Canis Minor Constellation | Constellations In The Northern Hemisphere

CANIS MINOR CONSTELLATION – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about the constellation Canis Minor, the Smaller Dog.

It is a small constellation in the northern sky. It is the Latin term for “the smaller dog” or “lesser dog” and is represented by one of the dogs following the Greek hunter Orion, with the other dog representing Canis Major, the Greater Dog.

In other legends, it is said to represent Maera, who is known as the dog of the unlucky wine-maker Icarius, who was slain by his friends after they had mistaken drunkenness for a murder attempt.

It houses Procyon, one of the brightest stars in the night sky, Luyten’s Star, one of the nearest stars to Earth, and the spiral galaxy NGC 2485.

The constellation is the 71st largest constellation in size which occupies an area of 183 square degrees. It can be found in NQ2, the second quadrant in the northern hemisphere.

It belongs to the Orion family of constellations, along with Canis Major, Lepus, Monoceros, and Orion.

The constellation does not contain any Messier objects nor does it have any stars with known planets.

Stars

Among the stars include: