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Canis Major constellation

Canis Major is a constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Sirius. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Winterbest seen
  • Siriusbrightest star, magnitude −1.4
  • CMaCanis Major
Show on the sky map
The constellation Canis Major in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Sirius, Canis Major — magnitude −1.4. Open on the sky mapSiriusAdhara, Canis Major — magnitude 1.5. Open on the sky mapAdharaWezen, Canis Major — magnitude 1.8. Open on the sky mapWezenMirzam, Canis Major — magnitude 2.0. Open on the sky mapMirzamSaiph, Orion — magnitude 2.1. Open on the sky mapAludra, Canis Major — magnitude 2.5. Open on the sky mapAludraFurud, Canis Major — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapAl Zara, Canis Major — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapUnurgunite, Canis Major — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapUdra, Canis Major — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapν² Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapω Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapθ Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapMuliphein, Canis Major — magnitude 4.1. Open on the sky mapξ¹ Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapι Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapτ Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapν³ Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky map27 Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapξ² Canis Majoris — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Canis Major

Follow the line of Orion’s Belt down and to the left (to the southeast) — it leads to Sirius, the brightest star of the night sky. Sirius is the main star of Canis Major.

Best seen in winter: in February around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 16°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgonly partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Siriusα Canis Majoris −1.4bluish whiteabout 8.6 light years
Adharaε Canis Majoris 1.5blue—
Wezenδ Canis Majoris 1.8yellow—
Mirzamβ Canis Majoris 2.0blue—
Aludraη Canis Majoris 2.5bluish white—
Furudζ Canis Majoris 3.0blue—
Al Zaraο² Canis Majoris 3.0bluish white—
Unurguniteσ Canis Majoris 3.5red—
κ Canis Majoris 3.5blue—
Udraο¹ Canis Majoris 3.9red—
ν² Canis Majoris 4.0orange—
ω Canis Majoris 4.0blue—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Canis Major in the sky?

Follow the line of Orion’s Belt down and to the left (to the southeast) — it leads to Sirius, the brightest star of the night sky. Sirius is the main star of Canis Major.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Canis Major?

In winter: in February around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major?

Sirius: magnitude −1.4, bluish white. Distance: about 8.6 light years.

How many stars are there in the constellation Canis Major?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 90 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Winter constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Canis Major is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map