Observation Notes:
I think this constellation is awesome. So many bright stars in a small area, with Sirius piercing boldly at the top. Wezen showed an orange color. I apparently even picked out M41 naked eye. Not knowing the boundaries well, I picked up some stars from Columbia and Puppis. After a second look, I saw two orange-red stars--one just northeast of Adhara, and one northwest of Wezen on the west belly of the constellation. Also, Mirzam appeared blue.
| Subject | Canis Major |
| Classification | Constellation |
| Date/Time | January 30, 2005 - 10:00 PM MST (January 31, 2005 - 05:00 UT) |
| Observing Loc. | Flagstaff, AZ - Home [111°39' Long / 35°12' Lat] |
| Instrument | Naked eye |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | N/A |
| Conditions | P.Cloudy, 29°F |
| Seeing | ~3/10 |
| Transparency | Mag 5.0 (Based on GSC 5392:2413 in Canis Major) |
Ji!
Astronomy is kinda cool as you can find out more about different constellations. I heard that there are 88 different constellations in the sky.
Amber, thanks for your comment. I'm glad you find constellations interesting. You are correct, there are 88 constellations. When you get the chance, try to track down Scorpius and Cygnus. They're bright and stunning this time of year. Learning how to find constellations can be enjoyable all by itself, and once you know how to locate them, you can find the countless treasures they contain.
Jeremy
this is so boring to learn about! why do we need to know this?
i am doing a report on this stuff. this is the most boaring constellation i have come a cross out of, pisces(my sign),orion,lupus,lepus,ursa minor/major and pegasus
Amber and Keisha, I feel your pain. I hope the reports go well though. Although it is not my favorite constellation, Canis Major is actually pretty striking to see from a dark sky. My drawing does not do it justice.
thats your drawiing? you draw that? wow! i thought was a picture a computer did.
Hah! That gave me a smile, Keisha. Thanks. :)
Canis Major
by: Robert Frost
The great Overdog
That heavenly beast
With a star in one eye
Gives a leap in the east.
He dances upright
All the way to the west
And never once drops
On his forefeet to rest.
I'm a poor underdog,
But to-night I will bark
With the great Overdog
That romps through the dark.
From "Complete Poems of Robert Frost", 1916
uhgg. im doing a stinkin project on this thing. and its taking up my saturday!!!! hmph.
why are there 88 constellations? Is the number 88 significant?
Hi, there is no special significance to the number of constellations. It looks like 88 is just the way it worked out. :)
this is really hard to find info on its kinda stressfull!
A few night's ago I went out with the local astronomer's club and found this constellation for the first time...
I appreciate the poem by Robert Frost :)
i think that stars r awsome but hard to find info on
Jo, get of the chat-rooms and start working on our project,
-E
nice picture
love this picture!
this is boring but kinda cool to see how many constelations there are
Hi I cant find any info either can you help me to?
Hi Chetan, try checking these sites for further information about Canis Major:
Wikipedia
Star Tales
SEDS
wow, its so beutiful, when i become a writer, ill no doubt include this in it
the compass looks wrong to me
That's one of the interesting thing about sketches, images or charts of the sky--since you are looking UP instead of down, the compass directions are reversed. As a result, west is clockwise from north when you look up. Thanks for posting the comment.
Curious? Is Canis major a north or south hemisphere constellation and does the '88' include both in the total?? Get dazzled by stars when the street lights or clouds don't hide them so so far have only picked out Orion's belt (what the fuzzy patch just beneath his belt-I won't tell you what I call it but it not in my book!), The big dipper/frying pan/great bear (take your pick) and the one shaped like a 'w' but I can't remember it's name! (my hubby pointed it out to me when we were courting and both our names began with W)
Hi Lucy,
Canis Major is located south of the celestial equator, however it is still visible from most populated locations in the Northern Hemisphere. The 88 constellations cover the entire sky--both north and south hemispheres.
The W shaped constellation is Cassiopeia.
I have just named a star in memory of my puppyin this constellation. Thank you for sharing
im doing a report about this and i have to draw it and write its story about it this helped a quite lot :)
That's great to hear--I'm glad this helped.