// Constellation
Canis Major
“Great Dog”
- Latin name
- Canis Major (CMa)
- Best visibility
- evenings in February
- Fully visible between
- 57° N – 90° S
- Naked-eye stars
- 90
Canis Major is highest in the evening sky (around 9 pm) in February. The whole constellation rises above the horizon between 57° N and 90° S. Its brightest star is Sirius at magnitude -1.44 — about 9 light-years away.
The brightest stars
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sirius | α CMa | -1.44 | 9 ly |
| Adhara | ε CMa | 1.5 | 405 ly |
| Wezen | δ CMa | 1.83 | 1,607 ly |
| Mirzam | β CMa | 1.98 | 493 ly |
| Aludra | η CMa | 2.45 | 1,989 ly |
| Furud | ζ CMa | 3.02 | 362 ly |
More constellations
Star data: HYG database. Constellation borders: IAU.