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Xi Canis Majoris — Star in Canis Major

HIP 31416; Xi Canis Majoris; 5 Canis Majoris

Magnitude 4.5m Star Canis Major (CMa) Visible
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1Physical Properties

Magnitude 4.54
Spectral Type A0V
Star Color Blue-white (B-V -0.05)
Distance 130 ly

2Position & Identifiers

RA 06h 35m 03.4s
Dec -22° 57' 53.0"
Constellation Canis Major (CMa)
HR 2414
HIP 31416
HD 46933
SAO 171982
Bayer Xi
Flamsteed 5 CMa
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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6

Size Comparison

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7

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8

Spectral Classification

9

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Read: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram — Reading Stars Like a Map
10

Stellar Lifecycle

11

Blackbody Spectrum

12

Stellar Absorption Spectrum

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

13

Stellar Fusion

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14

Light Travel Time Machine

15

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.

Xi CMa
HIP 31125; Xi Canis Majoris; 4 Canis Majoris
Easy
Hot blue O-type star
Star mag 4.33 0.9° Canis Major
M41
Little Beehive Cluster
Easy
Rich open cluster
Open Cluster mag 4.5 3.4° Canis Major
Nu CMa
HIP 31564; Nu Canis Majoris; 6 Canis Majoris
Easy
Easy double, sep 17.4″
Double Star mag 5.70 4.3° Canis Major
EZ CMa
Easy
Wolf-Rayet star — rare, hot emission spectrum
Star mag 6.91 4.5° Canis Major
NGC 2272
Medium
Elliptical galaxy
Galaxy mag 11.9 4.8° Canis Major
S Lep
Easy
Semi-regular variable, range 6.0–7.6
Variable Star mag 6.95 6.8° Lepus
Show on Map

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Canis Major
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