CONSTELLATION OF CANIS MAJOR

Name: Canos Major
Abbreviation: CMa
Meaning: Great Dog
Right Ascension: 7h
Declination: -20º
Area (Degrees squared): 380
Stars with known planets: 2
Bordering Constellations: Monoceros, Lepus, Columba, Puppis

Visible at latitudes between +60º and -90º and best at mid-evening during February. In the northern hemisphere, the constellation of Canis Major is considered a winter constellation and is visible from December to April depending on the time of night.

Canis Major was included in the 1st century astronomer Ptolemy's 48 constellations and remains among the 88 modern constellations. Canis Major contains Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, known as the dog star. This star is part of the asterism known as the Winter Triangle in the northern hemisphere or the summer triangle in the southern heisphere.

In 2003 an international team of astronomers discovered a small irregular galaxy in Canis Major. At about 42,000 light years away, it is the nearest neighbouring galaxy to our own.