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Canis Minor

Genitive: Canis Minoris

Northern Winter 183 sq° CMi

Brightest star: Procyon (mag 0.34)

RA 07h 35m 60.0s · Dec +6d 00' 0"

Just two stars (Procyon and Gomeisa)

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Canis Minor - Mythology

Mythology

The Lesser Dog, Orion's second hunting companion. Sometimes identified as Maera, the faithful dog of Icarius who led his daughter to her father's grave.

Observing Highlights

A small constellation dominated by Procyon, the eighth brightest star. Procyon forms the Winter Triangle with Sirius and Betelgeuse. Few deep-sky objects.

When is Canis Minor up?

Showing 50.0° N, 0.0° E. Save your location for a personalised chart.
12:0015:0018:0021:0000:0003:0006:0009:0012:00JanJan 00:00 — altitude 46°Jan 01:00 — altitude 44°Jan 02:00 — altitude 39°Jan 03:00 — altitude 32°Jan 04:00 — altitude 23°Jan 05:00 — altitude 14°Jan 06:00 — altitude 4° (twilight)Jan 07:00 — altitude -5° (twilight)Jan 08:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Jan 09:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Jan 10:00 — altitude -29° (daytime)Jan 11:00 — altitude -33° (daytime)Jan 12:00 — altitude -34° (daytime)Jan 13:00 — altitude -32° (daytime)Jan 14:00 — altitude -28° (daytime)Jan 15:00 — altitude -21° (daytime)Jan 16:00 — altitude -13° (daytime)Jan 17:00 — altitude -4° (daytime)Jan 18:00 — altitude 5° (twilight)Jan 19:00 — altitude 15°Jan 20:00 — altitude 24°Jan 21:00 — altitude 33°Jan 22:00 — altitude 40°Jan 23:00 — altitude 45°Jan: best around 00:00 localFebFeb 00:00 — altitude 39°Feb 01:00 — altitude 32°Feb 02:00 — altitude 23°Feb 03:00 — altitude 13°Feb 04:00 — altitude 4°Feb 05:00 — altitude -6°Feb 06:00 — altitude -15° (twilight)Feb 07:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Feb 08:00 — altitude -29° (daytime)Feb 09:00 — altitude -33° (daytime)Feb 10:00 — altitude -34° (daytime)Feb 11:00 — altitude -32° (daytime)Feb 12:00 — altitude -28° (daytime)Feb 13:00 — altitude -21° (daytime)Feb 14:00 — altitude -13° (daytime)Feb 15:00 — altitude -4° (daytime)Feb 16:00 — altitude 6° (daytime)Feb 17:00 — altitude 15° (daytime)Feb 18:00 — altitude 25° (twilight)Feb 19:00 — altitude 33° (twilight)Feb 20:00 — altitude 40°Feb 21:00 — altitude 45°Feb 22:00 — altitude 46°Feb 23:00 — altitude 44°Feb: best around 22:00 localMarMar 00:00 — altitude 24°Mar 01:00 — altitude 15°Mar 02:00 — altitude 5°Mar 03:00 — altitude -4°Mar 04:00 — altitude -13°Mar 05:00 — altitude -21° (twilight)Mar 06:00 — altitude -28° (daytime)Mar 07:00 — altitude -32° (daytime)Mar 08:00 — altitude -34° (daytime)Mar 09:00 — altitude -33° (daytime)Mar 10:00 — altitude -29° (daytime)Mar 11:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Mar 12:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Mar 13:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Mar 14:00 — altitude 4° (daytime)Mar 15:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Mar 16:00 — altitude 23° (daytime)Mar 17:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Mar 18:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Mar 19:00 — altitude 44° (twilight)Mar 20:00 — altitude 46°Mar 21:00 — altitude 44°Mar 22:00 — altitude 40°Mar 23:00 — altitude 32°Mar: best around 20:00 localAprApr 00:00 — altitude 5°Apr 01:00 — altitude -4°Apr 02:00 — altitude -13°Apr 03:00 — altitude -21°Apr 04:00 — altitude -28° (twilight)Apr 05:00 — altitude -32° (daytime)Apr 06:00 — altitude -34° (daytime)Apr 07:00 — altitude -33° (daytime)Apr 08:00 — altitude -28° (daytime)Apr 09:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Apr 10:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Apr 11:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Apr 12:00 — altitude 4° (daytime)Apr 13:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Apr 14:00 — altitude 23° (daytime)Apr 15:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Apr 16:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Apr 17:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Apr 18:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Apr 19:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Apr 20:00 — altitude 39° (twilight)Apr 21:00 — altitude 32°Apr 22:00 — altitude 24°Apr 23:00 — altitude 14°Apr: best around 21:00 localMayMay 00:00 — altitude -13°May 01:00 — altitude -21°May 02:00 — altitude -28° (twilight)May 03:00 — altitude -32° (twilight)May 04:00 — altitude -34° (daytime)May 05:00 — altitude -33° (daytime)May 06:00 — altitude -29° (daytime)May 07:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)May 08:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)May 09:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)May 10:00 — altitude 4° (daytime)May 11:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)May 12:00 — altitude 23° (daytime)May 13:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)May 14:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)May 15:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)May 16:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)May 17:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)May 18:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)May 19:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)May 20:00 — altitude 24° (daytime)May 21:00 — altitude 14° (twilight)May 22:00 — altitude 5° (twilight)May 23:00 — altitude -5°JunJun 00:00 — altitude -28° (twilight)Jun 01:00 — altitude -32° (twilight)Jun 02:00 — altitude -34° (twilight)Jun 03:00 — altitude -33° (twilight)Jun 04:00 — altitude -28° (daytime)Jun 05:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Jun 06:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Jun 07:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Jun 08:00 — altitude 4° (daytime)Jun 09:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Jun 10:00 — altitude 23° (daytime)Jun 11:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Jun 12:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Jun 13:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Jun 14:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Jun 15:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Jun 16:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Jun 17:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Jun 18:00 — altitude 24° (daytime)Jun 19:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Jun 20:00 — altitude 5° (daytime)Jun 21:00 — altitude -5° (twilight)Jun 22:00 — altitude -14° (twilight)Jun 23:00 — altitude -22° (twilight)JulJul 00:00 — altitude -34°Jul 01:00 — altitude -33° (twilight)Jul 02:00 — altitude -29° (twilight)Jul 03:00 — altitude -22° (twilight)Jul 04:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Jul 05:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Jul 06:00 — altitude 4° (daytime)Jul 07:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Jul 08:00 — altitude 23° (daytime)Jul 09:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Jul 10:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Jul 11:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Jul 12:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Jul 13:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Jul 14:00 — altitude 40° (daytime)Jul 15:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Jul 16:00 — altitude 24° (daytime)Jul 17:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Jul 18:00 — altitude 5° (daytime)Jul 19:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Jul 20:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Jul 21:00 — altitude -22° (twilight)Jul 22:00 — altitude -28° (twilight)Jul 23:00 — altitude -32° (twilight)AugAug 00:00 — altitude -28°Aug 01:00 — altitude -22°Aug 02:00 — altitude -14°Aug 03:00 — altitude -5° (twilight)Aug 04:00 — altitude 4° (twilight)Aug 05:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Aug 06:00 — altitude 23° (daytime)Aug 07:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Aug 08:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Aug 09:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Aug 10:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Aug 11:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Aug 12:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Aug 13:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Aug 14:00 — altitude 24° (daytime)Aug 15:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Aug 16:00 — altitude 5° (daytime)Aug 17:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Aug 18:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Aug 19:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Aug 20:00 — altitude -28° (twilight)Aug 21:00 — altitude -33° (twilight)Aug 22:00 — altitude -34°Aug 23:00 — altitude -32°SepSep 00:00 — altitude -14°Sep 01:00 — altitude -5°Sep 02:00 — altitude 5°Sep 03:00 — altitude 14°Sep 04:00 — altitude 24° (twilight)Sep 05:00 — altitude 32° (twilight)Sep 06:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Sep 07:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Sep 08:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Sep 09:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Sep 10:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Sep 11:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Sep 12:00 — altitude 23° (daytime)Sep 13:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Sep 14:00 — altitude 4° (daytime)Sep 15:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Sep 16:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Sep 17:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Sep 18:00 — altitude -29° (daytime)Sep 19:00 — altitude -33° (twilight)Sep 20:00 — altitude -34° (twilight)Sep 21:00 — altitude -32°Sep 22:00 — altitude -28°Sep 23:00 — altitude -21°Sep: best around 03:00 localOctOct 00:00 — altitude 4°Oct 01:00 — altitude 14°Oct 02:00 — altitude 23°Oct 03:00 — altitude 32°Oct 04:00 — altitude 39°Oct 05:00 — altitude 44° (twilight)Oct 06:00 — altitude 46° (daytime)Oct 07:00 — altitude 44° (daytime)Oct 08:00 — altitude 39° (daytime)Oct 09:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Oct 10:00 — altitude 24° (daytime)Oct 11:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Oct 12:00 — altitude 5° (daytime)Oct 13:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Oct 14:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Oct 15:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Oct 16:00 — altitude -28° (daytime)Oct 17:00 — altitude -33° (daytime)Oct 18:00 — altitude -34° (twilight)Oct 19:00 — altitude -32°Oct 20:00 — altitude -28°Oct 21:00 — altitude -22°Oct 22:00 — altitude -14°Oct 23:00 — altitude -5°Oct: best around 04:00 localNovNov 00:00 — altitude 24°Nov 01:00 — altitude 32°Nov 02:00 — altitude 39°Nov 03:00 — altitude 44°Nov 04:00 — altitude 46°Nov 05:00 — altitude 44°Nov 06:00 — altitude 39° (twilight)Nov 07:00 — altitude 32° (daytime)Nov 08:00 — altitude 23° (daytime)Nov 09:00 — altitude 14° (daytime)Nov 10:00 — altitude 4° (daytime)Nov 11:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Nov 12:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Nov 13:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Nov 14:00 — altitude -29° (daytime)Nov 15:00 — altitude -33° (daytime)Nov 16:00 — altitude -34° (daytime)Nov 17:00 — altitude -32° (twilight)Nov 18:00 — altitude -28° (twilight)Nov 19:00 — altitude -21°Nov 20:00 — altitude -13°Nov 21:00 — altitude -4°Nov 22:00 — altitude 5°Nov 23:00 — altitude 15°Nov: best around 04:00 localDecDec 00:00 — altitude 39°Dec 01:00 — altitude 44°Dec 02:00 — altitude 46°Dec 03:00 — altitude 44°Dec 04:00 — altitude 39°Dec 05:00 — altitude 32°Dec 06:00 — altitude 24° (twilight)Dec 07:00 — altitude 14° (twilight)Dec 08:00 — altitude 5° (daytime)Dec 09:00 — altitude -5° (daytime)Dec 10:00 — altitude -14° (daytime)Dec 11:00 — altitude -22° (daytime)Dec 12:00 — altitude -28° (daytime)Dec 13:00 — altitude -33° (daytime)Dec 14:00 — altitude -34° (daytime)Dec 15:00 — altitude -32° (daytime)Dec 16:00 — altitude -28° (daytime)Dec 17:00 — altitude -22° (twilight)Dec 18:00 — altitude -14°Dec 19:00 — altitude -5°Dec 20:00 — altitude 5°Dec 21:00 — altitude 15°Dec 22:00 — altitude 24°Dec 23:00 — altitude 32°Dec: best around 02:00 local
below horizon astronomical dark — low to high altitude twilight daytime (sun up) best night-time hour

Right now

Daytime
Below horizon (-25°)

Upcoming (local)

Rise 10:35
Transit 17:01 46°
Set 23:29

Across the year

Best month December
Peak altitude 46°
Circumpolar here no
Dark-sky hours / year 1704

Neighboring Constellations

Monoceros Gemini Hydra Cancer

Main Stars in Canis Minor

20
Procyon

HIP 37279; Alpha CMi; 10 CMi

0.38 mag 5.1″ B: 11.7 F5IV-V Very Hard
Gomeisa

HIP 36188; Beta CMi; 3 CMi

2.90 mag 138.6″ B: 11.6 B8Ve Very Hard
Gamma CMi

HIP 36284; Gamma CMi; 4 CMi

4.32 mag 138.2″ B: 10.8 K3-IIIFe-0.5 Hard
HIP 39311
4.39 mag 224.9″ B: 10.3 K2III Medium
6 CMi

HIP 36425; 6 CMi

4.54 mag K1+IIIBa0.4 Easy
Epsilon CMi

HIP 36041; Epsilon CMi; 2 CMi

4.99 mag G6.5IIb Easy
Zeta CMi

HIP 38373; Zeta CMi; 13 CMi

5.14 mag B8II Easy
Eta CMi

HIP 36265; Eta CMi; 5 CMi

5.25 mag 4.3″ B: 11.1 F0III Very Hard
Delta CMi

HIP 36641; Delta1 CMi; 7 CMi

5.25 mag F0III Easy
14 CMi

HIP 38962; 14 CMi

5.29 mag 100.1″ B: 9.4 K0III Medium
1 CMi

HIP 35987; 1 CMi

5.30 mag A5IV Easy
11 CMi

HIP 37921; 11 CMi

5.30 mag A1Vnn Easy
HIP 34987
5.35 mag 51.0″ B: 10.0 K2II Medium
Delta CMi

HIP 36723; Delta2 CMi; 8 CMi

5.59 mag F2V Easy
HIP 35005
5.62 mag G6III Easy
HIP 39213
5.65 mag A1V Easy
HIP 34387
5.75 mag gK0 Easy
Delta CMi

HIP 36812; Delta3 CMi; 9 CMi

5.81 mag 72.9″ B: 10.8 A0Vnn Hard
HIP 35120
5.82 mag M4-IIIab Easy
HIP 38712
5.86 mag F2IV Easy

Double Stars in Canis Minor

10
Procyon

HIP 37279; Alpha CMi; 10 CMi

0.38 mag 5.1″ B: 11.7 F5IV-V Very Hard
HIP 34987
5.35 mag 51.0″ B: 10.0 K2II Medium
14 CMi

HIP 38962; 14 CMi

5.29 mag 100.1″ B: 9.4 K0III Medium
Eta CMi

HIP 36265; Eta CMi; 5 CMi

5.25 mag 4.3″ B: 11.1 F0III Very Hard
Gamma CMi

HIP 36284; Gamma CMi; 4 CMi

4.32 mag 138.2″ B: 10.8 K3-IIIFe-0.5 Hard
Gomeisa

HIP 36188; Beta CMi; 3 CMi

2.90 mag 138.6″ B: 11.6 B8Ve Very Hard
HIP 39311
4.39 mag 224.9″ B: 10.3 K2III Medium
Delta CMi

HIP 36812; Delta3 CMi; 9 CMi

5.81 mag 72.9″ B: 10.8 A0Vnn Hard
HR 2950
6.02 mag 0.8″ B: 7.0 A0III Very Hard
HIP 39213
5.65 mag A1V Easy

Deep Sky Objects in Canis Minor

7
Galaxy (7)
NGC 2470 survey image
NGC 2470
14.0 mag 2.2 Sab Very Hard
NGC 2538 survey image
NGC 2538
14.0 mag SBa Very Hard
NGC 2510 survey image
NGC 2510
14.0 mag S0 Very Hard
NGC 2350 survey image
NGC 2350
14.0 mag S0-a Very Hard
NGC 2508 survey image
NGC 2508
14.0 mag E Very Hard
IC 2231 survey image
IC 2231
15.0 mag 2.0 E Very Hard
NGC 2496 survey image
NGC 2496
15.0 mag E Very Hard