When is the best time to observe Gomeisa?

Gomeisa is best observed from December through February, with peak visibility during January when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Gomeisa located in the sky?

Gomeisa lies in the constellation Canis Minor at right ascension 07h 27m and declination +08° 17′.

What telescope do I need to see Gomeisa?

At magnitude 2.9, Gomeisa is visible to the naked eye from dark skies, easy in any binoculars.

Gomeisa — Star in Canis Minor

HIP 36188; Beta Canis Minoris; 3 Canis Minoris

Magnitude 2.9^m Star Canis Minor (CMi) Visible

Star Map + List + Plan

About Gomeisa

Description

Gomeisa is a blue-white main-sequence star of spectral type B8Ve at magnitude 2.90, the second brightest star in Canis Minor. Located about 162 light-years from Earth, it has a luminosity of roughly 250 times solar. It is a Be star, rapidly rotating and occasionally ejecting gas into a circumstellar disk.

Observing Tips

Gomeisa lies about 4 degrees northwest of brilliant Procyon in the small constellation Canis Minor. It is a blue-white star providing a color contrast with the yellow-white Procyon. Canis Minor contains only these two bright stars. Best observed January through April.

History

The name Gomeisa comes from the Arabic 'al-ghumaisa,' meaning 'the bleary-eyed one.' In Arabic tradition, Gomeisa and Procyon were 'the two sisters' who wept for their brother (Sirius) who had crossed the Milky Way.

Fun Facts

Canis Minor is one of the smallest constellations, and essentially consists of just Procyon and Gomeisa — a contrast between a nearby yellow-white star and a distant hot blue star that happen to lie in almost the same direction from Earth.