Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog (CMi)
(CAN-iss MY-ner)
The Northern constellation of Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog, is best viewed in Spring during the month of March. It's brightest star is Procyon at magnitude 0.34. The boundary of the Canis Minor constellation contains 2 stars that host known exoplanets.
- Pronunciation:
- CAN-iss MY-ner
- Meaning:
- Lesser Dog
- Genitive:
- Canis Minoris
- Abbreviation:
- CMi
- Constellation Family:
- Orion
- Hemisphere:
- Northern
- Quadrant:
- NQ2
- Best viewing month*:
- March
- Right Ascension (avg):
- 7h 37m
- Declination (avg):
- 6° 46'
- Brightest star:
- Procyon (0.34)
- Stars with planets:
- 2
- Messier catalog objects:
- |
- Caldwell catalog objects:
- |
Brightest Stars in Canis Minor
The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Canis Minor by magnitude.
- Star
- Magnitude
- Spectral class
- Alpha Canis Minoris (α Cmi)
- 0.34
- F5IV-V
- Beta Canis Minoris (β Cmi)
- 2.89
- B8Vvar
- Gamma Canis Minoris (γ Cmi)
- 4.33
- K3III SB
- HD 66141
- 4.39
- K2III
- 6 Canis Minoris (6 Cmi)
- 4.55
- K2III
- Epsilon Canis Minoris (ε Cmi)
- 4.99
- G8III
- Zeta Canis Minoris (ζ Cmi)
- 5.12
- B8II
- Eta Canis Minoris (η Cmi)
- 5.22
- F0III
- Delta Canis Minoris (δ1 Cmi)
- 5.24
- F0III
- 11 Canis Minoris (11 Cmi)
- 5.25
- A1Vnn
Double Stars in Canis Minor
These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Canis Minor . Also see all star clusters.
- Star system
- Magnitudes
- Type
- Epsilon Canis Majoris
- 1.5, 7.5
- double
* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.
** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).