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Xi Canis Majoris — Star in Canis Major

HIP 31125; Xi Canis Majoris; 4 Canis Majoris

Magnitude 4.3m Star Canis Major (CMa) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.33
Range 4.33 - 4.36
Period 5.0 hours
Variable Type Beta Cephei (Pulsating)
Spectral Type B0.5IV subgiant
Star Color Blue (B-V -0.24)

2Position & Identifiers

RA 06h 31m 51.3s
Dec -23° 25' 06.0"
Constellation Canis Major (CMa)
HR 2387
HIP 31125
HD 46328
SAO 171895
Bayer Xi
Flamsteed 4 CMa
Variable ID Xi1 CMa
Double Cat 5176
SIMBAD Wikipedia

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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7

Size Comparison

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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

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15Stellar Notes

Beta C 4.33 - 4.36V, 0.2095755d, secondary variations. Effective temperature varies by 1400K and ratio of max. to | min. radius by 1.042.
Possible member CR 121; OB1 group near Omicron CMa.
Abnormally strong UV SiIV and CIV for its luminosity class.

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.

M41
Little Beehive Cluster
Easy
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster mag 4.5 4.2° Canis Major
NGC 2217
Easy
Bright spiral galaxy
Galaxy mag 10.4 4.5° Canis Major
Nu CMa
HIP 31564; Nu Canis Majoris; 6 Canis Majoris
Easy
Easy double, sep 17.4″
Double Star mag 5.70 4.9° Canis Major
EZ CMa
Easy
Wolf-Rayet star — rare, hot emission spectrum
Star mag 6.91 5.1° Canis Major
S Lep
Easy
Semi-regular variable, range 6.0–7.6
Variable Star mag 6.95 6.0° Lepus
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