It's supposed to look like a dog. The especially bright star (Sirius) at the front top corner can be the dog's eye or nose. He is following right behind the constellation Orion, the Hunter.
Canis Major.
VY Canis Majoris belongs in the constellation Canis Major
Canis Major
Sirius = Alpha Canis Majoris. In other words, it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, or Big Dog.
Canis major is a constellation not a single star
Procyon is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor
Yes it does and it is called the Canis Majorconstellation. The final shape of the constellation looks like a cat or a dog.
canis major
Canis Major
Canis Major is a constellation, therefore there is no centre.
vy canis majoris in the constellation canis major
A proper noun is the name or a person, place, thing, or a title. The proper noun for 'constellation' is the name of a constellation, for example:Andromeda, Canis Major and Canis Minor, Orion, etc."Strange Constellations: A History of Australian Science Fiction" by Russell Blackford, Van Ikin, and Sean McMullen