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CONSTELLATION OF CANIS MINOR |
Name: Canos Minor
Abbreviation: CMi
Meaning: Lesser Dog
Right Ascension: 8h
Declination: +5º
Area (Degrees squared): 183
Stars with known planets: 0
Bordering Constellations: Monoceros, Gemini, Cancer,
Hydra
Visible at latitudes between +85º and -75º and best at mid-evening during March. In the northern hemisphere, the constellation of Canis Minor
is considered a winter constellation and is visible from December to May depending on the time of night.
Canis Minor was included in the 1st century astronomer Ptolemy's 48 constellations and remains among the 88 modern constellations.
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| Canis Minor |
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| Observations |
Canis Minor is a small constellation with just two bright stars and no deep sky object brighter than magnitude 13, too faint
for the amateur astronomer. Because the Milky Way lies in the southwest portion of the constellation,
the faint galaxies found all lie in the northeast portion of Canis Minor's boundaries. Think of the line drawn
between the two stars as the edge of the Milky Way.
Deep Sky Objects:
NGC 2485 - Galaxy, magnitude 13.00
Numbered Stars with Magnitudes:
1. +0.40 - Procyon
2. +2.85 - Gomeisa
Star number 1, at 7000 degrees is similar in temperature to the Sun. It has a white dwarf companion, best seen in professional telescopes.
The reason Procyon appears so bright from Earth is its proximity of just 11.4 light years distance. Star number 2 lies a much more distant 170 light years away.
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