Canis Major Constellation | Constellations In The Southern Hemisphere

CANIS MAJOR CONSTELLATION – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about the southern constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog.

It is a constellation in the southern sky. It is a Latin term for ‘the greater dog’ and represents the bigger dog following the hunter Orion in Greek mythology.

The dog is depicted to be pursuing the hare, which is represented by the constellation Lepus. It is also depicted as a dog standing on its hind legs.

The constellation was described as the “the dog with the blazing face” because it appears to be holding the brightest star Sirius in its jaws.

It is also associated with Laelaps, the fastest dog in the world who is destined to catch anything it pursued.

Canis Major is home to the brightest star in the sky Sirius, as well as the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy, the open cluster Messier 41, the emission nebula Thor’s Helmet, and the colliding spiral galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163.

It is the 43rd largest constellation in the night sky and occupies an area of about 380 square degrees. It lies in SQ2, the second quadrant of the southern hemisphere.

Canis Major belongs to the Orion family, along with Canis Minor, Lepus, Monoceros, and Orion.

Stars

Among the stars include: