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Lambda Canis Majoris — Star in Canis Major

Magnitude 4.5m Star Canis Major (CMa) Visible
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Observe

1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.48
Spectral Type B4V
Star Color Blue (B-V -0.17)
Distance 251 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 06h 28m 10.1s
Dec -32° 34' 48.0"
Constellation Canis Major (CMa)
HR 2361
HIP 30788
HD 45813
SAO 196857
Bayer Lambda
SIMBAD

3How easy to spot?

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Equipment Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
Naked eye Medium+ Medium Medium
50mm finder Easy Easy Easy
150mm scope Easy Easy Easy
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

4Visibility

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Best season Nov – Jan (peak: Dec)

5Survey Image

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Explore

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Size Comparison

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Compare Stars

9

Spectral Classification

10

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
11

Stellar Lifecycle

12

Blackbody Spectrum

13

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

14

Stellar Fusion

Discover

15

Light Travel Time Machine

16

Relativistic Travel

Nearby in the Sky

Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.

Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.

HIP 30840
Hard+
Tight double — a rewarding split at 1.2″
Double Star mag 5.74 0.2° Canis Major
NGC 2243
Easy
Open cluster
Open Cluster mag 9.4 1.3° Canis Major
NGC 2298
Easy
Globular cluster — dense ball of ancient stars
Globular Cluster mag 9.4 5.5° Puppis
NGC 2217
Easy
Bright spiral galaxy
Galaxy mag 10.4 5.5° Canis Major
Show on Map

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Canis Major
Mythology, bright stars, and deep-sky highlights.
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The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
The HR diagram turns the night sky into a physics map: every named star has a spot, every spot tells you mass, age, and fate. A guide for amateur observers.
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