Majoris (ο¹ Cma)
2. 3.89
3. K3Iab

Star Clusters in Canis Major

The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Canis Major . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star cluster
2. Catalog #
3. Cluster type

1. Collinder 140
3. open

1. Messier 41
2. M41
3. open

1. Mexican Jumping Star
2. C64
3. open

1. NGC 2204
3. open

1. NGC 2360
3. open

Nebulae in Canis Major

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Canis Major. Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Dolphin Nebula
3. planetary

1. Thor's Helmet
3. emission

Milky Way Satellites in Canis Major

Dwarf satellite galaxies that orbit the Milky Way Galaxy located in the constellation Canis Major. Also see all Milky Way satellite galaxies.

1. Galaxy name
2. Alt name
3. Magnitude

1. Canis Major Dwarf

* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).