Canis Minor

Canis Minor

Constellation
List of stars in Canis Minor
Abbreviation	CMi
Genitive	Canis Minoris
Pronunciation	/ˌkeɪnɨs ˈmaɪnər/, genitive /ˈkeɪnɨs mɨˈnɒrɨs/
Symbolism	the lesser Dog
Right ascension	8
Declination	+5
Area	183 sq. deg. (71st)
Main stars	2
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	14
Stars with known planets	0
Bright stars	2
Nearby stars	1
Brightest star	Procyon (α CMi) (0.38m)
Nearest star	Procyon (α CMi) (11.4 ly)
Messier objects	0
Meteor showers	Canis-Minorids
Bordering constellations	Monoceros Gemini Cancer Hydra
Visible at latitudes between +85° and −75°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of March.

Canis Minor is a small constellation. It was included in the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy's 48 constellations, and is still included among the 88 modern constellations. Its name is Latin for "smaller dog" in contrast to Canis Major, the larger dog, and it is commonly represented as one of the dogs following the constellation of Orion the hunter.

Notable features

Canis Minor is a small constellation containing only two bright stars, Procyon (α CMi, 0.38^m) and Gomeisa (β CMi , 2.9^m). Procyon is the eighth brightest star in the night sky. Procyon means "before the dog" in Greek, as it rises an hour before the 'Dog Star', Sirius, of Canis Major.

Canis Minor has no deep sky object brighter than magnitude 15.

History and mythology

The ancient Greeks did not recognise Canis Minor it as a distinct constellation, and considered Orion to have had one dog, Canis Major.^{[citation needed]}

Canis Minor is sometimes connected with the Teumessian Fox, a beast turned into stone with its hunter, Laelaps, by Zeus, who placed them in heaven as Canis Major (Laelaps) and Canis Minor (Teumessian Fox).^[1]

1. ^ Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3,192.

See also

• Canis Major
• Orion
• Procyon

References

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

External links

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Canis Minor
• Star Tales – Canis Minor

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Canis Minor

Coordinates: 08^h 00^m 00^s, +05° 00′ 00″