The Canis Minor constellation
CMi · Catalogue stars: 6
Why this name?
Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog, is a second celestial dog often associated with Orion the hunter. Ancient authors also offered other interpretations of the figure.
A little history
The name of its brightest star, Procyon, means ‘before the dog’: for observers in ancient Greece, it rose before Sirius, the principal star of Canis Major.
Data
- IAU code
- CMi
- Catalogue stars
- 6
- Messier objects
- 0
- Brightest star
- Procyon · 0.4ᵐ
Stars
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 36284 · 4.3ᵐ · K3III SB
- HIP 39311 · 4.4ᵐ · K2III
- HIP 36425 · 4.5ᵐ · K2III
- HIP 36041 · 5.0ᵐ · G8III
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 37° | 76° |
| +55° | 42° | 77° |
| +45° | 52° | 80° |
| +30° | 67° | 82° |
| 0° | 83° | 83° |
| −35° | 48° | 81° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 23:50 |
| February | 21:43 |
| March | 19:57 |
| April | 18:04 |
| May | 16:10 |
| June | 14:03 |
| July | 12:00 |
| August | 09:59 |
| September | 08:05 |
| October | 06:17 |
| November | 04:16 |
| December | 02:07 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Canis Minor?
Procyon — 0.4ᵐ.